Connect Savannah I March 2024

PATRICK’S ISSUE

SAVANNAH’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY

PARADE: CELEBRATING 200 YEARS OF FAITH, FAMILY, AND TRADITION

5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE ST. PADDY'S DAY LIKE A LOCAL

• BAILEY DAVIDSON, AN EYE ON THE PARADE

• NEW IRISH PUB OPENING AT CITY MARKET

• GO GREEN BY UPCYCLING YOUR HOME

• MEET SAVANNAH'S GREEN THUMB

ERIN GO BRAUGH, OVER 200 YEARS!

BARABBAS & THE TRIBE

APPEARING TYBEE ISLAND, MARCH 9TH at The IRISH HERITAGE PARADE! JUNKANOO PARADES TWICE DAILY at THE ORIGINAL CRAB SHACK on Tybee Island!

DRINK DANCE JAM

38 MLK JR. BLVD. ROGU E WA TE R SAV ANN AH

DRINK

38 MLK BLVD. ROGUEWATERSAV

109 W BROUGHTON ST.

VICE LOUNGE SAV

125 W. CONGRESS ST. BARRELHOUSESAV

SATURDAY, MARCH 23

8:30 PM SAMARA JOY

Lucas Theatre for the Arts

$85 (Gold Circle), $73, $61, $49, $39

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

12:30 PM NOON30: LENA JONSSON TRIO Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $32 (General Admission)

5 & 8 PM OUMOU SANGARÉ

North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum $42 (General Admission)

5 & 8:30 PM LENA JONSSON TRIO / KIERAN KANE & RAYNA GELLERT

Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $42 (General Admission)

6 PM DAVID FINCKEL, CELLO & WU HAN, PIANO

Lucas Theatre for the Arts (on the stage) $57 (General Admission)

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

5 & 8:30 PM MARTA PEREIRA DA COSTA FEAT. DUARTE / BRIDGET KIBBEY’S “BACH TO BRAZIL”

Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $42 (General Admission)

6 & 9 PM BAYOU BOOGIE! A TRIBUTE TO CLIFTON CHENIER North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum $42 (General Admission)

8 PM FUTUREBIRDS / T. HARDY MORRIS

Lucas Theatre for the Arts $77 (Gold Circle), $67, $57, $47, $37

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

12:30 PM NOON30: MARTA PEREIRA DA COSTA FEAT. DUARTE

Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $32 (General Admission)

5:30 & 8 PM THE ART OF THE KORA: DEREK GRIPPER & BALLAKÉ SISSOKO Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $42 (General Admission)

6 & 8:30 PM DERVISH

North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum $42 (General Admission)

6 PM DUBHE ENSEMBLE FEAT. JOSEPH CONYERS Congregation Mickve Israel $57 (General Admission)

7:30 PM CHUCHO VALDÉS ROYAL QUARTET

Lucas Theatre for the Arts $85 (Gold Circle), $73, $61, $49, $39

SUNDAY, MARCH 31

4 PM RENÉE FLEMING

Lucas Theatre for the Arts $85 (Gold Circle), $73, $61, $49, $39

MONDAY, APRIL 1

6 PM RENÉE FLEMING: MUSIC & MIND Savannah Cultural Arts Center | FREE

TUESDAY, APRIL 2

12:30 PM SEBASTIAN KNAUER, PIANO

Trinity United Methodist Church $45 (General Admission)

6 PM FRANK STEWART IN CONVERSATION WITH DR. WALTER EVANS Neises Auditorium at The Jepson Center FREE (Artist Talk)

7 PM TISRA: ZAKIR HUSSAIN TRIO Trustees Theater $45 (General Admission)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3

4:30 & 8 PM WARREN WOLF & WOLFPACK / ISAIAH J. THOMPSON QUARTET

Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $42 (General Admission)

7:30 PM ROSANNE CASH WITH JOHN LEVENTHAL

Lucas Theatre for the Arts $81 (Gold Circle), $69, $59, $49, $39

THURSDAY, APRIL 4

12:30 PM NOON30: ISAIAH J. THOMPSON DUO

Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $32 (General Admission)

5 & 8:30 PM STEPHANE WREMBEL QUARTET / TATIANA EVA-MARIE & AVALON JAZZ BAND

Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $42 (General Admission)

KICKOFF CONCERT

6 PM PHILIP DUKES & FRIENDS I

Trinity United Methodist Church $52 (General Admission)

8 PM RICKY SKAGGS & KENTUCKY THUNDER

Lucas Theatre for the Arts

$81 (Gold Circle), $69, $59, $49, $39

FRIDAY, APRIL 5

12:30 PM NOON30: STEPHANE WREMBEL QUARTET

Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $32 (General Admission)

3 PM DOC AT 100

5:30 & 9 PM

Savannah Cultural Arts Center |FREE

DUMPSTAPHUNK / CHA WA

North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum $42 (General Admission)

6 PM ESCHER STRING QUARTET FEAT. PHILIP DUKES

Trinity United Methodist Church $57 (General Admission)

8 PM DOC AND EARL: DOC AT 100 / TONY TRISCHKA’S EARLJAM

Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $42 (General Admission)

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

12:30 PM NOON30: TONY TRISCHKA

Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $32 (General Admission)

CAJUN DANCE PARTY:

4:30 & 7 PM

THE SAVOY FAMILY CAJUN BAND

Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $42 (General Admission)

6 PM PHILIP DUKES & FRIENDS II

Trinity United Methodist Church $52 (General Admission)

6 & 9 PM

LATIN DANCE PARTY: ORQUESTA AKOKÁN

North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum $42 (General Admission)

8 PM CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM

Lucas Theatre for the Arts $81 (Gold Circle), $69, $59, $49, $39

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

3 PM MICHAEL COLLINS & FRIENDS

Trinity United Methodist Church $45 (General Admission)

3 & 7 PM

THE PO' RAMBLIN BOYS / AJ LEE & BLUE SUMMIT

North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum $42 (General Admission)

TUESDAY, APRIL 9

5 & 8 PM KAIA KATER / VIV & RILEY

Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $42 (General Admission)

6 PM PHILIP DUKES & FRIENDS III

Savannah Cultural Arts Center $52 (General Admission)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10

5 & 8:30 PM BRANDEE YOUNGER TRIO / IMMANUEL WILKINS QUARTET Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $45 (General Admission)

7:30 PM MUDDY AND WOLF REVISITED: A TRIBUTE TO MUDDY WATERS AND HOWLIN' WOLF FEAT. BOBBY RUSH & NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS

Lucas Theatre for the Arts

$81 (Gold Circle), $69, $59, $49, $39

THURSDAY, APRIL 11

12:30 PM NOON30: BRANDEE YOUNGER TRIO Metal Building at Trustees' Garden $35 (General Admission)

6 PM PHILIP DUKES & FRIENDS IV

Trinity United Methodist Church $52 (General Admission)

7 PM MADISON CUNNINGHAM / JUANA MOLINA Trustees Theater $42 (General Admission)

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

6 PM EMANUEL AX, PIANO

Trinity United Methodist Church $65 (General Admission)

6 & 8:30 PM AMY HELM

Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden $42 (General Admission)

7:30 PM MATTHEW WHITAKER Trustees Theater $45 (General Admission)

8:30 PM MIGHTY POPLAR

Lucas Theatre for the Arts $81 (Gold Circle), $69, $59, $49, $39

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

3 PM ISLAND PRAYERS: TURTLE ISLAND QUARTET Trustees Theater $52 (General Admission)

7:30 PM SOLEDAD BARRIO & NOCHE FLAMENCA: SEARCHING FOR GOYA

Lucas Theatre for the Arts $81 (Gold Circle), $69, $59, $49, $39

8 PM CLOSING NIGHT PARTY: REBIRTH BRASS BAND / EDDIE 9V

CLOSING NIGHT PARTY! GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! savannahmusicfestival.org | 912.525.5050

ADMINISTRATIVE

RUFUS FRIDAY PUBLISHER rufusfriday@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4380

ERICA BASKIN DIRECTOR OF EVENTS AND COMMUNITY ericabaskin@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4378

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

CONTENT

ERICA LANG EDITOR elang@connectsavannah.com (912) 428-7648

TRAVIS JAUDON REPORTER travisjaudon@connectsavannah.com

MCKENNAH SINK MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER (912) 721-4354

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Marley Gibson, Jesse Blanco, Beth Logan, Frank Ricci Brett Bigelow, Brittany Herren

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DISTRIBUTION

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

As the new Publisher of CONNECT SAVANNAH, I want to introduce myself to this vibrant community and historic city. I am honored to join the CONNECT SAVANNAH family, stepping into this role with a vision of growth and evolution for your beloved publication.

