Connect Savannah | October 19, 2022

AT A GLANCE

WEDNESDAY 10/19

OPEN HOUSE FOR NEW GRAY’S REEF OCEAN DISCOVERY CENTER

Come for a sneak peek of the Gray’s Reef Ocean Discovery Center to introduce the coming exhibits, community space, and education programs offered by NOAA Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary and Foundation Chapter.

FREE There will be prizes and new giveaways for each day of open house! 12-7 p.m. graysreeffoundation.org | 340 MLK Jr. Blvd. Continues through Oct. 22.

DUCKPIN BOWLING LEAGUE NIGHT

8 p.m.Moodright’s, 2424 Abercorn St. Moodright’s is Savannah’s first duckpin bowling alley (in quite a while) and cocktail lounge, and its location makes it the closest bowling alley to the historic district.

TRIVIA NIGHT

WITH JESS SHAW

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.

THURSDAY 10/20

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 DECK

OCTOBER/19-25

HIGHLIGHTED PICKS FROM HOSTESS CITY HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK

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.

Enjoy free yoga on the beach at 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 10/21

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 10/22

CCA GEORGIA’S BLUES, BREWS, BBQ & BOURBON

CCA Georgia Presents: Blues, Brews, BBQ & Bourbon If you love craft beer, live music, world class BBQ, and delicious whiskey, this event is for you!

When you come, you will have unlimited tastings of over 50 craft beers, multiple whiskeys, and other drinks. Some of the best Texas Style BBQ vendors in the Southeast will sell food on site as well. 65.00 11 a.m.-3 p.m.. Tickets on eventbrite.com Eastern Wharf Park, 1 Altamaha Street.

17TH ANNUAL WAG-O-WEEN

The 17th annual Wag-O-Ween pet trick-or-treating fundraising event will be held on Sat., October 22 and Sun., October 23 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. at treat stops between the Savannah River and the Starland District. Humans and dogs alike are encouraged to dress up in Halloween costumes and follow their map to participating local businesses, which will be giving out dog treats and goodies. wagoween.org

19-22 OPEN HOUSE: GRAY’S REEF OCEAN DISCOVERY CTR.

Come for a sneak peek of the Gray’s Reef Ocean Discovery Center to introduce the coming exhibits, community space, and education programs offered by NOAA Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary and Foundation Chapter. FREE There will be prizes and new giveaways for each day of open house! 12-7 p.m. graysreeffoundation.org | 340 MLK Jr. Blvd.

COSTUMES ON THE WOOF

Plant Riverside District’s Electric Moon Skytop Lounge will host a special Halloween event for dogs and their owners to enjoy, including a special costume contest on the Moon Deck, where dogs and their owners will be judged on the creativity and originality of their coordinating costumes by a panel of local judges. 5-7 p.m. plantriverside.com

FORSYTH FARMERS MARKET

Local and regional produce, honey, meat, dairy, pasta, baked goods and other delights. Rain or shine. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Forsyth Park, Drayton St. & East Park Ave. Free to attend. forsythfarmersmarket.com

FIRE & WINE

Enjoy half off bottles of wine and fire pits in the courtyard. Purchase one of our s’mores kits (marshmallows included) for the ultimate fall experience. 6-9 p.m. Foxy Loxy Cafe, Bull St.

SUNDAY 10/23

SUNSET PARTY SUNDAY

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

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 Street. FREE

MONDAY 10/24

TYBEE ISLAND

FARMERS MKT

Weekly market, right behind the Historic Tybee Lighthouse. 4 p.m., 30 Meddin Dr. tybeeislandfarmersmarket.com

TUESDAY 10/25

STAFFORD’S TUESDAY

COMEDY OPEN MIC

The ghost of Savannah’s legendary open mic returns. 8:30-11:45 p.m. Stafford’s Public

House, 306 W. Upper Factor’s Walk.

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MEET CORY CHAMBERS

OLD SOUNDS AND CURRENT TOPICS MAKE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC TOGETHER

A Savannah musician is helping lead the way to a new era of folk and bluegrass mu sic. Cory Chambers, an artist homegrown in Georgia, is helping lead the charge for the resurgence of these traditional music genres with his bands City Hotel, Swamp tooth, as well as his solo work.

Cory began his love for music as a child growing up in Atlanta.

“Somehow I got really into community radio. I ended up liking a lot of indepen dent music and fell in love with jazz and bluegrass and country music,” he ex plained.

Though his music interest began early, it wasn’t until his late-teens that he began learning what would become his life long passion.

“My parents got me a guitar for high school graduation. I started taking a folk guitar class at the local university.”

During his time in college he recognized his ability to create music akin to what he had been listening to most of his life.

“From there it was kind of a sprint,” he reminisced.

For Cory, the goal of his music is to combine traditional elements of the genres with modern times.

“Old folk music that is still loved and appreciated today connected with people because they were talking about stuff that was going on in their lives. I try to do the same thing,” he explained.

Today life is much different, though. For

many people, modern life is inextricably connected to technology for better or for worse.

“I sing a lot about the internet and cell phones, that sort of thing.”

He said he wants to create music that people will identify with.

What comes out is a fascinat ing blend of nostalgic sound with topical influences.

Cory relocated to Savan nah about a decade ago and continued to develop his musical career.

He started City Hotel which eventually branched into his newest endeavor Swamptooth, a popular band that plays around town and on the road.

The success of the group indicates the ever growing local music scene and the local talent that exists in Savannah.

“I have met most of my friends through playing music and have gotten to play with some legendary people like Jimmy Wolling, the banjo player in Swamptooth.”

The five-person band which formed in 2020 fought through the adversity of being live performers during the pandemic to create their first studio album, “B-Flat Earth”.

The record, which features a blend of

and psychedelic sounds, was released in September of last year to glowing reviews.

While the band has experienced an in crease in popularity and has been traveling more for shows, they haven’t forgotten their Savannah roots.

Locals can often catch the bluegrass outfit playing on Friday nights at Service Brewing Company as well as other spots around town including the Plant Riverside District.

2020 turned out to be a milestone year for Cory. While Swamptooth was formed, Cory also released his debut solo album in March of that year.

In his solo work, Cory reminds listeners of folk musicians of the past. Cory focuses on acoustic guitar and harmonica and leans on his strong lyrical writing, something fans of the genre will be very familiar with.

For fans of his solo work, Cory performs at many of Savannah’s favorite local hang outs. He frequents Foxy Loxy, The Perch, and other local live music hotspots.

No matter if you like his grounded solo performances or the experimental and complex sounds of Swamptooth, fans of folk and bluegrass have a lot to be excited for when Cory Chambers is performing.

Follow his work at coryfchambers.com and on Instagram @chamberssav

- Joshua Alexander

TATTOO FESTIVAL AIMING TO LEAVE

By Cassidi Hinson

The 2022 Savannah Tattoo Festival will take place Oct. 21-23., at the Savannah Convention Center.

The event will have an estimated 300-400 tattoo artists, both local and international, including a few world-renowned artists, as well as stars from the televi sion series Ink Master.

Villain Arts is the company that brings these tattoo conventions to sites around the country.

Troy Timpel is the owner, promoter, and organizer of Villain Arts, and is in charge of all of the conventions, including the Savannah convention. He founded the company in 1999.

“I started the company, and it was kind of a side project for me. I’ve been a tattoo artist for 30 years and decided to kind of do a side project back then. I started it as a clothing label. I helped Philadelphia Eddie start the first annual Philadelphia Tattoo Convention in 98, and I helped him with that until 2003. When he retired, I took over the Tattoo Convention in Philadelphia with Villain Arts. Then I just started to expand into other markets, and every year we’ve grown in another city or show over the last 25 years,” said Timpel.

“Philadelphia Eddie” is a very famous tattoo artist who passed away six years ago.

Villain Arts opens 25 shows per year from Portland, Maine to San Diego, California. They are coast to coast.

“It’s an opportunity for tattooers to travel, interact with each other, learn, see the new equipment, and tattoo the public. It allows the public to get tattooed by artists from all over the world that they would no longer otherwise have access to,” said Timpel.

While there will be artists from all over the world, Timpel made it clear that he and his company also support local artists.

“We promote the local environment and encourage local artists to participate in our events as well,” said Timpel.

A large majority of the tattoo artists participating in the event reached out to Villain Arts themselves.

“We’ve been doing this for 25 years, artists find us at this point. We’ve been doing so many shows for so long that tattooers come in and enjoy traveling to different cities and seeing what different cities have to offer,” said Timpel.

Special guests include Kyle Dunbar from Ink Master Season three and four, Aaron Is from Ink Master Season five and nine, traveling artist Candy Dunbar, Ash Mann from Ink Master season 12, Julian “Tito” Zambrano

from Ink Master Season 12, Mark Longenecker from Ink Master Season five, Al Fliction from Ink Master Season one, Trocon Talhouk from VH1, and Charles Whitfield from VH1.

“I’m friends with a lot of the guys that were on the show Ink master, before and after they were on the show. It’s a good show, and it shows the public what tat tooing is really capable of. I think it expanded people’s interpretation of what tattoos are. It’s a positive thing. I like to support good art. There are a couple of other, ran dom TV show people that pop in and out of our events,” said Timpel.

The tattooers are separate contractors and charge their own prices for tattoos. It’s a competitive market place for getting a tattoo, with a large group of quality artists.

Appointments can be made online by contacting the artist directly, or by walk-in. The event will also have a variety of unique vendors.

“We have a lot of handcrafted art vendors. People that make handmade art, handmade jewelry, clothing, accessories, and things like that. It’s kind of like an art fair built into the tattoo festival. We also have a lot of really good world-class entertainment. We have Guin ness Book of World Record holders, sword swallowers, and live human suspension, where people pierce their bodies and hang from the ceiling, for the public’s enter tainment. A lot is going on. A lot of really, really cool, interesting entertainment,” said Timple.

“We have a juggler and a lot of really cool entertain ment all weekend long, all family-friendly. Bring the kids, get tattooed, kids can’t get tattooed, but you can certainly bring them and enjoy the event. You have to be 18 and over to get tattooed. It’s a really interesting, fun event. You’ll see things you’ve never seen before. You know, at 20 bucks, you’re losing money not coming.”

Timpel is excited to bring his convention to the Savannah area. After Savannah, the convention goes to Tampa, Florida, and then Asheville, North Carolina is the last convention of the year.

“I like Savannah. Savannah is a cool little town. I went there and met up with friends a couple of years ago. I said, ‘wow, this place is great, I should do an event here,’ and a couple of years later, here we are,” said Timpel.

More information and tickets can be found at villainarts. com

Photo below provided by Villain Arts

SAVANNAH AGENDA:

PROPERTY MATTERS

By Eric Curl savannahagenda.com

The Savannah Mall’s new owner has emerged, following the auction of a majority of the building over the summer. And fans of such e-cigarette flavors as Heisenberg Menthol, Whatamelon and Chill Out could be in luck, considering the buyer’s affiliation with a vaping accessories distributor. Meanwhile, there is good news for hockey and jazz enthusiasts, while a recent zoning decision probably bummed out the local agency charged with attracting employers to the area.

Stay engaged Savannah. —Eric

SAVANNAH MALL ACQUIRED BY LBUYER AFFILIATED WITH E-CIGARETTE DISTRIBUTOR, AMID “NUISANCE” AND ZONING VIOLATIONS LAWSUIT

Savannah Mall was purchased by BCHM Investment Group LLC for about $8.44 million on Oct. 4, according to the sales record. Formed in September, BCHM is involved in real estate, rental and leasing, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.

Public records indicate the owner of BCHM, Robert Ali, is also the owner of D&A Distribution, which until recently was listed on Savannah Mall’s website as “opening soon” on the tenant page. Clicking on the link to D&A’s website took you to web page for Strictly E-Cig, which describes itself on Facebook as one of the largest and fastest growing wholesale

distributors of vaping kits and accessories.

Meanwhile, an owner of separate portion of the mall filed a lawsuit in August against the now-former owner, Savannah Mall Realty Holdings (SMRH), and D&A Distribution. In the lawsuit, MBM Developments claims that since July, the call center operating out of the space has had to contend with excessive loud noises and vibrations from D&A’s operations on the floor above. Additionally, tractor trailer traffic to and from the loading dock accessed via the parking area has increased to a volume not intended for the zoning district and created a life-threatening safety situation, the suit states.

Ali declined through his attorney to comment for this article. Both SMRH and D&A issued court responses denying the lawsuit’s allegations and asked that the case be dismissed.

SAVANNAH GHOST PIRATES REACH AGREEMENT WITH CITY TO PRACTICE, LAUNCH YOUTH LEAGUE AT THE MLK ARENA

The Savannah Ghost Pirates will be practicing at the Martin Luther King Jr. Arena, while also teaching the youngsters how to play by establishing a recreational youth hockey league. The public will also get a chance to show off their own skills on the ice during public skating events, under the recently approved agreement with the city.

The monthly lease agreement gives the minor league hockey team the right to use the arena until May 31, 2023 at a rate of $6,000 a month, plus 65% of the electric bill.

ZONING CHANGE REJECTED FOR SAVANNAH INDUSTRIAL PARK, FOLLOWING $5M INVESTMENT IN TAXSUPPORTED SITE

The Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) says it needs to rezone about 513 acres of a 630-acre industrial park from Light Industrial to Heavy Industrial to allow more intense manufacturing and attract the type of businesses that will create high-paying jobs and boost the local economy.

The request is being made about six years after SEDA purchased the site about 15 miles west of downtown Savannah using $3 million in revenue derived from voterapproved sales-tax funds, along with more than $2 million of SEDA’s own funds. Thing is, many of the surrounding residents are opposed to the rezoning due to concerns about increased truck traffic, environmental impacts, health issues and decreased property values.

Last week, a majority of the Metropolitan Planning Commission sided with the residents by voting 5-4 to deny the rezoning

request. The MPC’s recommendation will next be considered by the Savannah City Council, which has the ultimate say over whether the property will be rezoned.

The rezoning petition comes about a month after Igneo Technologies submitted a site plan for an electronic waste recovery complex on a portion of the site. However, the proposed facility, which is the first announced business coming to the manufacturing center, is not dependent on the zoning change, according to SEDA officials.

JAZZ CLUB AND BAR, BUILDING EXPANSION PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH

A vape shop, taco restaurant and its courtyard in downtown Savannah may be replaced with a jazz club and bar in a renovated and expanded building, according to a petition that went before the Historic District Board of Review last week.

Rose Architects, on behalf of the building’s owner, is proposing alterations to the existing building at 111 West Congress St. and construction of an adjacent twostory addition, with a roof deck and indoor-outdoor patio, where Orale Tacos + currently has an outdoor seating area.

Consideration of the petition was postponed until the Nov. 9 meeting after some review board members requested some design changes.

The gray area shows where the heavy industrial is proposed, while the green shows wetlands and yellow shows protective buffers. SEDA is proposing to keep the blue potion adjacent to residential communities zoned Light Industrial.

HUGS’ MASQUERADE BOO BASH AND CASINO NIGHT

71ST ANNUAL SAVANNAH GREEK FESTIVAL

BUNNY IN THE CITY

By Bunny Ware

BUNNY IN THE CITY

By Bunny Ware

While visiting my Greek peeps at their annual festival last week, I was introducing Jesse Blanco to the indomitable Dr. Sandy Bohnstengel when I got a persuasive invite from her to attend Heads-Up Guidance Services’ Masquerade Boo Bash and Casino Night at Hotel Tybee On October 14.

Walking into the 71st Annual Greek Festival at the Hellenic Center on October 6 is like entering a family reunion with my favorite relatives!

Knowing that a multi-generational cultural and dining fete with a marketplace, authentic grocery, live performances and their signature cafeteria-style food lines, is waiting for me makes me downright giddy!

With Cindy Davis cruising out to the island with me, we arrive to find Sandy checking in guests with Debbie Mamalakis. While waiting for Sandy to take a break, I tell Cindy a little bit about the family medicine doctor. A HUGS board member that has been involved with this non-profit since day one, I remember the first time I met her - she was dancing a west coast swing with a dance instructor from Oklahoma City. After an introduction from our mutual friend Garlana Mathews almost 10 years ago, I have been a fan of this tall, confident doctor ever since!

Inside the center, I round the corner into the salad section and find professional salad-maker Pete Simon sitting on the exact same stool I saw him on three years ago! After missing the past three years because of COVID, Pete is pretty amped up to be back in person.

Manning this station since he was 19 years old, the 75 year old character gives me the lowdown on all the food he has ordered this year.

“Imagine the boxes of noodles, sugar and grape leaves needed for the 120 trays of pastitsio, 8500 dolmades, 3800 kourabiedes and 180 pans of spanakopita,” shares the event co-chair.

Sandy takes a break to chat with me about why HUGS means so much to her. “They give a hand up, not a hand out. Regardless of money, demographic, having insurance or not, they want to help anyone with a need. From the death of loved ones, PTSD, divorce and bullying - they have a counseling group for you,” shares the Michigan native.

On the lookout for Pete’s fellow co-chairs George Polites, Jimmy Stevens and Tommy Danos, I find Jimmy in the agora (aka gift shop).

As co-chair for at least 10 years, Jimmy tells me,“We are giving tours of the church, have dancing from adults and children and we also streamlined the combo line process to have the same meal for lunch and dinner.”

Born and raised here, Jimmy was baptized at St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church and tells me that he could not imagine a life without this festival.

Riding the elevator to the third floor, I overhear a couple talking about their recent engagement. Meet Tybee Island residents Stephen Williams and Margaret Iocovozzi - who just happens to be a HUGS board member and on the fundraising committee responsible for tonight’s event. While talking with Margaret about yoga aka mindful movement and Stephen about his love of surfing and old cars, I see a tall dude in a black jacket and baseball cap walk by.

Following Jimmy into the center’s office, I pose him with Richard Myers, Patrick Welsh and fast talking Nick Nickols. It doesn’t dawn on that this is the St. Joseph Candler SmartWomen Chair Gini Nichols husband until later when snapping pics of George and Mercie Polites with Dawn and Chuck Faris.

I’m officially in Greek heaven! Entering the kitchen, I ask Helen Palamiotis how many pans of spanakopita she has pulled out of their massive industrial ovens. Standing beside stacked pans of fresh baked pastitsio, Helen laughs and says,“This year or in my life?”

As one of the faces that I love to see every year, it makes my heart

It’s going to be a good night for dining because Chef Kirk Blaine is in the house! Let me give you a crash course on one of Savannah’s favorite success stories. Starting in the kitchen of Driftaway Cafe while in the 9th grade, Kirk worked his way up to executive chef before branching out on his own, to owning Castaways and a catering company. After posing him with Cindy, we turn to the table next to us and meet Augustine Ozobia. Kirk recognizes the cleaning company owner from BNI meetings at his restaurant and I recognize his lilting West African accent.

Richard Myers, Jimmy Stevens, Nick Nichols, Pat Welsh

Brandon Giebler, Susie Sowell

Pat George, Billy Norse

George and Mercie Polites, Dawn and Chuck Faris

Andrea Epting, Sandy Bohnstengel, Kelly Long

Stephen Williams, Margaret Iocovozzi David Aaker, Mark Kroll, Dr. Tom Morrison

Kathy Looper, Ellen Bradley, Ginger Masingill

hurt when I realize how hard it has to be for Helen to be in the kitchen without her mom and dad, Deno and Maria.

Looking around the room at all the casino tables, I see Authur Davis waving me over. I usually see Arthur at Tourism Leadership Council lunches so I’m happy to see the Monte Carlo Productions sales guy “who loves to throw parties for a living” with Savannah College of Art and Design visual effects grad student Kelsey Nerowitz and Krista Hanson.

But in the kitchen with her is 93 year old Irene Chiboucas. Claiming to be a “professional helper,” Irene tells me,“I have been coming to the festival since day one. For 71 years I attended with my husband, brother and family. They are all gone now but there are young people learning our ways.”

I know exactly what she means because I miss seeing the twins Elaine and Effie Karatassos. Elaine has passed but I still hope to see Effie when I make the turn into the marketplace bakery. Not seeing them, Nick George, Charlie Militades and Charlie Masterpoulis make me pause for a moment of reflection because there was something about their old-school presence that defined the Greek experience.

Heading downstairs to catch up with Andrea Epting, the HUGS founder and CEO tells me, “In our 12th year of counseling the Savannah community, we are grateful to volunteer counselors and community supporters because they make professional counseling possible for all motivated people in the low country. We could not do this without the generous support of Morrison Dental, Truly Nolen, Josh Walker Attorney at Law and Select One Workplace Health.”

With so much traffic in the kitchen, I move over and find Maryanne Welsh sitting on the same stool I have seen her on for the past decade.

The 80 year old tells me,“Jerry and I have been married for 59 years and have been here every year since then.” Posing with her is her son Patrick and granddaughter Teresa Sarver along with Irene and Eddie Switala.

Slipping by a table filled with bite-sized delights, I snap a pic of David Aaker, Mark Kroll and Dr. Tom Morrison, see my “sister from another mister” Sherri Forbes and her husband Larry, then run over to hug International Diamond Center’s Gary Pinka and his fab wife Pat. Loving that this couple continues to support so many local charities, I love it even more that they ask for a photo with vivacious Lorrian Heard and Hotel Tybee’s Brett Loehr who graciously donated tonight’s venue space.

Heading into the auditorium, I pause Billy Norse to ask what he is doing since breaking the Guinness World Record for pushing two double strollers 13.1 miles. I did not expect him to pull out his phone and show me a book cover of “The Divorce Lawyer,” his book that is debuting next week. With a tagline of “There’s only one rule, don’t fall in love with your lawyer,” I can’t wait to read anything this cool dude writes!