My journey to Savannah has been shaped by decades of experience in the media industry, spanning various leadership roles across the nation. From the heart of North Carolina, with stops along the way in the Midwest, to the Pacific Northwest of Washington State, to the rolling hills of Kentucky, each stop along my journey has shaped my perspective and fueled my passion for community and journalism.

In each of these communities, I have witnessed the transformative impact of storytelling — from uplifting tales of resilience and hope to hard-hitting investigations that hold power to account. My time in Lexington, where I served as president and publisher for the HeraldLeader & Kentucky.com, taught me the importance of deep-rooted connections and unwavering dedication to serving the public’s interest. Similarly, my experiences in other locales have reinforced the fundamental role that local news plays in fostering informed citizenship and a sense of belonging.

Now, as I start on this new chapter with CONNECT SAVANNAH, I am committed to building upon this legacy, ensuring that your publication remains a trusted source of arts and entertainment,

along with an enhanced focus on news and information.

In this March issue, themed “Savannah Goes Green,” we celebrate the intersections of tradition, innovation, and environmental consciousness that define this community. Our cover story dives into Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, commemorating 200 years of faith, family, and tradition, with an introduction of Bailey Davidson, the official photographer for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Additionally, we explore insightful features on sustainability champions like the artists, Harry DeLorme and Rachel Green, and the transformative power of upcycling. We also share the unique story of Seldom Sober, a local Irish music act coming to an end, and provide a heartwarming tale of a Midwest transplant thriving thanks to the Savannah Garden Club.

In the coming months, I invite you to share with me your stories on this rich and historic city and teach me the spirit of growth, renewal, and connection that defines CONNECT SAVANNAH. I am hoping that together, we will chart a course toward a brighter, more complete future for all who call this beautiful city home.

And as the Irish say, “May the road rise up to meet you, and may the wind be always at your back.”

Thank you for reading and supporting CONNECT SAVANNAH, and I look forward to the journey ahead.

Sincerely,

RUFUS FRIDAY

OUR VALUES

Connect Savannah is an arts, entertainment and news magazine, focused on Savannah and the Coastal Empire life and experience. We strive to feature stories

WORDS AND MUSIC BY GERRY GOFFIN BARRY MANN

DIRECTED BY TIFFANY EVARISTE

MUSIC BY ARRANGEMENT WITH SONY/ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING

MARCH 7-9, 8 p.m. | MARCH 10, 3 p.m.

LUCAS THEATRE FOR THE ARTS PURCHASE TICKETS AT SCADBOXOFFICE.COM

is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

SOUR FEST & GEORGIA BEER DAY TWO TIDES BREWING

GREENING OF THE FOUNTAIN I MARCH 8 I 12:00PM I FORSYTH PARK

WILL PENNY: NOTHING TO FEAR

MARCH 1 - 23

Laney Contemporary is pleased to present “Nothing to Fear,” an exhibition of new work by Savannah-based artist, Will Penny. Combining traditional art making tools with emerging technologies, including painting, sculpture, video, and found materials, Penny explores the sublimity and absurdity of our encounters and pursuits of the unknown. laneycontemporary. com

UNITED WAY WOMEN WHO RULE LUNCHEON

MARCH 5

Having access to reliable transportation is essential for individuals as it allows them to get to work, school, medical appointments, training opportunities, and other critical resources. It also provides greater opportunities for social and economic growth. The Women Who Rule campaign, led by United Way WOMEN

UNITED®, is committed to this endeavor through fundraising and awareness. Women leaders and local change-makers from all backgrounds inspire others to donate and serve their community in new ways. info@uwce.org

SAVANNAH ANTIQUES AND ARCHITECTURE WEEKEND

MARCH 7 - 10

This year we celebrate Savannah’s antiques and architectural legacy with American Antiques expert, Mr. Leigh Keno, best known for his role on The Antiques Road Show, tours of historic homes and antiques collections on our Antiques Road Stroll.Organized by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Georgia, a 501C3 charitable organization, this event supports the ongoing preservation of two of the City’s prominent historic houses, the Andrew Low House Museum and The GreenMeldrim House. Savantiquesweekend.com

ZZ TOP & LYNYRD SKYNYRD

MARCH 8

ZZ Top & Lynyrd Skynyrd are bringing The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour with Black Stone Cherry to Savannah on March 8! 7PM enmarketarena.com

SOUR FEST AT TWO TIDES

MARCH 9

We’ll be celebrating 2024 Georgia Beer Day the only way we know how by throwing our 2nd annual Sour Fest on Saturday, March 9th. We’ll have our usual block party hangs on De Soto Ave with the below deets planned so far. We’ll be posting more updates soon, you’re not gonna want to miss this! twotidesbrewing.com

HOT AIR BALLOON & LASER SHOW MARCH 8 - 9

Get the whole family out for a great family fun

Photo by Bailey Davidson

HIGHLIGHTED PICKS FROM HOSTESS CITY HAPPENINGS THIS MONTH

To have your event considered for inclusion, please visit connectsavannah.com and enter your event in our online calendar. There, you can manage your entries, change and add dates, times, etc.

time! See incredible Hot Air Balloons, check that bucket list and get a ride on an actual Hot Air Balloon! We will have a Kids Zone, with Games and Rides magicians and much more! DJ & Live Music for your entertainment from a variety of Artists.Craft & Retail Vendor Booths with tons of cool and interesting stuff for sale! Food Vendors with bunches of fantastic Festival Style food to choose from! Bucket List!! freshtix.com/events/savannahballoon

CELTIC CROSS MASS & CEREMONY

MARCH 10

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist 11:30 AM - 5:00 PM. For more information visit savannahsaintpatricksday.com

CELTIC WOMAN 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

MARCH 10

Join us for a magical evening of music, dance, and celebration as Celtic Woman embarks on a remarkable journey through two decades of enchanting performances. In honor of their 20th anniversary, the world-renowned musical ensemble is set to grace the Johnny Mercer Theatre stage with an unforgettable concert experience that will leave you spellbound. savannahcivic.com

SGT. WILLIAM JASPER

CEREMONY

MARCH 15

Madison Square, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM. For more information visit savannahsaintpatricksday. com

200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SAVANNAH ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

MARCH 16

Approximately 280 units – bands, families, societies, soldiers, public servants and commercial floats – wind through the streets of Historic Downtown Savannah on March 16th, making our St. Patrick’s Day Parade one of the largest and most recognized in the world! 10:15 AM - 12:00 PM. For more information visit savannahsaintpatricksday. com

COMMUNITY SERVICE - SECOND HARVEST

MARCH 19

Once a month, New Neighbours come together and volunteer two hours of their time to support America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. This is a great opportunity to meet new people while giving back to the greater Savannah community. Each year, Second Harvest delivers close to 18 million meals to people struggling with hunger in Coastal Georgia. NN Volunteers will help package meals at the Second Harvest facility at 2651 Causton Bluff Road, Savannah GA. These meals will later be delivered by the Second Harvest organization to those families in need.