Next up is Savannah’s reigning favorite realtor Chelsea Phillips. Proud to welcome a baby boy in February with her husband, HUGS board member, Nate Synder, the couple shares, “We see the difference HUGS in the big issues in our community. It’s a multi-faceted non-profit that gives back.” They tell me this after they donate four thousand dollars to the call to action fundraising that Renee LaSalle is leading.

Next, I pose Billy with the sweetest mom in the room, Pat George. Always smiling and gracious, I hug her and look for her son Dennis and daughter-in-law Patti, then detour over for a pic of Brandon Giebler and Susie Sowell who invite me out to their 3rd Annual Cornhole Tournament at Tanger Outlet on December 11.

With more costumed masked guests arriving, I make a lap around the room and find social butterfly Gaye Reese Holt holding court with her travel buddy Terri Doyle. Amped over by their girls trip to Saint Martin where coffee and spirits shall be sipped while looking at an ocean view, Gaye gives me a hug before I head over to take a selfie with Ellen Bradley.

After a few television interviews, Tommy Danos has a minute to talk. When I ask what his first job was with the festival, Tommy replies,“Because of my quickness with numbers, they put me on the bar register. Sitting on that stool, year after year, the pictures of me with my children act as a growth chart for the past 30 years.”

As Tommy talks about “Being Greek for a Weekend”, he explains,“We have generations that have shared their beliefs, faith and culture with Savannah.”

Ok! I may have taken more pics and videos of Garrett Kaminsky than anyone here tonight but the HUGS volunteer counselor is so gracious that I can’t help it! “I think talk therapy is an invaluable resource, I don’t anywhere else that offers such accessible counseling and I am grateful to be a part of the team,” shares the private practice holistic counselor.

And from the generations of locals that love this festival so much, (and is continually voted Savannah’s favorite festival) and for the wannabe Greeks that love this festival so much that they ask to volunteer - we say “efharisto,” “thank you” for giving us a little glimpse of Greece.

With more pics of Savannah’s “who’s who” like Tony and Catherine Kiene and A. Joseph Marshall (aka Superman) I make a lap through the crowded casino room and leave happy knowing that this small but mighty counseling crusader’s fundraiser will continue to make a difference in the mental health epidemic!

Your three-day cultural celebration is yet another reason I love this city so much!

Lynn Brennan, Chuck Ivey

Eddie Switala, Irene Chiboucas, Patrick Welsh, Teresa Sarver, Maryanne & Jerry Welsh Melissa Cohen, Sarah Denmark

Tommy Danos, Alden Horton

Kathryn Harris, Pete SimonRusty Holt, Gaye Reese Holt Tony and Catherine KieneLance and Morgan Owens, Barbara and Richard Bell

Pat and Gary Pinka

Chelsea Phillips, Nate Synder

Kelsey Nerowitz, Arthur Davis, Krista Hanson

Debbie and John Mamalakis

EAT

AND GOINGS:

UP

EAT IT AND LIKE IT

By Jesse Blanco eatitandlikeit.com

I wish I could say I am surprised. Unfortunately, I am not.

Virginia-based New Realm Brewing Company announced last week that they would be closing their Savannah location. The reaction from the community? A whole lot of “meh.”

That would include the view from this seat.

The idea seemed like a good one. A very popular brewery and eatery that has done well in Atlanta was going to open up here in the heart of downtown Savannah.

There was certainly brand recognition. There was certainly stable financial back

ing to make it all work, but it didn’t take more than a couple ‘walk bys’ and/or visits to pick up on the fact that the Savannah version of this very popular Atlanta belt line watering hole appeared to be under performing.

I don’t ever recall seeing it at anything close to capacity. Meanwhile, I was at their Atlanta spot a few months ago Me morial Day weekend and it was hopping. On a Sunday afternoon.

In the wake of Ghost Coast Distillery clos ing up shop a month or so ago, you have to begin to wonder what’s up. Savannah is many things, including a drinking town. So how could two large scale adult bever age operations like these shut their doors?

Clearly they were not too big to fail.

Would you believe I saw a first red flag within a week of them opening their doors

last year? It was the moment I was told they were opening a location in Charles ton a few weeks down the road. I have nothing to add here about the current state of affairs at New Realm-Daniel Island, but I did wonder at the time if someone was biting off more than they should be chewing. New eateries always need time to catch on and start making money. I don’t care how popular the flagship is, every market is different.

Sometimes I wonder just how much thought and research goes into some of these decisions. Because while I don’t know a whole lot about what it takes to open a multi million dollar brewery, I do know Savannah and the people in it very well.

This has traditionally been a tough sell in the copy and paste department. But people keep trying to tap into the 14 or so million people who visit here every year.

Exhibit A would be 39 Rue de Jean. One of my favorite spots for a bite and a glass of wine or four in Charleston. I have always loved that space. However, the cookie cutter box they put in front of us at the Embassy Suites here never came close to capturing the vibe they have in Chucktown. Not even close. They closed very quietly during Summer 2020.

The point here is that what may work at your place may not necessarily fly here. Why not? Let’s start with prices.

Any regular reader of my work knows that I have never-nor will I ever-ques tion what something costs. Dining out, especially lately, has gotten pretty pricey. Food? It is what it is. But drink ing in this town? For starters, the locals all know where best value is for booze around here and very little of it is North of Liberty Street.

If I had a nickel for every local who has complained to me about prices for a beer or cocktail at the Plant Riverside Dis trict, I’d be driving that Range Rover by now. Visitors to our city will gladly pay

what they ask because no one told them that Dub’s Pub-about 200 feet away-has that same beer for probably half price. And a rock star bloody mary, too.

I don’t know any of the details behind the reasons why Ghost Coast Distillery shut down, but I’m guessing that $15 cocktails in their tasting room wasn’t doing them any favors.

Is a local from, say, Wilmington Island going to come downtown, fight for park ing and/or walk a bunch for the right to spend $75 on a round of drinks with friends? Maybe, if you’ve got someone in from out of town, but otherwise? Not so much.

All of this said, the blessings our city can enjoy these days cannot be discounted. Our food scene is chugging along nicely, and people in increasing numbers are coming here specifically for experiences with food. I’ve heard this from a few different sources. Which is great.

As I write this, I have a list of nearly 20 eateries on tap for Savannah sitting right in front of me. So clearly some one believes there is enough juice to go around.

But a lot of downtown businesses will tell you they need local traffic as well to thrive and in some cases survive. With out locals filling in some of the dead spots on the calendar (because a few still exist) or a random Tuesday night, well then the fancy pants space from your city is unlikely to fly here.

The only thing I loved on the menu at New Realm Savannah were the chicken wings. They were solid. But the rest? There was nothing there to make me go out of my way. And I live close enough to walk there. So how about those that don’t?

Just one big ‘meh’

Let’s hope whoever goes in there next brushes up on their homework first.

COCKTAIL OF THE WEEK

BLOOD ORANGE MARTINI

ENJOY AT: CURRENT KITCHEN & COCKTAILS

MADE WITH: Absolut Apeach Vodka, Blood Orange, Cranberry, Fresh Lime

On US-80 highway on the way to Tybee Island, you’ll find Current Kitchen & Cocktails, a classy coastal eatery serving up appealing Asian fusion dishes and succulent seafood. The food is thoughtful and flavorful, and the cocktails are inventive and inspired.

Their Blood Orange Martini is a great option. The citrusy concoction screams fall due to its deep orange hue. And it definitely doesn’t disappoint flavor-wise. The bold martini will wake up the senses with its bright flavor profile. It’s got a subtle sweetness and an uplifting acidity thanks to the fresh lime. Find some time to visit Current Kitchen & Cocktails to try the Blood Orange Martini soon.

by Chantel Britton

FOOD TRUCK OF THE WEEK

THE RED TACO TRUCK

The Red Taco Truck is an unassuming food truck vending authentic Mexican street food. From the name, you already know what the Red Taco Truck is all about. But while the truck may be humble in appearance, it delivers big, bold flavors.

Their menu includes tacos and quesadillas. For the tacos, you can choose Carne Asada, Chicken Adobada, or Zucchini. The quesadillas have the same options with the addition of plain (for those who may just want cheese.) They also offer affordable combos with your choice of two, three or four tacos. The tacos are garnished with sliced cabbage, pickled red onions and pickled spicy cucumber along with fire-roasted salsa or pico de gallo.

Follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @theredtacotruck to find out where the truck will be next.

SCAD Savannah Film Festival Celebrates 25 Years with Creative New Campaign Featuring Student Talent

Weekly wants people to see these advertisements and gain an understanding of what this festival offers.

“I want people to loooooooove it,” she said, enthusiastically. “This festival is all about the timeless magic of film and what it means. We’re encapsulating everything new that we’re bringing to the festival and film world, in general. We have our XR stage with new technologies and creative stuff no one’s used before. We’re truly making magic.”

“Look… we are glamorous and we understand the roots of SCAD, but look what we can do. Our marketing (for the film festival) has always been colorful and fun in the past. However, I think this project adds major class. It’s fancy.”

The work isn’t only for the honor of representing your school, it’s also a huge feather in Weekly’s cap for future work following her time at SCAD.

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the renowned SCAD Savannah Film Festival October 22-29, 2022, with the marketing and advertising for the event already in full swing and prominently featuring SCAD students.

Under the guidance of SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace, university leadership, students, and alumni collaborated to create a new dynamic campaign for the festival’s milestone anniversary.

Over twenty students and alumni collaborated to bring the festival campaign to life from an array of the university’s top-ranked programs including performing arts, photography, film and television, graphic design, fashion, industrial design, and production design.

The five talent leads featured in the campaign are also current students and alumni.

Nicole Weekly, (far right) a Performing Arts senior originally from the Washington, D.C/Northern Virginia area, is one of the talent leads featured prominently in the glamorous campaign, an opportunity Weekly said was, “a game changer” for her.

“Instead of finding inspiration from [the festival] this year, I can be part of the inspiration. I can be part of the history,” she said. “I look at my photo and I see it encapsulates so much of what SCAD is trying to do. Even as a student, I’m in awe.”

“I feel very lucky and blessed to be here at this time. We’ve been building for 25 years and it’s been magical ever since. It’s like we’re at the start of a whole new, bigger SCAD,” Weekly said.

Even with the film festival’s brief hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Weekly feels she and her fellow students and teachers took the extra time to prepare for this important anniversary. “We have amazing honorees and the feeling in the air is legendary. You know [this year’s festival] will leave a mark and do so much good for future festivals and the city,” she said with clear excitement.

“I’d always studied musical theatre and… I knew I wanted to perform. I wanted to try some of the new technology SCAD offers and a lot of the opportunities

you can only get here,” Weekly said. “I moved all by my lonesome and I’ve been working ever since. I have worked on many a film set, I had a Lifetime movie come out last year, and I just keep going.”

So, she gladly jumped at the opportunity afforded her in this 25th-anniversary campaign.

Weekly’s personality and enthusiasm show when she speaks. “Getting to do this campaign means so much to me because ever since my freshman year, I’ve been working with the theatre department. The film festival has done so much for me, especially as a performance major, giving me experience in my chosen field.”

The creative concept of the campaign merges classic Hollywood imagery through state-of-the-art technology. The promotion was shot at different locations throughout Savannah including the historic Lucas Theatre for the Arts and SCAD’s new LED volume which took the SCAD team to the Mediterranean coast of France to invoke the glamor of Cannes [France] without leaving Savannah.

Weekly’s flowing red gown was a masterpiece creation in and of itself.

“Oh, my goodness… my dress was so beautiful,” she said with emphasis on the last word.

Of course, dramatic designer gowns, don’t just appear out of thin air.

“My dress definitely has a story,” Weekly said. “The head of visual media here at SCAD has a friend in New York who works in the fashion industry, in a fashion warehouse. They have kept these amazing gowns from throughout fashion history preserved in this warehouse.”

“The dress I wore was an original Zac Posen,” she continued. “Posen designed and made the gown for another designer to wear to the MET Gala many, many years ago. Since then, the gown was in storage waiting ever since—I’d like to think—for it to be sent down from New York just for me to wear.”

The classic Hollywood-esque ads will be featured on digital billboards at the airport, on pedicabs throughout Savannah, on billboards along the interstate, and, most importantly, in Variety magazine and The Hollywood Reporter.

“I know for students, the film festival always feels like a time where we’re a real part of the professional world we’re so close to being in. We’re still students, but we get to dress up, go to events, participate, get awards, and give speeches… it feels like we’ve made it. We may be students, but we show we’re serious, creative professionals,” she explained.

Being able to work while in school is something unique to SCAD, according to Weekly.

“SCAD students have an advantage over other university’s students because many schools don’t always allow their students to work while they’re studying. I definitely took that into account when I was choosing where to go for college,” Weekly noted. “I don’t want to just learn things in the classroom, I want to experience them on set.”

“With all I get to do, it doesn’t feel so much like school because I’ve been working in the business since starting my schooling,” she said. “We are expected to hold ourselves to the same high standards we would use working in a professional setting, only, we’re doing it in

JOSHUA BOWMAN (B.F.A., performing arts, SCAD sophomore) photographed on SCAD’s LED volume at Savannah Film Studios

TERRANCE WILLIAMS (B.F.A. performing arts, 2022) photographed at the Kessler mansion near Forsyth Park

the classroom, as well. I was working once on a set and was so thankful I’d learned [a similar situation] in the classroom. They’re pushing us here to be professionals while we’re all learning. It gives us an edge. It gives our resumes an edge.”

Because of opportunities such as this 25th-anniversary campaign, Weekly feels like her learning is equivalent to being thrown into the deep end. “In a good way,” she added.

“I’m honored to be part of this campaign and part of the showcase. I hope to continue working in the film industry because I love it so much. I’m focused now on getting representation… an agent.”

Weekly shared how students from last year’s showcase had a 100% offer of representation, so the hopes are high for this year, as well. “Because of last year’s success, we’ve had a lot of agents actually reaching out to us,” she shared. “We’ve already had 30 or more [reps] contact us ahead of time. It’s very exciting and crazy how quickly our program is moving right up there behind Julliard in ranking talent. There are some amazing actors here and I’m honored just to be a part of all of it.”

As always, the city of Savannah provided the perfect picturesque setting for such a glamorous campaign, almost acting as a character of her own attempting to steal the photo.

“It was perfect to bring Savannah into the shoot,” Weekly said. “Especially the shoot at Plant Riverside. I worked in a small shop when they first opened up and it was great to see River Street so vibrant since stores had been struggling after COVID. Plant Riverside isn’t really part of the city’s history, but it’s certainly part of the city’s future.”

Getting this campaign was a milestone accomplishment for Weekly.

“It shows me how far I’ve come. If you know what you want to do, then do it. I always told myself I wanted to get on the next bigger stage and I haven’t stopped. To be asked to participate in something like this that will be visible to so many people is an honor.”

Weekly paused for a moment and then said, “It sounds weird to say, but I’ve had a lot of students tell me how much the work I’ve done has meant to them and how I’ve been inspirational… to them. That blew me away. It means a lot to younger students to know these doors are open for them, so seeing what I’m now doing gives them ideas for their own future.”

“If they [fellow students] put their minds to it, they, too, can be asked to do things like this. It’s humbling to know I’m one of the faces of the Film Festival, but also one future students will see and see what we here at SCAD are capable of and how we hold our future.”

Visit connectsavannah.com for a behind the scenes video of the shoots.

By Marley Gibson Features Writer

“This festival is all about the timeless magic of film and what it means. We’re encapsulating everything new that we’re bringing to the festival and film world....

MADELYN CONLIN-DAY Photographed on Factors Walk, Savannah | Images provided by SCAD

Silver Anniversary of Festival features films vying for Oscar gold, including locally shot flicks

THE WEEK IS FULL OF CAN’T-MISS OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL FILM BUFFS

By Benjamin Carr Film and Features Writer

Most people mark a 25th anniversary with a gift of silver jewelry. To mark its 25th annual event in person from October 22-29, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival is going to fill its silver screens once again with a variety of new gems, including many movies hoping to vie for Oscar gold.

The film festival is the largest university-run one of its kind in the country honors both professional and student filmmakers, and many of this year’s famous guests will receive prizes for their work, including Jonathan Majors for “Devotion” and Nicholas Hoult for “The Menu.” Both films were shot in Savannah.

Also, Miles Teller, the recipient of the 2016 Vanguard Award, will return to town to conduct a conversation following an Oct. 25 presentation of “Top Gun: Maverick,” the biggest hit of this summer. Jenna Ortega, the star of “Scream” and the upcoming Netflix series “Wednesday,” will receive the Breakthrough Award on Oct. 23, following a screening of the horror film “X.” Politician Gabby Giffords will also be on hand with filmmakers Julie Cohen and Betsy West after the screening of their documentary.

In addition to the gala screenings, the festival has partnered with Entertainment Weekly and Variety, among others, to present a series of panel discussions, including the Breaking Big Panel and Awards, the Variety 10 Artisans to Watch, the Wonder Women series highlighting female filmmakers, the Below the Line series which will focus on costume and production design and the SCAD Alumni panel, featuring graduates from the school’s film and television programs.

Among the notable films coming to the SCAD Savannah Film Fest screens:

GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY

Oct. 25 at 8:30 p.m.

Daniel Craig returns as detective Benoit Blanc in this highly anticipated sequel to writer-director Rian Johnson’s hit “Knives Out,” which was produced by Netflix and will debut there in December. Set in Greece, this new murder mystery features Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom Jr. and Kathryn Hahn.

Early critical buzz says that “Glass Onion” is a worthy follow-up to “Knives Out,” and Craig was terrific fun to watch as Blanc the first time. Not much is known about the plot to “Glass Onion,” not even the murder victim or victims, so this Southeast premiere will be an in-demand screening.

Monáe, an eight-time Grammy-nominated musician and notable actress whose past films include “Moonlight” and “Hidden Figures,” will receive the Spotlight Award and participate in a Q&A after the film.

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN

October 22 at 7 p.m.

Writer-director Martin McDonagh follows up “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” with this film about

a suddenly broken friendship between two lifelong friends, played by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. The actors also appeared in McDonagh’s “In Bruges,” an excellent film about two hitmen on vacation.

In “Banshees,” Irish islander Colm (Gleeson) decides to break ties with his best pal Padraic (Farrell) without providing any reason, leaving Padraic befuddled as to what he might have done to cause the problem. His sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) and another local Dominic (Barry Keoghan) try to fix the friendship, for Padraic is simple and confused. Yet Colm issues a violent ultimatum to Padraic, leading to surprising consequences for all involved.

Condon will be on hand after the Opening Night Gala Screening to receive the Distinguished Performance Award.

THE GOOD NURSE

October 23 at 7 p.m.

Eddie Redmayne stars as the mysterious Charlie, a nurse who helps his co-worker Amy cope with a series of tough times. However, Amy begins to doubt Charlie after a series of strange deaths at the hospital.

Redmayne will receive the Virtuoso Award after the screening.

THIRTEEN LIVES

October 23 at noon

Oscar-winning director Ron Howard presents this story, based upon the real-life rescue of a Thai soccer team that became trapped in a cave after a sudden rainstorm. The world’s most skilled divers gathered alongside Thai forces and 10,000 volunteers to complete the impossible rescue.

Howard will receive the Lifetime Achievement

for Directing Award following the screening, also participating in an In Conversation event.

THE WHALE

October 28 at 7 p.m.

Director Darren Aronofsky (“Black Swan”) has already generated Oscar buzz for star Brendan Fraser with this film, based upon a Samuel D. Hunter play. In “The Whale,” Fraser stars as a severely obese, gay teacher who lives as a recluse. As his health continues to decline, he reaches out to his estranged daughter, played by “Stranger Things” star Sadie Sink, to try and salvage their relationship.

Sink will participate in a Q&A after the screening and receive the Rising Star Award.

THE MENU

October 26 at 8:30 p.m.

This dark comedy thriller from director Mark Mylod, filmed in Savannah, stars Ralph Fiennes as an incredibly eccentric chef, who plans an exclusive dining event for rich guests, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, John Leguizamo and Janet McTeer among others, at his restaurant on a secluded isle.

To the gathered diners, though, it soon becomes apparent that something sinister is going on with this meal.

Hoult will be presented with the Vanguard Award after this screening.

‘The Menu,’ starring Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylo-Joy, was shot in the Savannah area. (IMDB)

Danielle Deadwyler and Jalyn Hall in Till (IMDB)

DECISION TO LEAVE

October 29 at 11:30 a.m.

Director Park Chan-wook, who made the masterpiece “Oldboy,” returns with “Decision to Leave,” which won him Best Director at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The film explores a businessman’s mysterious death as a detective tries to determine the cause. The body fell off a mountain, yet was it suicide, an accident or something else?

WOMEN TALKING

October 28 at 9:30 p.m.

Director Sarah Polley assembled a large cast to tell this story of a Mennonite community whose women must find a way to cope with a series of sexual assaults committed by the townsmen.

Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Ben Whishaw and Frances McDormand star.

After the screening, a Q&A will be held with actors Judith Ivey, Sheila McCarthy and Michelle McLeod.

DEVOTION

October 27 at 7 p.m.

Two Korean War fighter pilots, played by “Lovecraft Country” star Jonathan Majors and “Top Gun: Maverick” star Glen Powell, connect despite racial differences to make significant strides as Navy wingmen. This was also filmed in Savannah.

Majors and director JD Dillard will both receive awards and participate in a talkback after the film.

THE INSPECTION

October 23 at 4 p.m.

Director Elegance Bratton made this film, based upon his own life story as a gay, Black and homeless man who enlists in the Marines when he has few options for survival. The film stars Jeremy Pope, Gabrielle Union, Raul Castillo and Bokeem Woodbine.