A TASTE OF AFRICAN HERITAGE COOKING CLASS

MARCH 21

The Forsyth Farmers’ Market, through a partnership with Oldways, will continue its “A Taste of African Heritage” series with a free cooking class on Thursday, March 21.This series of immersive, hands-on classes is designed to celebrate the rich heritage of African cuisine and to promote health-conscious cooking that is deeply rooted in tradition. Attendees will engage in discussions about the cultural significance of the ingredients, learn culinary skills and techniques and take time to eat, share and reflect.

ST. VINCENT’S NUN RUN

MARCH 23

The Most exciting event since the invention of the HABIT. This is the 2nd Annual Savannah Nun Run benefiting St Vincent’s! This unbelievable event will feature 100s of “Nuns” running the streets of Savannah! Get your Black and White pressed and sign up today! runsignup.com/Race/GA/Savannah/ StVincentNunRun

RICHMOND HILL GEECHEE

GULLAH FESTIVAL

MARCH 23

The David Boles Foundation will co-host the third annual Geechee Gullah Festival supported by the City of Richmond Hill. This

festival highlights the culture (food, music, religion, societal norms, etc.) of the local descendants of the local rice plantations. The Geechees are the formerly enslaved people in Georgia. The name is derived from the Ogeechee River.

PASOS AT PROVISIONS

MARCH 25

Latin Fusion dance and wine at Provisions! Learn a different style of latin dancing every last Monday of the month! No partner or experience required. Ticket includes a glass of wine and beginner social dance lesson.

SWAN LAKE

MARCH 28

Experience the legendary! Swan Lake, the ballet of all ballets, will be performed one night only as a part of the World Ballet Series. See the iconic Dance of the Little Swans, count the 32 fouettés performed by Odile and immerse yourself in magical Tchaikovsky’s music. savannahcivic.com

EASTER EGG HUNT

MARCH 30

Join the Easter Bunny for a brewery Egg Hunt at Service Brewing on Saturday, March 30th from 12pm-2pm. A suggested donation benefits Loop It Up, a local non-profit arts and education enrichment organization providing arts-integrated learning to our youth community. Have a beer while your kids visit with the Easter Bunny and enjoy face painting, fairy hair and crafts before and after the hunt. servicebrewing.com

RED SHOES RUN 5K

MARCH 30

The Annual Red Shoes Run is a day of fun for the entire family. Show your support of our mission help keep families close by joining other runners wearing red-and-white striped socks. All proceeds benefit RMHC-CE to serve families that have a critically ill or injured child being treated at our local children’s hospital or medical facility.

BAILEY DAVIDSON AN EYE ON THE PARADE

By Marley Gibson

The most iconic event in Savannah happens every March when the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and all things Celtic-related rule. The town’s population triples for the occasion and, thanks to the keen eye and artistic talent of photographer Bailey Davidson, the entire world can witness the city’s joyous, fun, and traditional celebration through his treasured images.

To be able to “shoot” and document the events for the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is “very much an honor,” Davidson said. “To me, it’s all about being a part of history. The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is a tradition in Savannah and it’s nice to be a small part of that.”

Davidson, 51, has a life-long love affair with photography. “I have been a visual artist since childhood and have been taking pictures for almost as long,” he said. “My first camera was a Kodak Disc, which I still own. In 1990, my mother gave me a handme-down Minolta 7000 35mm camera with detachable lenses and that took things to the next level.”

Photo by Bailey Davidson, St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2019

After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Georgia College, the Milledgeville native found his way to Savannah in 2000 when he was accepted to Savannah College of Art and Design’s Master of Fine Arts Photography program. While attending SCAD, Bailey met his wife, Larissa Thut Davidson, originally from Switzerland, who was also studying at SCAD. The importance of photography in their life is apparent in their love story.

“We got married in 2011 in the photo equipment check-out room where we met, in the basement of Bergen Hall, the old photo building,” Bailey shared proudly. “Larissa is now the marketing director at the Savannah Music Festival and we have a three-year-old daughter.”

Nowadays, Davidson uses every type of equipment from plastic film cameras to Canon 5Ds, depending on his subject, project, or mood, when he is working an event. However, during the historic parade, he likes to have at least two cameras on hand that can cover a wide range of focal lengths.

Options for nabbing the “money shot” are high for Davidson, especially since he began working for the Parade’s Executive

Committee in 2018 and has been photographing most of the festivities since then.

“There are several events—starting at the end of February—leading up to the parade,” Davidson explained. “For example, I get to photograph things like the Honoring of the Deceased Grand Marshal Ceremony [where] a past deceased grand marshal is recognized graveside; the Celtic Cross Mass, Ceremony, and reception at the Basilica Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist; the Sergeant William Jasper Procession and Ceremony honoring the Jasper Greens and where retired and active military service members are recognized; the greening of the fountain in Forsyth Park, and, of course, the parade itself.”

In all the years Davidson has been capturing images and memories from the Saint Patrick’s Day festivities, there is one shot that stands out.

“Wow… to pick a favorite [picture] might take a while,” he began. “…but this photo, in particular, says many things. I watched the scene unfold as the little girl in the picture was somewhat hesitant to approach the

rumbling, flashing motorcycle and its armed occupant. However, with encouragement, she mustered up the strength to bring him a flower and it provided me with this honest, endearing moment.”

It is memories such as this that are so important not only to Davidson as a photographer, but to him as a local and what the day means to all Savannahians. This year, Savannah is celebrating its 200th parade anniversary, so Davidson knows it will be a special day for everyone who gathers on the streets, picnics in the squares, and cheers along to the music and entertainment.

“It’s a day for all! You see so many people… Family, friends, and, most importantly, the celebration of Saint Patrick. There will be a special energy in the air this year due to the significant anniversary. I am always intimidated going into the season, but I am looking forward to the challenge.”

Davidson can be found online at www.baileydavidson.com. Check out the festivities and parade schedule at www.savannahsaintpatrickspics.com.

5 5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY LIKE A LOCAL

George Schwarz, last year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade grand marshal, knows first-hand how to get the most out of enjoying Savannah’s big day and he’s sharing his expert advice.

1. MAKE A PLAN

According to Schwarz, there’s two main parts to making a good plan for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day—parking and knowing how you’re getting home.

“Parking is key because they tow 100 cars every year, at least,” Schwarz said. Watch where you park.” For more information about parking options, including city parking garages and ferries, visit the City of Savannah’s website: https://www.savannahga. gov/1182/Parking-Garages-Shuttles-andFerries

“There’s lots of garages, there’s lots of places to find your spot,” Schwarz said. “It’s logistics.” Several rideshare options make it more convenient to devise your

plan for not only getting to the parade, but also returning home.

It might sound silly but knowing where to use the restroom is no joke. “Locate the nearest bathroom,” Schwarz said. The City of Savannah is providing 15 different portable toilet and hand sanitizing stations along the parade route. Be sure to locate the one closest to you.

2. DON’T SKIP BREAKFAST

If you want to start the day like a local, find a place to get breakfast before the parade starts. Many of Savannah’s Irish societies start their day with a breakfast. Since 1987, Schwarz has shared breakfast with the adjutant staff—the group wearing white jackets on parade day responsible for coordinating the units.

“We have breakfast, and we all get our list and all our information to go put the parade on,” Schwarz said of the adjutant staff breakfast. “The ones that go to breakfast with societies, they have

2023

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE GRAND MARSHAL

Photo by Bailey Davidson

speakers and it’s a way to enjoy your morning with your friends.” Schwarz said Clary’s is an option as well as several hotels in Savannah who offer a breakfast buffet before the parade starts.

3. FIND YOUR PLACE

With tens of thousands of visitors making their way to the Hostess City, finding your spot along the parade route is crucial. The parade stretches about three miles long and offers several places to view the parade.

Schwarz has fond memories of being in the parade prior to becoming grand marshal. “I drove a car in a parade when I was 15 years old,” he said. Schwarz also has photos of riding in the back of his grandfather’s car through the parade when he was five or six.

If you are wanting to watch the parade from one of Savannah’s squares, be aware that you are not the only one. Known as the “Land Rush”, parade goers who want a coveted spot on one of the historic squares run to secure their place. It’s important to know that the night before the parade, the City of Savannah will stage security guards and city marshals in the squares at 10pm and ask everyone to leave the square.

Starting at 6am on the morning of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the city will officially open the squares, allowing for all to secure their spots. Savannah squares on the parade route include Taylor, Oglethorpe, Lafayette, Johnson, Wright, Madison and Chippewa.

4. DRESS TO IMPRESS

For Savannah locals, the day is a special occasion, and they have attire to match. It’s the day of the year where your outfit can and should scream green. “I can’t tell you the last time I didn’t wear a tie on St. Patrick’s Day, a coat and tie,” Schwarz said. “We dress up, its St. Patrick’s Day.”

Be sure to check the weather ahead of time to make sure your outfit is appropriate. “Mostly it’s going to be sunny and 70 something…but I’ve been out there with a wool hat and a coat on,” Schwarz said who knows with weather, there’s no guarantee.

5. REMEMBER WHY WE CELEBRATE

“The original idea is to celebrate the work that was done by St. Patrick in bringing the faith of Christianity to Ireland and all that came from that was the great faith that the Irish brought to this

country,” said Father Michael Kavanaugh, a native of Savannah who has served at St. Peter the Apostle Parish for almost nine years.

Schwarz believes it is important to know why we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and said, “We’re also celebrating our Irish ancestors and how we got here and why we can enjoy this parade.” The day is a celebration of faith, family, and friends. Enjoy it like a local!

Erica Lang, Clary’s Cafe

200 YEARS

By Erica Lang

Photography by Bailey Davidson

Celebrating

200 YEARS OF FAITH, FAMILY, AND TRADITION

Every year, for the past 200 years, Savannah celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with an annual parade that showcases Irish pride, tradition and community. People from around the country visit Savannah to partake in one of the biggest demonstrations that, in the end, lasts a few hours but upholds the beliefs and customs established long ago.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world that day. There’s no place. You couldn’t offer me any money,” said George Schwarz, last year’s parade grand marshal and lifelong Savannahian.

Schwarz, who joined the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee in 1983, knows all too well the work that goes into planning and preparation.

Since 1987, he’s been a member of the adjutant staff—the group wearing white jackets on parade day responsible for coordinating the units—a role he will do again this year.

“There’s people working on this parade for a year,” said Schwarz. “We talk about it by that afternoon, about what we need to do to make it better for every year.”

Timothy Mahoney is one of those people. A member of the parade committee since 1994, he was elected to become general chairman in May 2023 and has been meeting with his executive staff since. From confirming permits and reservations for events including the Celtic Cross Ceremony to reviewing weekly applications for parade participants, Mahoney and the Parade Committee stay busy.

“All those things happen pretty much right up until a couple of weeks before the parade,” Mahoney said.

The parade, scheduled for March 16, stretches a little over three miles long and begins at the intersection of Gwinnett and Abercorn Streets.

ABOVE: 2023 Grand St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal

OPPOSITE: Getting ready for Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

“It kicks off at 10:15 and you could have anywhere from 300 to 325 units and that could be a float, that could be horses, that could be a band, that could be a convertible with the past grand marshal riding in it with his family. So those are all considered units.”

The procession was not always like that, Mahony shared, who has seen it grow significantly over the years.

“In 1968 and ‘69, my dad was the general chairman, and the parade wasn’t nearly anything like it is today and they didn’t have any money. So, they literally laid it out on a dining room table in Midtown with the group and put the parade on the street and it’s just continued to grow for all these years.”

This year, however, marks an important milestone.

“A lot of people want to be involved in this one, of course, being the 200th anniversary on a Saturday. Saturday is always our biggest parade for obvious reasons,” Mahoney said. “Being the 200th anniversary, there’s a lot of history. There’s an actual group that is totally separate from our executive committee and they formed a group—some past general chairmen, some past grand marshals and it’s called [the] 200th Committee.”

John Fogarty, who served on the executive committee for 12 years and then as the general chairman of the parade in 2021 and 2022, helped initiate the 200th Committee. “Let’s create a separate committee,” he told others of his idea, “and we could do some extra fundraising and have a couple extra events to give this year the honor that it deserves.”

Fogarty said about ten members make-up the 200th Committee and in addition to planning events, they’ve made available “three items that you can purchase that commemorate the year.” Those include a challenge coin, limited to only 200, a flag with a commemorative logo, and a coffee table book with parade history and interviews inside.

“Two-hundred years is a big deal. If you go down to Emmet Park and you look at the Celtic Cross monument that was put there in the 80s, on the bottom of it, it says, for all Irish Americans past, present, future.”

The past and its impact on the present may be best understood by Dr. Meaghan Dwyer-Ryan, associate director of the Center for Irish Research and Teaching (CIRT) at Georgia Southern University.

“It is pretty unusual because

on the surface, unless it’s

March, you don’t

really think of Savannah as having this big Irish community. But the signs are all there. You just have to know where to look,” DwyerRyan said.

Emmet Park on Bay Street, for example, was originally known as Irish Green, according to Dwyer-Ryan. “This was a gathering place for the Irish who lived over in the Old Fort district and in that part of town,” she said. “They renamed

Other signs of Irish communities in Savannah include the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist as well as stones and ballast in Factors Walk that were originally brought from Ireland. DwyerRyan noted that a plaque dedicated to Michael Cash, a stonemason from County Wexford, Ireland who built the Factors Walk retaining wall, is yet another indicator of Savannah’s Irish history. Some of the early arrivals, Dwyer-Ryan said, “came as a result of political activities going on in Ireland, others came in search

the space Emmet Park in honor of an Irish revolutionary hero, Robert Emmet.”

2023 Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade

of land, good opportunities, but the politics was pretty key.”

“Those first Irish immigrants that came, particularly in the late 18th and early 19th century, those were largely Protestants from Northern Ireland. So, a lot of their descendants are still here. They were responsible for creating some of those foundational organizations that exist today.”

One of those organizations is the Hibernian Society, which was established in 1812 and continues to be important to Savannah’s Irish community. It’s credited with starting the city’s first public St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1824. “Some of these early organizations, like the Hibernian Society, were actually established to help these incoming migrants,” Dwyer-Ryan said.

“From the beginning, the community really did work together because by the 1820s and 1830s, Savannah started to attract more of the Catholic Irish migrants, many of them who came to build things like the Savannah Ogeechee Canal [and] other construction projects in the area,” she said. “And then by the time of the Irish famine of the 1840s and 50s, that’s when you start to see…a bigger wave of migrants coming.”

Those that came settled into Savannah neighborhoods and while mixed, three prominent Irish areas emerged—Old Fort, Yamacraw and Frogtown. “On the east side of the city was Old Fort,” said Dwyer-Ryan. “You still get an Irish identification with that neighborhood, especially around Washington Square,” she said, which was one of the first areas Irish immigrants settled. “If you go to Washington Square, there’s a plaque dedicated to the fire company that was in operation in that area and it was largely Irish-American.”

Generations later, there’s an immense amount of pride that surrounds Irish identity in Savannah. “This idea that they’re not just Irish, they’re not just from Savannah, they’re Savannah Irish,” DwyerRyan said.

While the Savannah Irish have enjoyed St. Patrick’s Day festivities for 200 years, its bigger than the parade itself. “A lot of faith, a lot of family, a lot of tradition,” Tim Mahoney said of the celebration. “At the end of the day, yes, we have a parade. We have a grand marshal, and that grand marshal leads our parade with dignity… but it’s about the feast of Saint Patrick and honoring Saint Patrick.”