Pope will receive the Distinguished Performance Award after the screening.

LIVING

October 29 at 7 p.m.

Bill Nighy stars in this reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s “Ikiru” from director Oliver Hermanus, which is the Closing Night Gala Screening. Nighy plays Mr. Williams, a man who re-examines his life after years of oppressive office routine. He takes stock of his dull situation and decides to find fulfillment before opportunity passes him by.

The film features costumes from Sandy Powell, this year’s Variety Creative Impact in Costume Design Award recipient.

TILL

October 26 at 6 p.m.

Georgia actress Danielle Deadwyler has received significant praise and Oscar buzz for her portrayal of civil rights activist Mamie Till Mobley, who fought for justice after her 14-year-old son Emmett Till was brutally murdered by racists while visiting family in Mississippi in 1955.

The film, directed by Chinonye Chukwu, has received rave reviews, as well, though many will find the subject matter difficult. Nonetheless, Mobley fought to show what was done to her son, which caused an impact upon American society that continues to ripple today.

Jalyn Hall, who plays Emmett, will receive the Socially Conscious Cinema Award and participate in a Q&A after the film.

TAURUS

October 27 at 9:30 p.m.

Actor Colson Baker, known to music fans as Machine Gun Kelly, stars as a musician looking to record one last song. The film, directed by Tim Sutton, explores fame, the music industry, addiction and the artistic process.

Baker will receive the Discovery Award after the screening.

OF NOTE:

Other notable films include “She Said,” “Empire of Light,” “Turning Red,” “Armageddon Time,” and “Wendell and Wild,” a stop-motion animation film from director Henry Selick, who will be in attendance.

Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., and Madelyn Cline in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (IMDB)

Ron Howard | Photo Courtesy of SCAD

Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell in Savannah-shot ‘Devotion’ (Sony)

Colson Baker in ‘Taurus’ (IMDB)

THREE GEORGIA MADE FILMS FEATURED AT 2022 FILM FESTIVAL ‘DEVOTION’ AND ‘THE MENU’ WERE FILMED IN SAVANNAH

OVER 60 SCAD STUDENTS AND ALUMNI WORKED ON PRODUCTIONS FILMED LOCALLY

By Kareem McMichael Arts & Entertainment Writer

The 25th SCAD Savannah Film Festival will be screen ing three films that were filmed in Georgia.

“Till,” “Devotion,” and “The Menu” were filmed in Georgia with “Devotion” and “The Menu” being filmed here in Savannah.

A combination of over 60 SCAD students and alumni worked on the productions filmed in Savannah in various departments.

“Everything that we teach, every protocol that we teach, every set behavior that we teach, the way you shoot, the way you organize a shoot, the way you wrap a shoot, the way you get locations, everything to the fullest extent that we can mirrors the professional world,” said D.W. Moffett, professor and Chair of Film and Television at SCAD.

Moffett, like other professionals working at SCAD, of fers students real world knowledge from actively working in the film industry.

Moffett is a working actor. He’s a regular in the new FOX series “Monarch” with Susan Sarandon and Trace Adkins. He’s also been in “Bosch” and “Chicago Med” to name a few recent ones.

“I get emails from students saying, ‘D.W. I just finished my first day and it was just like SCAD.’ Or I hear from professional mentors that visit SCAD senior film sets and they say, “Holy cow, I was just out at that shoot you have going on street, and that thing was better run than most television shows I’ve been on,’” said Moffett.

That is the kind of feedback tells Moffett that he is approaching things correctly with the students. Things like this that factored into SCAD being on MovieMaker Magazine’s 2022 list of the 40 Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada.

“SCAD is an easy institution to praise,” said Movie Maker editor-in-chief Tim Molloy. “Georgia is a cinematic powerhouse, which creates lots of opportunities for students and recent graduates, and the close-knit sense of community and commitment to excellence is obvious the moment you set foot in Savannah.”

““When I worked on ‘The Menu’ I recognized so many faces. Not only were there close to 50 students and alum ni but my professors were working on set as well. That was so inspiring to me, working alongside them,” said Jorday Meeler.

Meeler is currently perusing her M.F.A in performing arts at SCAD. She received her B.F.A. in film and tele vision from SCAD in 2018 and has worked on various projects locally since then including the hit series “The Underground Railroad.” She worked on the film “The Menu.”

“The Menu” stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult and Ralph Fiennes. In the movie a couple (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) travels to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.

“I was still in school when I worked on ‘The Menu.’ It was a really rewarding experience for me to see, to watch the playback and how they act in between takes, how they interacted with the director, and how the process of getting into an emotional scene,” said Meeler.

Matt Yocum received his B.F.A in sound design from SCAD in 2015 and has worked numerous projects since then including “Devotion” which he served as one of two supervising sound editors.

Devotion, an aerial war epic based on the bestselling book of the same name, tells the harrowing true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. The movie stars Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell.

“We rigged the whole plane with microphones on the inside of the cockpit on the exterior, and then they flew

this plane around. They would do all kinds of maneuvers that we were asking them to do. We got lots of authentic and great sound recordings for the film,” said Yocum.

Yocum has made enough hours on set that he was able to join the union. Something that Moffett is proud of and says is one of the goals to have students to reach as they advance in their careers.

“I love the union. I’m a union man. We’re very lucky to have a city government that gets film production. We’re very lucky to have local unions that get that student in terns are not stealing jobs but understand they are future union members,” said Moffett.

The Savannah College of Art and Design celebrates 25 years with the 25th annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival, taking place in person October 22–29, 2022. Tickets are available at filmfest.scad.edu

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE:

“Fenom” doc about rapper Camoflauge’s daughter Flau’Jae will screen at festival

“Fenom”, a documentary about Savannah native Flau’Jae Johnson is getting its Georgia premiere at the 25th SCAD Savannah Film Festival with a screening on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. at the SCAD Museum of Art. Tickets can be purchased at filmfest.scad.edu. A Q&A with director and producer Kayla Johnson, editor and producer Ariel Hairston, and subjects Kia Brooks and Ameen Brooks immediately follows the screening.

DW MOFFETT

JORDAY MEELERMATT YOCUM

Photos provided by SCAD

‘BLACKBIRD’ Savannah Screening: locally produced Oscarqualifying film, sheds light on mental and physical health

A deeply personal story of connection, understanding, and vulnerability surrounding mental health struggles comes to life in the locally produced Oscar-Qualifying Award-winning short film “BLACKBIRD.”

The non-profit PROJECT BLACKBIRD is hosting a premiere screening event of the film and talk back activity following the screening on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. at NCG Cinema in Savannah with alternate screenings following on Oct. 23 – 29. Proceeds from the screenings will go to the Loveland Founda tion Therapy Fund.

“The film is based on my own true story. I had been out of treatment for a few years. Back in 2018, I was at an eating dis order treatment center in Southern California, and I had met a young woman there that changed my life,” said Alexandra Miles, star and producer of the film “Blackbird” and founder of the non-profit PROJECT BLACKBIRD.

The woman that changed Miles’s life is Kendra Williams, who she called “Blackbird” because she had a tattoo of a black bird on her neck. Williams is who Miles met while in treatment and they were roommates.

“Since 2018, we remained in each other’s lives. We weren’t incredibly close at the time of writing it, but I quite literally thought of her almost every single day. She was a huge piece of my recovery, just the connection that I had with her,” said Miles.

The film, about two young women and their recovery at an eating disorder treatment center, aims to expose what lies behind the disorder that plagues millions, as well as demon strate the importance of connection with oneself, and with each other.

Miles was in grad school at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) at the time of creating this film. There she met Morgan Davies, a writer in the film and TV program at SCAD.

“Her writing was incredible, beautiful. I went to her, and I asked if she would be willing to write and direct a story for me. I pitched to her was the story of this young woman, Kendra, who I called ‘Blackbird.’ I asked her to write this story of a woman who was inspirational and very different than myself,’ said Miles.

Miles explained to Davies that she wanted her to tell a story the of connection between a character based on herself and the character based on Williams which is the story of a connection between two young women who seemingly could not be more different but find out that they have more in common than they could have ever realized.

“Through that connection, they begin to find the ability to be vulnerable, the ability to voice what they’re ashamed of, voice the struggles that they’re going through, and then ultimately start to rid themselves of that shame and rid them selves of their struggles because of their ability to be vulnera ble with each other,” said Miles.

To help aid in telling the story Miles even provided Davies with her journal that she wrote while in treatment. In addition to that Miles touches on how there were similarities and differences in William’s experience being an African American woman.

“I spoke with Kendra a lot. She voiced to me time and time again about how her silence came from shame. Shame surrounding the disorder, depression, and shame of being the only person that she knew in her community to have gone to

treatment, to have had an eating disorder, to vocalize about her mental health struggles, said Miles.

Now Williams is an advocate for fostering conversations that destigmatize mental illness within African American and other underrepresented communities. She recognizes recovery to be the most essential aspect for living a purposeful and authentic life.

The non-profit PROJECT BLACKBIRD uses the film “BLACK BIRD” as a springboard for conversation around mental health and eating disorder topics. They specifically aim to encourage conversation within the Black community and other minority communities where there are stigmas present surrounding mental health discussion.

“Project Blackbird began after a friend asked me, ‘what do I want to do with this film?’ I created this film to help others but there’s so much more that I can do with the film to help others,” said Miles.

PROJECT BLACKBIRD has reached 2,000 people and count ing and has recently screened at the Lumiere Cinema Theater in Los Angeles, has been featured at the National Eating Disorder Associations yearly convention, and has visited High Schools and Colleges across the States.

“The underlying theme that I wanted to communicate is connection. I want my audience to understand the truth that lies beneath eating disorders, because it’s not all about the food,” said Miles.

For tickets for the movie screening on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. and alternate screenings following on Oct. 23 – 29 go to the Savannah location at ncgmovies.com.

- Kareem McMichael

BOO TO YOU!

AND FALL

FRIDAY 10/21

8-BIT SAVANNAH

HALLOWEEN COSPLAY GALA

This event has a little bit of every thing. There will be food, drinks, a Halloween cosplay contest, a fashion show contest, a pumpkin carving contest, and karaoke. Starting at 3 p.m. there will be a meet & greet. At 4:30 p.m. you can take your seats to enjoy a fashion show of local cre ators and visionaries. Be there by 6 p.m. to watch the Cosplay contest. At 8 p.m. you can participate in Kara oke. By 10 p.m. view the skills and ambitions of the Pumpkin Carving Contest. Have fun the rest of the night until Midnight! 21+ only. 980 Industry Dr. Eventbrite: search event

SATURDAY 10/22

TRICK-OR-READ

Neighborhood Comics will be providing free Halloween comics for all ages 13+ in the spirit of the Halloween season. There will be seven Halloween comics available to the trick-or-treaters: Amazing Spider-Man #88, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #1, Strange Academy #3, Dissolving Classroom Collector’s Edition by Junji Ito, Parasyte Full Color Collec tion by Hitoshi Iwaaki, and Kind of Monsters. Free comics are only available while supplies last. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. [Sunday as well] 1205 Bull St.

SUNDAY 10/23

WAG-O-WEEN WEEKEND

Sat., Oct 22, 12:00 p.m. - Sat., Oct 22, 5:00 p.m. Savannah’s annual trick-ortreat event for dogs! Dress up with your favorite 4-legged friends and humans and trick-or-treat at Savan nah businesses from the Riverfront to the Starland District! Saturday and Sunday, 12-5 p.m. Event tickets are $10 per participating animal and include a goody bag. Tickets are good for both days of the event. Purchase tickets at wagoween.org or on the day of the event in Pulaski Square (downtown) and in Starland Yard. In Pulaski Square be sure to stop by the official photo booth to join the contest, grab a shirt and raffle ticket. wagoween.org

SCARY IN THE DAIRY

4-8 p.m. Hosted by Pegasus Riding Academy, this event will have haunted hayrides, horse rides, pumpkin carving, and live music! 2500 Tennessee Ave. prasav.org

TUESDAY 10/25

SCARY MOVIE TRIVIA

7:30 p.m. B&D Burgers is hosting a scary movie trivia night. There will be prizes, drink specials, and a costume contest. Throughout the Halloween season, there will be several more trivia nights at other B&D Burgers locations. Including a Stranger Things trivia night and a true crime trivia night. Prepare to brush up on your trivia skills! 209 W Congress St.

CULTURE

WILD AND UNTAMED: Bay Street Theatre is back with ‘The Rocky Horror Show Live’

It is that time of year again and Dr. Frank N Furter and the Transylvanians are back at the Bay Street Theatre, and they are ready to the ‘Time Wrap’ again! “The Rocky Horror Show Live” is back and this year will mark their 12th annual production of Richard O’Brien’s show.

Ready to ‘Rose Tint Your World’ the cast is directed by Bay Street Theatre’s Executive Director Travis Coles, with musical direction by Brandon Kaufman, and choreography by Lauren Holmen. They are thrilled to be bringing to life once again for returning and new audience members.

“After having to come through covid and doing the show last year it really makes you some things that are consistent,” said Coles.

A lot of familiar names from Bay Street Theatre will be taking the stage in this year’s production but a few fresh faces unleashing their inner wild and untamed things for the first time.

“We always get a new cast every year. We have some veterans this year, some newbies as well, some freshmen from SCAD. It’s never the same show,” said Coles.

There are a few surprises in store for this year’s production, so the cast is being kept under wraps. You’ll have to join them in Frank’s lab to see what they’ve been cooking up that brings something new to the show this time around for Bay Street Theatre.

“We had to make some changes with this adjustment, but it wasn’t a big deal. It will be a surprise for those seeing the show though,” said Coles.

This is not Coles first time directing this show, but this production faced a couple of chal lenges for the rehearsal process because much of the cast was in other shows and delayed some days because of Hurricane Ian.

“It’s been a quick rehearsal process with a lot of music and choreography, but it helps having veterans on the cast,” said Coles.

Performances will be on Oct. 21-23 and 28-31. Show start times are 7:30pm except for Saturdays, which start at 5:30 p.m. On Monday, Oct. 31 there will be a show at 8 p.m. and a bonus show at midnight.

Props (rice, hotdogs, squirt guns, etc.) are strictly prohibited. However, audience members are encouraged to dress up and participate for the shows.

“Every year the fan base grows more and more and it’s kind of a phenomenon where it was always a cult classic but especially for our area with this show,” said Coles.

Tickets go fast each year for this cult classic, so getting your tickets in advance is encouraged. Tickets are available at clubone-online.com

- Kareem McMichael

Savannah Rep presents ‘THE 24 HOUR PLAYS: Savannah’ on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. at the City’s Cultural Arts Center

The event brings together creative communities to produce plays and musicals that are written, rehearsed, and performed in 24 hours. This is being brought to Savannah, with help from Savannah Performance Alliance and the city of Savannah.

The 24 Hour Plays and Musicals was founded by general manager Madelyn Paquette and artistic director Mark Armstrong, first produced on the Lower East Side of New York City in 1995.

“From our end, we enjoy engaging with different communities and helping them build an event that meets their goals, whether artistic, organizational, community building and more,” said Armstrong.

Ken Hailey is the project producer for the Savannah show. It’s completely free and open to the public but it is recommended making a reservation as the Ben Tucker Theater is limited in seating.

Visit savannahrep.org for more information.

- Kareem McMichael

By Kareem McMichael Arts & Entertainment Writer

Many may have heard of Jack the Ripper, an unidentified British Victorian era serial killer, but may not know much about his victims. This ballet sets to tell the stories of the victims. Just in time for the terror of Halloween the Sa vannah Ballet Theatre presents “Jack the Ripper” at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22 at Tybee Post Theatre.

“We are very excited to bring back this fan favorite for the Halloween season after its debut in 2019. These shows quickly sold out in the past and we’re anticipating another good turnout this year,” said SBT Artistic Director Suzanne Braddy.

This ballet tells the story from the perspective of the five female victims known to have been killed by this criminal. These victims, often referred to as ‘The Canonical Five’, were murdered over a three-month period between August and November of 1888.

“I bet if I ask anybody on the street, they probably couldn’t name one of Jack the Ripper victims, they proba bly couldn’t name one. We wanted to bring light to these ladies and why they were in the predicament that they were in because their lives were hard,” said Abby McCuen, co-creator of the production.

While this ballet predates the release of Netflix’s

“Dahmer: Monster” series about Jefferey Dahmer, which received criticism for what some viewed as the fetishiza tion and sensationalism of a murderer, McCuen wanted her show about another notorious murderer to be differ ent.

“We wanted to make it very clear from the beginning that this is by no means glorifying any kind of violence. There is an interest in true crime and it’s true with a lot of infamous murders, the victims always kind of get left out,” said McCuen.

To this day, Jack the Ripper remains an unsolved case. His identity was never discovered, and he was never brought to justice.

“This was the first historically accurate ballet created by SBT. We created it from the women’s perspective, and I think it’s even better than the traditional Jack the Ripper tales,” said Braddy.

This 55-minute performance is suggested for children 13 and older. While the ballet will not be gory, it does feature adult content. Since creating this show, which tells its story through movement of dance, the Savannah Ballet Theatre has worked on making it better and stronger for audiences.

“People are really going to enjoy it, but we wanted to make sure that the story is clear. Obviously, ballet is all through dance. We don’t use words or songs with vocals, this is all through your movement of dance. We just want

ed to make sure that everything translated to the audience, and I just think we delivered,” said McCuen.

The show will feature all local dancers and it’s the mis sion of the Savannah Ballet Theatre to develop and show case the talent of devoted Savannah dancers alongside top professional dancers who train in the studio.

“All the dancers live here. They work here. It’s truly a Savannah event and that’s what we wanted. We’re very grateful because this is our 25th season, and it’s literally because of the support and love from Savannah people. We’re so grateful,” said McCuen.

“Jack the Ripper” will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22 at Tybee Post Theatre, 10 Van Horne Ave, Tybee Island. Tickets are available for purchase on the Events page, tybeeposttheater.org

Learn more about the Savannah Ballet Theatre at savannahballettheatre.org

By Joshua Alexander

Gallery Espresso brings its patented blend of caffein ated drinks and gallery exhibitions to a new level with their new show featuring artist John Crowell through Oct. 31.

Crowell, a former Savannah resident, now lives in Jacksonville. He said the city has always held a special significance, as he lived in Savannah during the late 90s and early 2000s and even co-produced the information al picture book, “Savannah Then and Now.”

“Back then I actually had a show at the original Gallery Espresso that was on Liberty Street,” he remem bered.

For Crowell, returning for a new exhibition in the coffeehouse’s current location was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

The exhibition focuses on the large portfolio of Crowell who began his art career with no formal train ing.

“I always had a natural lean towards drawing. As far back as elementary school, I can remember spending most of the day drawing little cartoons. When I got to

high school I learned to paint a little bit,” he said.

He began exploring mediums as his early interest in art developed into his life long passion. Crowell contin ued to produce art alongside his career in engineering that he began in 1976.

“I think you can see the influences in drafting within the pieces with the way I use hard lines,” he explained.

While most of the show’s pieces have been created in recent years, some of Crowell’s earlier work is also included such as “Chocko Takes a Hike” which focuses on natural imagery.

This offers viewers the unique opportunity to see first hand the development his art has gone through over the course of his life.

Today, Crowell emphasizes that he has drastically ex panded his technique. He uses a multitude of mediums for his art including traditional painting techniques, spray paint, digital designs, and more. Similarly, the subjects of his work vary dramatically including images of the natural world, human experiences, narratives on time, and more.

Crowell states that his art would be broadly described as “surrealism,” but combines elements from many different styles into something uniquely his own. That being said, art aficionados will likely see the influences

french toast brioche style

from famed surrealist artists such as Salvador Dali and Max Ernst.

For more information, visit galleryespresso.com

CAPPUCCINO AND SURREALISM: John Crowell on display at Gallery Espresso through October

“Atom Smasher Gal” by John Crowell

MATT BAUMGARDNER’S SOULFUL EXPLORATIONS

By Beth Logan ART COLUMNIST

A short drive over the Talmadge Bridge and into South Carolina takes you to the beautiful 20,000acre community of Palmetto Bluff - home to FLOW Gallery and Workshop (Simply tell the gate guard, you are visiting the art gallery in Wilson Village). Trust me, it is worth a visit.

The Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff provides a diverse curation of artists, craftsmen, musicians, chefs, and makers, and was established as a pro gram to inspire and enrich lives through art in all its forms. FLOW Gallery and Workshop both show cases the Initiative’s Artists in Residence program and displays a variety of work by southern artists.

For a brief window of time – October 26 to November 6 – the Arts Initiative is partnering with the estate of American contemporary artist Matt Baumgardner (1955-2018) in presenting The Art of Matt Baumgardner: Channeling Universal and Spiritual Planes, a selection of his paintings, works on paper and birch plywood.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Baumgardner earned his MFA at UNC in Chapel Hill in 1982, subse quently spending most of his professional career in NYC. His work on plywood, employing his signature medium of “mud” ( a thick paste created with gypsum and powdered pigments applied in multiple layers of grids and symbols) won him a Visual Arts Fellowship in Painting by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1993. Several of these pieces will be in the Palmetto Bluff show.

From Baumgardner’s early career through his 22-year tenure in NYC, his artwork was exhibited in 14 solo and more than 30 group shows. In 2006, the artist relocated to rural Travelers Rest, SC, where he designed and built a live/work studio on an acre of land, a serene haven in which he created work for a decade. His paintings are now in the

permanent collection of the Greenville County Museum of Art and the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston.

Baumgardner described his work as imparting “a transformative experience that resonates with my longings to channel universal and spiritual planes; I want to transport the spirit, to remind us that we are perfect beings passing through a transient world.”