Father Michael Kavanaugh, a native of Savannah who has served at St. Peter the Apostle Parish for almost nine years said, “The original idea is to celebrate the work that was done by St. Patrick in bringing the faith of Christianity to Ireland and all

that came from that was the great faith that the Irish brought to this country.” He said many of the priests who have served in the Diocese of Savannah from the 1930s through the 70s were Irish born.

“Our former bishop, Kevin Boland, was born in Ireland, my first pastor and who’s retired now, Monsignor Jim Costigan, lots of the clergy who’ve served all over our diocese, not just in Savannah but all over the bottom two thirds of Georgia, have been Irish,” Father Kavanaugh said. “We celebrate the faith in the person of Saint Patrick, what he did to spread the faith, what he did to teach the faith and what he did to defend the faith.”

“It’s really a celebration of the power of faith in our communities,” he said.

For Mahoney, Schwarz and Fogarty, faith and family have always been the major goal of parade festivities. “It’s really a celebration of gathering of friends and families and some of those friends and family you don’t see but once a year,” said Fogarty.

Mahoney agreed, “I look forward to seeing friends of mine that I haven’t seen in a year.” The other thing he has enjoyed seeing is the growth of events and entertainment throughout the month of March ahead of the parade. The Celtic Cross Ceremony, the Grand Marshal Public Investiture, the Greening of the Fountain in Forsyth Park and the Jasper Green Ceremony are all events leading up to the big day.

“Seeing how these events have grown over the years is a source of pride for the whole organization,” Mahoney said.

Now in its bicentennial year, the St. Patrick’s Day parade is set to

continue its celebration of showcasing Irish pride, faith, and family and passing along those traditions for years to come.

Mayor Van Johnson speaking at 2023 Sgt. William Jasper Ceremony

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SAVANNAH’S GREEN THUMB

By Heidi Fedak

MIDWEST TRANSPLANT THRIVES THANKS TO SAVANNAH GARDEN CLUB

BEING A TRANSPLANT ISN’T EASY. NEW PLACES, NEW FACES, NEW CUSTOMS, NEW RULES.

But being a member of the Savannah Garden Club boosts the likelihood of success, whether the transfer is a plant … or a person.

Just ask Indiana transplant Ena Shelley.

In the summer of 2019, Shelley and her husband left their home in Indianapolis for Savannah, a dream they’d shared since 2005.

“I fell in love with it,” Shelley says of her first Savannah sighting with her son. “I was like a kid in a candy shop.”

The architecture, the history, the food, the flowers worked their magic and captured Shelley’s heart.

Shelley returned to Savannah with her husband the following year. He was equally smitten, prompting the couple to make thrice-yearly visits to the Hostess City until they retired and made it their full-time home.

Settling in a new place, though, is different from visiting it.

“I remember feeling, Oh, gosh, am I going to fit in?” Shelley said.

Photo by Erica Lang, Nele Ewalden and Ena Shelley

Thanks to her many Savannah visits, Shelley cemented a friendship with Savannah photographer Connie McCay, and discovered the key to thriving in her new hometown: the Savannah Garden Club, of which McCay was a member.

The 97-year-old Savannah institution provided Shelley with a nearly readymade recipe for putting down roots in her new home: a dash of culture, a dose of community, a commitment to charity, a growing network of friends and, of course, plenty of gardening tips.

Today, Shelley is flourishing (and so is her garden), thanks in no small part to the Club, where she became fast friends with longtime gardener Nele Ewaldsen.

The two met when Shelley, still new to the Club, was charged with chairing its sole fund-raiser, affectionately dubbed the NOGS (once North of Gaston Street, now North of Gwinnett Street) Tour, a springtime stroll through several private and historic Savannah gardens.

“I said, ‘You know I’m not from here? You know I’ve never done this?’” Shelley

recounted telling Club members when given the assignment. But Club members encouraged her to forge ahead.

“They said, ‘You have got to contact Nele for the Garden Tour, because she’s this outstanding pianist and teaches piano lessons; see if she and her students will play piano at the tea.’ I had seen Nele at meetings, but she didn’t know me from Adam. I was so nervous calling her, but I didn’t need to be. She was so gracious. I took a deep breath after that. It was fantastic.”

Through their shared love of gardening, flowers and learning, Shelley and Ewaldsen became fast friends.

Ewalden’s experience was the perfect complement for Shelley, who spent decades gardening in her native Indiana but was somewhat green when it came to working with Savannah’s sunparched plats, sandy soil and planting seasons that stretched east and west of summer.

“I loved to garden in Indianapolis, but

I knew it was going to be different here, things that would grow in this zone and that one would be different,” Shelley said.

Different too was the depth of planting. In the Midwest, Shelley dug deep to protect the plant’s roots during harsh winters. Not so much here, where shallow and sprawling are more appropriate. Watering was another shift. Accustomed to saturating the soil, Shelley struggled to find a balance appropriate for her sandy Dutch Island yard. And then, there was the wildlife, all matter of foragers intent on destroying her hard work.

Enter Ewaldsen, a native Savannahian and University of Georgia Master Gardener.

“I will tell you, working with a master gardener like Nele is like having Google right at your hands,” Shelley said. “She’ll say, ‘Now you know the soil on this … or you need to add this or the sunlight …’ I just feel so lucky to know this person.”

Shelley met Ewaldsen through the NOGS Tour, but the duo solidified their friendship during days of digging at Savannah’s Ronald McDonald House, one of three community gardens Club members tend (the others being the Massie Heritage Center and the Savannah Botanical Gardens).

After NOGS, Shelley and Ewaldsen paired up on weekly workdays to share the landscaping load.

“We don’t do the heavy maintenance,” Ewaldsen explained. “We plant flowers, pick up magnolia leaves, try to bring some joy to the residents through the flowers, something happy for them to see. In fact, that’s what’s so gratifying. We’ll be out there working and one of the residents will come up and say, ‘You just have no idea what those flowers mean.’ It’s a little spot of joy to them.”

The Garden Club’s more than 100 active and sustaining members spread that joy far and wide. Beyond maintaining the three gardens, the Club also awards grants to nonprofits that share its mission of beautification, education and conservation in Chatham County. Over nearly 20 years, the group has provided more than $450,000 in grants, supporting everything from pollinator gardens in elementary schools to landscaping for the homeless veterans’ Tiny House Project.

Ewalden’s yard on Whitemarsh Island

For both Ewaldsen and Shelley, the Club’s sense of charity and community is just as important as its commitment to flora.

“I find that giving back is really more important than taking,” Ewaldsen said. “And if I can help somebody and encourage them to be a gardener, just impart what I know. And I learn from people, too. Just seeing old friends and making new friends. We try to be very friendly.”

Shelley said, “One of the reasons I said yes to doing that NOGS Tour in 2023 is because the funds we raise go back into grant programs, everything from the tiny houses for the vets to Tharros Place getting girls out of human trafficking, I mean, all these worthy causes. I love to give back, too. I feel like that’s my duty. And it just felt good.”

They both describe gardening as a similarly spiritual undertaking.

“My garden is my sanctuary away from my church,” Ewaldsen said. “It’s just so soothing and calming. The Lord and I do a lot of talking in my garden. I could be out there all day, every day.”

Shelley added, “I just feel so peaceful when I am gardening. It is almost like a spiritual experience. It’s always where I did my best problem solving for work. And I think it was because I was still. It makes you be still and listen. It’s very calming.”

Through Ewaldsen and the Garden Club, Shelley found a resource as well as a refuge.

“I have never felt as welcomed into a group as I have felt in this Garden Club,” Shelley said. “I mean, I move here from the North; I know two people and now I know so many people who have just been so welcoming.”

Ewaldsen said, “It’s hard not to like Ena.”

The same can be said of the Garden Club, an organization dedicated to good friends and good deeds. All of that will be on display for the world to see next month during the upcoming sold-out NOGS Tour, which includes a Southern-style tea at the GreenMeldrim House, a National Historic Landmark.

Shelley remembers asking attendees their thoughts on the tour last year.