And Riley Murphy, personal representative for his estate, says she hopes visitors to the gallery “will resonate with Baumgardner’s transcendent soulful explorations, inspired by his love of nature, in this special venue.”

Baumgardner’s body of work synthesizes two disparate approaches - free-form mark-making and a formalized grid based on spatial frequency. My fellow art history nerds will recognize that his inspiration includes a wellspring of sources, from petroglyphs to cubism – and art world luminaries including Piet Mondrian, Paul Klee, Joan Miro, Jackson Pollock, Cy Twombly, and others. Indeed, Baumgardner’s process was to study the classics and old masters, absorb the successful modernists, and then strike out in new directions to express a unique vision honed by his modern lifestyle and experience.

Riley Murphy continues, “ How refreshing to delve into a palpable visual experience which ignites the imagination, transporting us to deeper levels of being, contrasted with the digital images that dominate modern life. I am delighted to share a glimpse into the breadth of Matt Baumgard ner’s creative genius with artworks from different phases of his career.”

The Art of Matt Baumgardner: Channeling Uni versal and Spiritual Planes  will be on exhibit and available for purchase from October 28 – November 6, 2022 at FLOW Gallery & Workshop, 76B Boat House Street, Bluffton (in Wilson Village on the May River at Palmetto Bluff).

OPENING THIS WEEK: EL SALÓN

SOY X SOY SAVANNAH CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

Through Dec. 3 | Opening Reception Oct. 28

SOY X SOY (x=como), ‘I Am Who/What I Am,’ is a collective of Latin, Hispanic and Native American creatives working together to curate a variety of experiences through a series of artistic engagements, including but not limited to exhibitions, performance, culinary arts and installations.El Salón

El Salón is a vibrant group exhibition that will heavily impact the gallery with a variety of 2D and 3D works from over 15 Latin, Hispanic and Native American artists. The idea of the show is to not separate work by each artist, but rather create a grand intermixed salon-style presentation. 2D works will be collaged on the walls, while 3D works will be dispersed throughout the floor plan on pedestals and/or the floor. It’s intended to create a large presence in the space with the density of work, essentially one collective voice that is SOYXSOY, while inviting and encour aging the viewer to engage more intimately with each work on their own terms. It is in these intimate moments where unique insights into the artist and their intentions for the work will be revealed to the viewer.

Sponsored by the City of Savannah and the Savannah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Instagram @soy_x_soy

IMAGES: (L-R) Windows in the Sky #73, 2014; Gouache #2, Series 2, 2016; Silent Enigma, 2015

ART PATROL

HASANI SAHLEHE: “STRETCH MY HANDS”

Laney Contemporary Fine Art. Through Oct. 29. This exhibition displays the experimental work of an Atlanta based artist who uses visual art to study color and light.

NAMWON CHOI

Laney Contemporary Fine Art Through Oct. 29.

Visitors will enjoy the work of Savannah based artist who specializes in handcrafted gouache landscapes that focus on nature and are influenced by traditional Korean artwork.

JOHANA MOSCOSO: “ENTRE SISTEMAS INVISIBLES”

SCAD Museum of Art Through Oct. 31.

Experience artist, Johana Moscoso’s, textile work that pulls influence from Latin American culture to create a unique and thoughtful new exhibition.

“THE DOG SHOW”

SCAD Museum of Art Through Dec. 26.

A great exhibition for Savannah’s dog lovers! This art collection focuses on the characteristics of our canine friends in a variety of mediums.

MARIA NEPOMUCENO: “DENTRO E FORA INFINITAMENTE”

SCAD Museum of Art Through Dec. 26.

Experience sculpture derived from traditional Brazilian straw weaving techniques combined with other materials including beads, ceramic, and more.

“STUDIES IN FORM”

Seher Shah and Randhir Singh

SCAD Museum of Art Through Dec. 26.

Viewers will take in an exhibit focusing on architecture using cyanotype, “an early photographic process and precursor to the blueprint.”

ANNA PARK: “LAST CALL”

SCAD Museum of Art Sept. 21 - Jan. 2, 2023

Experience Anna Park’s large scale charcoal drawings that exist in a blended style of abstraction and figuration.

“AARON DOUGLAS: SERMONS”

SCAD Museum of Art Through Dec. 31. The exhibition looks at celebrated artist, Aaron Douglas, from the Harlem Renaissance era and displays modern artists’ work alongside his to display his lasting influence.

GISELA COLÓN: “THE FEMINIST DIVINE”

SCAD Museum of Art Through Jan., 2023

A perfect exhibition for 3D art enthusiasts. The work showcases invented design features and construction of sculptures influenced by the natural world.

ROXY PAINE: “SEDIMENTARY LENS”

SCAD Museum of Art Through Jan. 2, 2023

Roxy Paine displays her large scale sculptures that dive into topics such as the natural world and human actions.

ALLISON SCHULNIK: “OMINOUS, CRUDE BEAUTY’’

SCAD Museum of Art

Through Jan. 16, 2023

A truly unique claymation based exhibition that will fulfill any macabre art lover’s interests.

DECONSTRUCTED

Jepson Center

Through Nov. 27.

Experience an art exhibit focused on the art of the American Southeast from the 20th and 21st century. An amazing opportunity to learn about the culture of the Southeast through visual art.

GOTHIC SOUL: CHARLES MERYON Jepson Center

Through Jan. 8, 2023

Come see the revealing exhibit that focuses on the art and life of Charles Meryon, a French artist who specialized in black and white etchings after finding that he was colorblind. This is an amazing opportunity to step back in time and view a celebrated artist of the 19th century.

“AVANT GARDENER: A CREATIVE EXPLORATION OF IMPERILED SPECIES:”

Lisa D. Watson, with Sound Art by Eric Chasalon

Sulfur Studios

Through Oct. 22. Experience a local exhibition near Savannah’s Starland District that focuses on natural life and the struggles habitat destruction has caused.

ELEGIES: STILL LIFES IN CONTEMPORARY ART

A group exhibition bringing together an international collection of artists who have disrupted or extended the traditional presentation of still lifes. The artists have appropriated the genre in order to create works within a framework of Black diasporic identities, histories, and collective experiences. Jepson Ctr.

JOSÉ RAY IN THE

DRIVE THRU ART BOX

The Drive Thru Art Box at Green Truck Pub. 2430 Habersham St ThroughDecember 8 sulfurstudios.org/drivethruart

Happy Hour Artist Talk: Thurs.

Oct. 13, 6 - 8 PM at Green Truck Pub. José Ray is working on transparent plexi-glass with mixed media and light to create an engaged and fantastical landscape. During the day, the elements will be illuminated from the outside by natural light and passing reflections. At night, the elements will glow from within and dance with the splendor of Fall.

GALLERY ESPRESSO PRESENTS JOHN CROWELL

Through October 31. Gallery Espresso 234 Bull St From the artist: “The art in this exhibit was mostly produced in the last few years in Jacksonville FL. There are also earlier examples. Most notable is fan favorite: ‘Chocko Takes a Hike’ from a vision realized in 1980.

Although most of the works here are Giclee prints, there is a serigraph I printed while in Austin, circa 1985, and a couple of photo collages of very recent vintage.”

Compiled by Joshua Alexander

CITY OF SAVANNAH’S

‘ART IN THE ARCHIVES’

In the second installment of the City of Savannah’s “Art in the Archives” series celebrating American Archives Month, highlight ed is the photography work of George Karam Gannam (1919-1941). Gannam was born in 1919 in Manchester, New Hampshire, to Leb anese immigrants. After World War I, the Gannam family resettled in Savannah where the family started a grocery store next door to their home on 53rd and Hopkins streets selling various items, in cluding produce from their garden. Gannam helped run the store after school and on the weekends. He graduated from Benedic tine Military School in 1938, where he was active in reestablishing the high school’s newspaper The Campus Quill, serving as editor his senior year. It was during this period that Gannam developed his skills as an amateur photographer, capturing Savannah as he saw it. After graduating, he joined the United States Army Air Corps and was stationed at Wheeler Field, Hawaii, with the 17th Squadron, 18th Air Base Group. In 1941, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and qualified as an Army Aviation Cadet, but unfortu nately never made it to training. On December 7, 1941, at the age of 22, George Gannam was killed in action during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was Savannah’s first World War II casualty. Gannam left behind many artifacts documenting his short life, including his box camera and photographs he took in Savannah like this image of the old Saint Patrick’s Church that once stood on Liberty and West Broad Streets, circa 1936.

Saint Patrick’s Church, Liberty and West Broad streets, circa 1936 George Karam Gannam papers,

BOOKS

WHAT ARE WE READING?

AND

BY

DINOSAURS BY LYDIA MILLET

The story of a man named Gil who walks from New York to Arizona to recover from a failed love. After he arrives, new neighbors move into the glass-walled house next door and his life begins to mesh with theirs. In this warmly textured, drily funny, and philosophical account of Gil’s unexpected devotion to the family, Millet explores the uncanny territory where the self ends and community begins―what one person can do in a world beset by emergencies.

A novel that asks: In the shadow of existential threat, where does hope live?

DEAD MAN’S HAND

BY JAMES J. BUTCHER

On the streets of Boston, the world is divided into the ordinary Usuals, and the paranormal Unorthodox. And in the Department of Un orthodox Affairs, the Auditors are the magical elite, government-sanctioned witches with spells at their command and all the power and prestige that comes with it. Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby is…not one of those witches.

After flunking out of the Auditor training program and being dismissed as “not De partment material,” Grimsby tried to resign himself to life as a mediocre witch. But he can’t help hoping he’ll somehow, some way, get another chance to prove his skill. That op portunity comes with a price when his former mentor, aka the most dangerous witch alive, is murdered, and Grimsby becomes the number one suspect.

LORD OF THE FLY FEST

BY GOLDY MOLDAVSKY

Rafi Francisco needs a splashy case to put her true-crime podcast on the map. Her plan? Land an interview with Fly Fest headliner River Stone, who rocketed to stardom after his girlfriend’s mysterious disappearance―and expose him as the killer she’s sure he is.

But when Rafi―and the hordes of influenc ers―arrive at Fly Fest, the dreamy Caribbean getaway they were promised turns out to be a nightmare. Soon, Rafi is fighting for her life against power-hungry beauty gurus and spotty WiFi. And, as she gets closer to River, she discovers that his secrets might have even bigger consequences than she suspected.

HALLOW

American Idol season seven winner David Cook continues to rock with a purpose

By Angie Miller Music & Clubs Writer

Season seven American Idol winner David Cook is back on tour and making a stop at District Live on Sat., Oct 22.

According to the multi platinum-sell ing rock singer-songwriter, his love for music goes way back to his childhood and although he grew up singing and playing in bands, auditioning for Idol was never his intention.