“They said, ‘We are just sitting here pinching ourselves. We cannot believe we’re in this beautiful historic home, looking at this beauty, eating this food. We don’t even know how to describe this,’” Shelley explained.

But Shelley and Ewaldsen do.

“It’s called Southern hospitality,” Shelley said.

“Better than that, it’s called Savannah hospitality,” countered Ewaldsen.

PLANTING PRIMER

Set the stage for a floral showcase with these spring planting tips from Master Gardener Nele Ewaldsen, a member of the Savannah Garden Club.

CONSIDER YOUR REAL ESTATE

As the saying goes, location, location, location. Carefully consider where you’re putting your plants to ensure they get the sun (or shade) they need to survive and thrive.

GET THE SCOOP

Soil quality is just as important as the plant’s location. Is your soil sandy? More like hard clay? Lacking nutrients? Perfect for shoots and roots? Get the scoop on your soil by sending a sample to the University of Georgia Extension Office in Chatham County. Basic soil tests start at just $8 per sample. Learn more here: Soil & Water Testing | Chatham County (uga.edu).

START SMALL

Tempting as it may be, pace yourself. “Don’t spread yourself too thin,” Ewaldsen said. “It’s better to have a small garden with an impact than to have a large garden that’s a burden.”

CHOOSE WISELY

It can be daunting to sort through a huge inventory to select just the right plants for your space. Know your planting zone as well as your garden’s sun and shade patterns before you head to the store. And if you’re looking for a little extra help, consider independent nurseries. They’re typically staffed with local gardening gurus and carry plants ideal for Savannah and its surroundings.

EVERYTHING’S BETTER WITH FRIENDS

Pick a plant that will serve as the centerpiece for your garden and then add companion plants around it. For example, “Coleus is a wonderful plant for Savannah because they can take any kind of heat and come in all kinds of colors. It’s better to have a foundation plant that’s always going to be in your garden and then you can plant around it,” Ewaldsen said.

BE VIGILANT

Your job isn’t over once the plants are in the ground. That’s when the real work begins. Protecting your plants from weeds and pests requires constant vigilance. Don’t set it and forget it.

ABOVE PHOTOS: Ewalden’s yard on Whitemarsh Island

A FULL-DAY, TRADITIONAL-STYLE SUMMER DAY CAMP WITH AN “OVERNIGHT FEEL”

An immersive day camp for rising K-8th grade children housed on Savannah Country Day School’s beautiful 65-acre campus

SPORTS & GAMES |

ARTS & CRAFTS | DRAMA | DAILY WATER SLIDES

WEEKLY TIE-DYE & CAMPFIRES | TALENT SHOWS | AND MUCH MORE!

THE GREEN ARTISTS: HARRY DELORME AND RACHEL GREEN

By Beth Logan ART COLUMNIST

Diligently, quietly, and consistently, husband and wife duo Harry DeLorme and Rachel Green have had a sustainable, green art practice for over three decades.

DeLorme graduated from the University of Georgia (UGA) with an MFA in Studio Art, Drawing & Painting in 1985 and for the past 35 years has been employed by Telfair Museums where he serves as senior curator and director of education. He met his future spouse in the same MFA program, and since 1990 she has served as professor of art, fiber arts, printmaking, & foundations in the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art at Georgia Southern

University’s Armstrong campus.

Green, who grew up in Tennessee, says she fell in love with our beautiful coastline when she moved to Savannah after marrying DeLorme. “Even back then, we were very concerned about the destruction of the natural environment, plastic pollution, and habitat loss,” she says. “We started making work about that as far back as 1989, and gradually transitioned into using sustainable materials.”

Green continues, “I teach an environmental art class as part of the sustainability minor in the Environmental Studies program.” Teaching students how to use sustainable materials, she has led them in such community projects as creating a mural at the Ogeechee Canal Museum & Nature Center and working on the City of Savannah Storm Drain art

project, designed to remind us of our connection to our rivers and ocean.

Her own artwork incorporates old technologies from the past, such as obsolete cell phones and discarded keyboards. “People have handled these things and have memories of them, and it becomes a way to draw people in.” A recent sculpture entitled “Insert Light” is composed of black keycaps from cast off keyboards and black acrylic nails. At just 6.5 inches high, the basket-shaped piece with its spiky, hard surface resembles a hand grenade and is, perhaps, a dark commentary on the ticking timebomb of environmental destruction.

“I also use fibers,” Green says. “But instead of using cloth and things that are comfy, I use plastic because that’s more indicative of what our environment is now—almost

DeLorme’s “Plastic Planet, Northern Hemisphere” 2023

every surface is plastic. I use plastic Target bags, old shower curtains, garbage bags, and bottle caps.” We discuss her 24” by 30” quilted “Plastic Atlantic” which references the plastic gyres in the ocean— garbage patches of debris and microplastics that form by rotating ocean currents and resemble whirlpools as they suck more rubbish in. (There are five gyres in the ocean. One in the Indian Ocean, two in the Atlantic, and two in the Pacific. The most famous is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch—a floating vortex of debris that spans over 600,000 square miles.)

Both Green and DeLorme collect ocean plastic and use it in their work. DeLorme has used found objects relevant to environmental concerns for years. “I painted on found objects or incorporated strange materials for many years, painting on metal, on vinyl, on velvet, whatever,” he says. “In the 90’s and early 2000’s I was making fake real estate signs for fictional developments which were really about deforestation. Of course, that’s come back with a vengeance now with so much land being taken over by massive, logistics warehouses.” He adds wryly, “At least put a green roof on them, or solar panels, or something!”

“We’ve done projects and installations in Chicago, New York, North Carolina, and other places over the years,” DeLorme continues, “but I really started doing the plastics stuff in about 2012.” We look at one of his “Plastic Landscapes” where carefully curated pieces of colored plastic have been arranged to make a disturbingly attractive marsh scene framed by found shotgun shells. “I don’t do many of these as they are extremely time consuming.” Most of the materials were washed up from the Savannah River onto the McQueen Island Trail (the

former railroad track that runs parallel to Highway 80 between Bull River and Fort Pulaski).

The artist says he recently started taking found materials and turning them into more functional items, such as wall clocks. And he is branching out into more sculptural pieces such as the strangely alluring “Plastic Planet,” a half globe covered in found bottle and container caps that transforms into something akin to a bristling creature or sea anemone. DeLorme tells me, “We were involved with Green Peace back when there was a chapter here. Now, we’re more involved in birding groups. We belong to Ogeechee Audubon and the Georgia Ornithological Society. Rachel’s a huge birder. I just curated the show about birds that’s at the Jepson currently. So, that’s a big passion right now and we’re still trying to figure out how to incorporate that into our work.”

Both artists work out of their home, each using a spare bedroom as their studio. Green says, “Harry has a studio full of plastic bits, and I have a studio full of old electronic parts.” DeLorme has picked up plastics from hikes, bike rides, and birding trips to Tybee, the Outer Banks, Ossabaw, and other coastal spots. “Originally, I was bringing home backpacks full of stuff, but I realized I don’t have room for all this! I’ve got more plastic than I could possibly use.” His collection trips can be exciting— recently he disturbed a rattlesnake off the McQueen’s Island Trail. And they can be impactful—just the sheer volume of “stuff” that’s discarded is sad, as his memory of discovering a dead turtle in a cache of plastic debris.

Neither spouse has much of an online presence. “We’re not great self-

promoters,” DeLorme laughs. While he has some pieces for sale on the Arts Southeast website, he says, “We’re not in this to sell, so much as to promote the message. Despite their lack of social media presence, the couple still manages to regularly show their work. Locally, they have had a joint exhibition at Sulfur Studios and in the City of Savannah’s former SPACE Gallery, are often in local group shows, and were included in last month’s curated UN-TRASHED, an Art from Detritus show at NYC’s Veridian Artists gallery.

DeLorme sums up their practice by saying “We want people to think about what they actually need, whether you’re an artist making art or simply buying stuff. What do you really need and what are you doing with it?” As the statement from their recent New York show reads, “We must realize our environment is at stake if we continue to merely discard packaging and broken or undesired objects in our possession. We must begin to un-trash, reuse, and upcycle all that we possibly can.”

Rachel Green, “Plastic Atlantic”

Rachel Green, “Insert Light”

Rachel Green, “Nail Key Basket”

DeLorme’s 2024 “Plastic River Sunset Clock” Restored and colorized

HOW TO: UPCYCLE YOUR HOME

By Brittany Herren

HOW “GOING GREEN” AND “SAVING GREEN” HAVE BECOME THE TREND TO TAKE ON IN YOUR HOME

One big buzzword in home design right now is upcycling. Thrift stores, antique markets and even Facebook Marketplace aren’t just ways to save money and instead have become a haven for young homeowners and hip décor enthusiasts.

Upcycling focuses on repurposing items by either fundamentally altering their form and use, or just simply reimagining a used piece into something fresh and stylish. While there are several advantages to designing in this way, such as reducing the environmental impact of furniture and home décor production, and being more economically advantageous, the most powerful reason that this trend has taken over the market is because a statement, design-led, personalized aesthetic is no longer exclusive to the bourgeoisie. It is a chic and thoughtfully eclectic process that scoffs at classicism and embraces its attainable nature.

Upcycling has become an entire movement that spans all corners of developed societies and most

strongly in the United States from the sunny shores of Los Angeles, CA all the way to the southern treescapes of Savannah.

Furnishing a space or an entire home is no longer about buying a display of matching furniture and furnishing in a mass-produced showroom, but instead is about finding pieces of magic and whimsy in a charming little shop, off a quiet little street where, if you’re lucky, you get a great deal along with a great story.

Personally, it’s the story that makes the pieces really work in a room and being able to share those special finds with guests who admire your style. It’s the story that really breathes life into a space.

However, even with all the advantages of the “going green” trend, one pretty significant hurdle is without a showroom that pieces it all together, you have now transformed from consumer to designer which can feel daunting and overwhelming. I myself did not

go to design school and while my home is highly curated, it was a slow process that took a lot of time and thought.

As a self-proclaimed vintage design expert, here is the advice that I most divvy out to people who want to know how I achieve my highly personalized style.

ONE ROOM, ONE PIECE

Instead of trying to take on an entire home or multiple rooms, I take on one space at a time. Pinterest has become a place where people build a dream board of sorts of what they want their room to look like, but personally, I feel like even doing that can be overwhelming and is working backwards because you end up just trying to replicate a picture.

Instead, take a stroll in an antique store and find just one thing that your drawn to and love. It can be a single chair, a piece of art or even something as innocuous as a fun vase. I built my eldest daughter’s nursery around a pair of curtains.

Brittany Herren, Upcycled items in home

Then, use that piece to work forward in your design. Does the chair inform a period of aesthetic that you enjoy, such as mid-century-modern? Does the piece of art use colors that you would like to move into a pillow, throw blanket or rug? Is the vase simple and chic, or is it loud and colorful, and does that help you know what your vibe is?

In Savannah, my favorite place to stroll is Picker Joe’s, located at 217 E. 41st St. The store is divided into booths that different sellers rent out and you get a good mix of style and item diversity that changes almost daily.

DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

Don’t be afraid to step out of the box and find new and creative ways to use things that you find. Just because a hat is a hat, doesn’t mean you have to wear it on your head. Hang it on your wall next to a great picture, or do a gallery wall of cowboy hats. Bonus if you like to wear the hats as well, because then you just turned function into design.

Some of my most favorite oddities in my home include a collection of vintage cans that I have placed together on a window seal and planted succulents in, a collection of colorful cowboy boots that I have color-blocked on wall shelves with antique books and disco balls, an antique sewing table that I transformed into a table for my record player, and a pair of lamp shades that I stripped the material off of and turned into industrial pendant lights.

The key is to find something interesting that you love and then find a place for it. I can’t tell you how many times I bought something that I initially had no idea what to do with it and then found it a home on a counter or shelf and it looks like I intended it all along.

DISCOVER INSTEAD OF ORDER

When it comes to buying furniture, it can be tempting to find something cheap and stylish on Wayfair and have it delivered to you, but resist the urge. Nearly every piece of furniture in my home was found and not just in a thrift store, a dresser nestled under custom wall shelves in my living room was rescued from a dumpster.

When you take on discovering furniture, it instantly elevates your space. Thrifting furniture can be tricky, especially since antique stores and popular thrift stores price these large

items well above your budget. The number one place I buy furniture is Facebook Marketplace.

Most sellers just want the piece out of their home and are more than happy to haggle (it’s actually expected and it’s why I price my items $20-50 over what I actually want). However, when it comes to buying furniture, you have to be careful to not go from designer to crafter. Look for pieces that have real wood and show their natural grain instead of some composite wood that needs a heavy coat of paint.

If you take anything away from this article, please let it be this: Don’t ruin good, wood furniture with bright paint or chalk paint. The quickest way to make a piece of furniture look cheap is to paint it and while this should go without saying, do not stencil anything on it.

Instead, opt for a light sanding and stain to revive life. Your solid, furniture

pieces don’t need to be colorful, instead, leave that up to your couch, rug, curtains and other textiles.

One of my favorite places to textile shop is Tapley’s Mercantile and Antiques, located at 8491 Waters Ave. Like Picker Joe’s, it also features different booths by different sellers.

FIND REAL ART

While I’m not trying to deep dive into the intricate nature of what is art and who decides, I will tell you my definition of real art.

If your art comes from a big box store and there are multiples of that same piece all piled in a row, that not art, that’s a product. I know that those adorable highland cow pictures at Hobby Lobby and Home Goods are so tempting, but trust me, the awe of the piece will fizzle as time goes on.

Brittany Herren, Upcycled items in home

Not a single piece of art in my home is from a big-box store. The majority of my art was painted by my Grandmama Martha Cassels before she passed, which I love because I am reminded of her each day and I can share the story of her life with others who inquire about her pieces. The remainder of my art are prints and posters I found in antique stores and things like antique scarves, playing cards and my husband’s favorite, an antique cigar box lid that we matted.

Art doesn’t have to be expensive and doesn’t have to be from a gallery and my only rule when it comes to art in my own home is that if I don’t absolutely love it, I don’t buy it or hang it.

A really cool antique store that I have found good art and frameable pieces is the Wright Square Vintage & Retro Mall, located at 14 W. State St. They are also comprised of booths by different vendors, but out of all the stores in Savannah, they are the most reasonably priced without

GET TACTICAL

Finding great pieces is only half the battle. What do you do when you find something but have no idea how to style it? Here are some of my favorite design tactics:

COLOR BLOCKING

This is where you pair a few single hues together to create a single, bold look. For example, I have custom wall shelves in my living room that my husband Nathan built and each shelf is color-blocked. The bottom is books, vases and trinkets in white and creams, the middle is books and trinkets in shades of black and the top are antique bottles from the Savannah River that are blocked together in purples and blues. This is a great way to look stylized and intentional.

RAINBOW

I have really embraced the idea of pairing things in a rainbow of my colors. On a bar cabinet in my living room, I have antique books that are placed in a straight line that include hues of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.

RULE OF THIRDS

Rule of Thirds: A popular design technique to help with styling all those cool vases, bowls and books you have found is to use the rule of thirds, which I define as creating a triangle to create balance among imbalanced pieces. For example, you can put a tall vase in the middle, a picture frame overlapping the vase on the left and a low bowl overlapping the vase on the right. The vase is the tip of the triangle and the picture frame and bowls the bottom points. It is naturally aesthetic and it’s a rule used by all designers.

MONOCHROMATIC

Sometimes, I like to pick a single color and use that color in various hues throughout a room or even a shelf. The key is to diversify the colors with various textures.