“I had been in bands and stuff and touring regionally in the Midwest 10 years before Idol,” Cook said. “I was living in Oklahoma at the time and my little brother Andrew had wanted to audition for Idol for years and finally the auditions came close enough. So, I went to the audition with my brother and my mom and got talked into auditioning as we were standing in line to register.”

After nailing his spur of the moment audition, Cook landed a spot on the sing ing competition series and eventually went on to win the entire season. Since then, the acclaimed rocker has charted on the Billboard Hot 100 with his hits “The Time of My Life,” “Light On,” and “Come Back to Me,” and he’s released four albums, three EPs, and also starred on Broadway.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world and play music which is a pret ty great gig,” he said. “And my definition of success in music has very much been a living, breathing thing. But my definition of it before the craziness of Idol is miles different from what it is now really.”

This past April, Cook released his lat est single, “TABOS,” an acronym he says stands for ‘this will all be over soon.’” He explained the inspiration behind his song.

“I watched this kind of actors’ round

table thing online and it was Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, Adam Driver, and Ja mie Foxx and they were all talking about their process and their experience in the industry,” Cook noted. “Tom Hanks talk ed about how his mantra is ‘just wait… things are going really great, just wait… things are going really terrible, just wait.’

I really sort of found something in that mantra and my version of it is ‘this will all be over soon.’ It sounds like a downer, but it’s really a positive message.”

Cook added that in addition to finding songwriting inspirations from outside sources, he uses various methods to get his creative juices flowing.

“How I write each song varies every time…sometimes it’s a melody that pops into my head and it’s like ‘okay what lyr ics fit that melody,’” he said. “Sometimes it’s a musical idea and I’ll go down into my studio and record kind of a basic mu sic bed of drums, bass guitar, piano, etc and figure out the melody from there. Or sometimes I’ll have a lyric and it trickles from there.”

Currently on the road with a full setlist ready to perform, Cook stated that each of his shows will vary, featuring a mix of fan favorites and new music including his latest single “TABOS.”

“We just try to make each show com munal and make it a unique experience,” he said. “Some of my favorite concerts are the ones where I walked away feeling like ‘man I got to experience something that nobody else is going to get to expe rience going to that artists show.’” I want each show to feel like its own ecosystem and that’s very important to me. It’s my way of saying thank you to my fans for all of the years of support.”

David Cook will perform at District Live on Sat., Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets visit ticketmaster.com

THE STAGE PAGE

LAX THE DYNAMIC ACOUSTIC DUO @ MINT TO BE MOJITOS

Jeri Boxx and Larry Broussard are taking requests, up to and including a request to sing along with them. The ‘Lectric Acoustic Experiment could go horribly wrong with untested singers, but better chance you’ll just have fun hearing their take on songs from artists as varied as Radiohead, Phill Collins and Cat Stevens.

WED OCT 26 | 6 PM

By Frank Ricci

HOWARD PAUL JAZZ

TRIO @ MYRTLE & ROSE ROOFTOP GARDEN

Enjoy a beautiful view from a pleasant space with good food and the smooth sounds of a live jazz trio. You survived another Savannah weekend. Head down to Plant Riverside and accept your reward. You earned it, daddy-o.

SUN OCT 23 | 11 AM

DOUG STANHOPE

@ THE WORMHOLE

Credit to the Wormhole for keeping things balanced. On the other end of the comedy spectrum, hard-drinking libertarian Doug Stanhope definitely gives off strong Bill Hicks/Bill Burr vibes. Get yourself a laugh at his take on reality, whether you agree with the anti-establishment version or not.

TUES OCT 25 | 7 PM

DREW MORGAN

@ THE WORMHOLE

Progressive attorney turned progressive comedian, with a twist. From the not-so-progressive confines of east Tennessee, Morgan tours with the WELLred comedy troupe and is the author of “The Liberal Redneck Manifesto.” Get yourself a laugh at his take on reality, whether you agree with the establishment version or not.

SAT OCT 22 | 8 PM

SOUNDBOARD

OCT/19-25

WEDNESDAY 10/19

LIVE MUSIC

Cohen’s Retreat

Midtown Pickers, 6 p.m. Driftaway Cafe

Chuck Courtenay, 6 p.m. Jazz’d Tapas Bar

Patrick Ellington McDonough’s Blues with Eric Culberson, 9 p.m. Nickie’s 1971 Ray Tomasino, 7 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 10/20

LIVE MUSIC

Cohen’s Retreat

Munchies & Music, 5-9 p.m. Electric Moon Skytop Lounge and The Moon Deck, Plant Riverside District - Power Plant Building rooftop Moon Deck LIVE at Electric Moon feat. Laiken Love & The Fellowship of Love, 8-11 p.m. Jazz’d Tapas Bar

JoJo Stella

TRIVIA & GAMES

Bar Food

Trivia Night, 8 p.m. McDonough’s Family Feud, 7 p.m.

The Wormhole Trivia, 10 p.m.

KARAOKE

Bay Street Blues Karaoke Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m. McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

COMEDY

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

DJ

Club 51 Degrees

DJ B-Rad, 9 p.m.

SAT/22

BACK N BLACK ULTIMATE AC/DC EXPERIENCE @COACH’S CORNER | 7PM

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m. Tubby’s Tank House (Thunderbolt) Bucky and Barry, 1 p.m. TRIVIA & GAMES Moon River Brewing Co. Trivia, 6 p.m.

KARAOKE

Bay Street Blues

Karaoke Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m. McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

MONDAY 10/24

LIVE MUSIC

At a Back N Black show

will see

that is AC/DC...from Angus’ SG, school-boy uniform, duckwalks,

and constant headbanging

the shoulder ride, extended guitar solos and much more.

all

the vintage Marshalls, Gretsch and Gibson

Top Deck

Sunset Deck Party, 6 p.m. BAR & CLUB EVENTS

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

FRIDAY 10/21

LIVE MUSIC

Coffee Bluff Marina LAX, 6 p.m. Jazz’d Tapas Bar Swing Del Sur Trio Moss + Oak Savannah Eatery Live Music on the Moss + Oak Patio

Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant

JodyJazz Trio, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Randy Wood’s Pickin’ Parlor

The John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band, 8-10 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.

Congress Street Social Club

DJ Flip

BAR & CLUB EVENTS Club One

Drag Show, 10:30 p.m. & 12:30 a.m.

Rock House Music & Dance, 10 p.m.

the

LIVE MUSIC

Coach’s Corner

Back N Black: The Ultimate ACDC Experience, 7 p.m. Coffee Bluff Marina

Gary Strickland, 6 p.m. District Live at Plant Riverside District

David Cook, Live in Concert, 8-10 p.m. Jazz’d Tapas Bar

Ron Helman Jazz Trio Moss + Oak Savannah Eatery Live Music on the Moss + Oak Patio

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

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m. TRIVIA & GAMES

Blueberry Hill Pool Tournament, 2 p.m. KARAOKE

Bar Food Karaoke Night, 10 p.m. Bay Street Blues Karaoke Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m. McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

themselves.

Rock House Karaoke, 9 p.m. Totally Awesome Bar Karaoke, 10 p.m.

COMEDY

Front Porch Improv

Adult Drop-in IMPROV Class

DJ

Congress Street Social Club

DJ Kut Daily BAR & CLUB EVENTS

Club One

Drag Show, 10:30 p.m. & 12:30 a.m. Over Yonder Honky Tonk Saturdays

SUNDAY 10/23

LIVE MUSIC

Collins Quarter at Forsyth Ember City, 2 p.m. Congress Street Social Club Voodoo Soup, 10 p.m. Jazz’d Tapas Bar

Cyril & June 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.

Nickie’s 1971 Ray Tomasino, 7 p.m. The Wormhole Open Mic, 6 p.m.-2 a.m. TRIVIA & GAMES Club One Super Gay Bingo, 5:30 p.m. Moodright’s BINGO, 8 p.m. Starland Yard Music Bingo, 7 p.m. 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 10/25

LIVE MUSIC

McDonough’s Open Mic/Jam, 9 p.m. Nickie’s 1971 Roy Swindell, 7 p.m. TRIVIA & GAMES Basil’s Pizza and Deli Trivia, 7 p.m. Fia Rua Irish Pub Trivia, 7 p.m. McDonough’s Trivia Tuesday, 7 p.m. Oak 36 Bar + Kitchen Trivia Tuesday, 9 p.m. Savannah Taphouse Trivia, 7 p.m. Starland Yard Trivia with Chris Grimmett, 6:30 p.m. KARAOKE 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.

ZEKE BEATS X WRECKNO @ ELAN SAVANNAH

A multi-pronged creative force, Zeke Beats has been turning heads in EDM world with extra low bass throbbing with hip-hop and grime weaved into the sound. He’s also a world-class DJ, crowned by Grandmaster Turntablist DJ Qbert as the first ever Qbert Skratch University Valedictorian. High honor, indeed.

SAT OCT 22 | 10 PM

DEAD MAN’S HAND @ THE WORMHOLE

“Read ‘em and weep, the dead man’s hand again,” said Our Lord and Savior, Lemmy. And who is anyone to argue? DMH is four seasoned musicians playing top classic rock and country hits spanning six decades, from the 70s to now. Unless you compulsively hate rock & roll, expect to hear many favorites.

22 |

THE BAND PAGE

By Frank Ricci

MANAROVS + CLOSE ENCOUNTER @ EL ROCKO

Local alien super agent punk rock outfit Manarovs gives it to audiences straight ahead with no gimmicks — unless you count the whole alien-agent thing. Regardless, they put on a highly energetic show of tight, short songs. Summerville, SC punk rockers Close Encounter join the fun.

FRI OCT 21 | 8 PM

SAVANNAH IS FOR LOVERS @ BARRELHOUSE SOUTH

If you fly the “Still Emo” banner, head to Barrelhouse South and feel a little less sad, if only for a couple of hours. The “…is for Lovers” DJ/sound system/ singalong program, with “cover band” Sadsongs is bringing the early-aughts emo and pop-punk throwback show back to Savannah. Get your mope on and shuffle quarter-speed ahead.

THUR OCT 20 | 9 PM

LAST MINUTE COSTUMES ARE THE BEST

Connect Savannah Events hosted a fashion experience, performance art, and masquerade ball: “ A Night in the Garden”, on Friday, October 14, 2022 at the Kehoe Iron Works at Trustees’ Garden. Proceeds from the show benefited the United Way of Coastal Empire.

The evening was hosted by MC Patrick Saxton and stacked with creative performances, including musical guests DJ Jose Ray, Laiken and the House of Love, Sleepy and Boo - NYC DJ duo. Fashion Designers StoneLords by Roz Morris, Mamie Ruth by Emily Bargeron, Sayler Made by Kathleen Sayler, Morgan Dallas, LaTricia Brown Morgan Rae, D’Arcy Ambroise, and Ana A. Performance artists Flame Cynders, The Dowtown Delilahs, Rita D’ La Vane - Savannah Sweet Tease, and Ariel performances by Savannah Cirque were featured throughout the night.

A special thanks to Calvin Wayne Photos for capturing the evening.