So, if you are ready to take on the upcycling trend, you are in the perfect city to get started. Savannah is full of great, little thrift and antique shops, as well as a plethora of artsy and hip residents who are just itching to sell you their trash, that you will obviously, turn into treasure.

ABOVE PHOTOS: Brittany Herren, Upcycled items in home

GET READY TO SHAMROCK AND ROLL WITH THE CITY’S FIRST MOBILE IRISH PUB

In a city known for great Irish celebrations, a thriving Celtic heritage, and one of the best St. Patrick’s Day parades on the planet, Savannah is ripe for a new business ready to roll into your event. Literally.

Introducing An Sibín Mobile Irish Pub, pronounced “ahn shabeen,” the brainchild of Caleb Harkleroad, more well-known in Savannah as the owner of Harkleroad Diamonds and Fine Jewelry. However, with his own rich Irish heritage, he was called to this new adventure.

“Last [fall], I saw a mobile pub and I didn’t think it was done as well as it could have been,” Harkleroad said. “I know pubs pretty well. It’s a passion of mine. So, my brain started working overtime, wondering if something like this would work here.”

Caleb said he talked to his wife, Cory, who thought a mobile Irish pub was a good idea. “She asked if I was going to do it myself or with a partner. She suggested talking to my best friend, Daragh Blennerhassett, originally from Dublin. We’ve known each other for about four years and started the Savannah Gaelic Athletic Association.”

Harkleroad said Daragh had experience working in pubs in Dublin, as well as in Chicago, and thought it would be a good match. Blennerhassett met him at O’Connell’s so he could “run something” by him. According to Caleb, the two men stayed there until the wee hours of the morning discussing the idea.

“Great. Let’s do it. When do we start?” Blennerhassett asked.

The partners purchased a trailer at the beginning of this year and have been working on finalizing the design.

“It’s about 160 square feet of space,” Harkleroad said. “I don’t want people to think it’s just a tap truck. It’s a bar truck. This is a genuine mobile Irish pub that will seat 14-15 people. You can go in, sit, chat, enjoy your pint. It is the real deal… just on wheels.”

The name An Sibín in Ireland means an illegal home bar. “We thought [the name] would be fun and in the spirit of things to have somewhere that’s your own space to hang out with your friends and drink the night away,” he said.

An Sibín brings a full, genuine Irish pub experience to a wedding, party, retirement, birthday, or any event. He continued, “Inside the mobile pub, we’ll have a snug—essential to the Irish pub experience.” A snug is often a smaller room off the main pub bar for more private conversations or smaller parties.

“We’ll also have the option of two beers on tap. Obviously, we’ll be serving Guinness,” he said with a laugh. “You can rent the pub, as well. Say, if you wanted to have a Super Bowl party, we could get the bar to you, get the taps set, get everything ready to roll, put it where you want it, and then we’ll get out of the way. You can also rent bartenders, as well.”

The unique mobile pub will mainly be a special events business. Harkleroad said they’re excited to provide whatever level of service a customer needs.

“As I said, we’re a rentable venue with bar service. We will coordinate with the event to purchase based on their numbers, advise them on what they should order, etc. If you don’t want a bartender, we’ll teach you how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness and then leave you to yourself. People who’ve been to Ireland and experienced the coziness of an Irish pub… well, that’s exactly what we’re bringing to your front door.”

As Savannah is celebrating her 200th St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the spotlight is on anything representing the Emerald Isle. “Now is the time of the year when we just had the Irish Festival, March 16th is coming up, and people are thinking about all things Irish. This is a way to keep Savannah Irish all year round,” Harkleroad said.

The An Sibín Mobile Irish Pub is beginning to book engagements and having its Saint Patrick’s Day schedule begin to fill up. Those interested in more information should follow their Facebook page at An Sibín Mobile Irish Pub.

“Look for us to be rolling soon,” Harkleroad said with enthusiasm.

-Marley Gibson

FB: An Sibín Mobile Irish Pub @sibinmobilepub

Owners, Caleb Harkleroad and Daragh Blennerhassett

Progress photo from Caleb Harkleroad

Progress photo from Caleb Harkleroad

WEXFORD PUB AT CITY MARKET: A SAVANNAH HISTORY LESSON

EAT IT & LIKE IT

PRESENTED BY

SAVANNAH TECHNICAL COLLEGE

EAT IT AND LIKE IT

By Jesse Blanco eatitandlikeit.com

For all the people that roll into the Hostess City during the annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities, it would be more than fair to say a tiny percentage understand why St. Patrick’s Day is such a big deal around here. I’d be willing to take an educated guess that the number is below three percent and I’m being generous.

There’s been plenty written about the subject, of course. You don’t have to bury yourself in an archive room surrounded by books to find essentially all you need to know about the origins of the Irish population in Savannah.

The numbers had been growing since the early 1800s. Savannah’s Hibernian

Society was established in 1812 and the first public St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Savannah was in 1824. Yes, that makes this year’s parade the 200th edition of Savannah’s largest yearly event.

The Great Famine of 1845 in Ireland led to a significant uptick in the number of Irish trying to get away. Potato crops, upon which roughly a third of the Irish population depended on for food, were destroyed by disease. Residents were looking for any way out. Among those residents were the Kennedys, yes, “those” Kennedys. JFK’s great grandfather was born in a cottage in Dunganstown, County Wexford. It’s still there. The Kennedys escaped to Boston via Liverpool and the rest—as they say— is history.

A convenient destination at the time, and one where you could find nonstop

travel, was Savannah, Georgia. Between 1845 and 1855, 56 percent of the Irish population in Savannah had arrived here from Wexford.

Savannah’s year-round celebration of that community and the connection between the two cities opens this spring in City Market. It will be called Wexford Pub and the family putting it together want it to be everything you’d expect to see from a pub celebrating the connection between Savannah and County Wexford, Ireland.

“We hired the Irish Pub Company out of Dublin,” says Tim Strickland, who along with his sister Jennifer and their business partner Chris Swanson are in charge of this project.

“Ninety to ninety-five

Photo provided by Wexford Pub at City Market

percent of everything we put inside the pub will be from Ireland. The bars, the lighting, all of it. The containers are on U.S. soil. We plan to begin the install on March 4th.”

You can hear this excitement in Mr. Strickland’s voice just talking about this project. When you consider this is the same Strickland family behind the River Street Sweets empire and Churchill’s Pub on Bay Street it means something when he says, “this is the biggest thing we’ve ever done.”

How big?

It’s about 13,300 square feet. If you include the front deck and patio area in City Market that will feature live music during the day, that number jumps to about 15,000 square feet.

“We will be somewhere between 475 and 500 seats including indoor and outdoor seating,” he says.

That’s quite massive and definitely in the running for the largest pub in the state if not the South. All of it will be an homage to Ireland and the relationship between Savannah and County Wexford.

“They are calling it a ‘super pub,’ of which they say there are only two, maybe three in America,” Strickland says.

The attention to detail will be there too. Mr. Strickland says the first-floor section will be a detailed explanation and homage to this history between the two cities, similar to what we mentioned earlier here. The second floor will feature live music at night and will be adorned with tributes to the many Irish artists, poets and musicians who came to this country as well.

When you think about it, it’s surprising something like this hasn’t been done already.

“It just made sense. We picked the name on a Sunday morning shooting some text messages around and a little bit of research.”

Since then, Strickland says Swanson

did most of the heavy lifting on the research to make sure everything was authentic.

We all know City Market is a major hub of activity in downtown Savannah. The plan is to provide live music outdoors for most of the afternoon every day before it moves inside at night. There will be a family friendly cafe type feel by day, but that will switch to a proper pub by night, especially with live music upstairs.

Of course, this celebration will go on year-round here in Savannah, but you should know the connection between Savannah and Wexford doesn’t end there. The port where so many emigrated from is now a major tourist attraction in Ireland. It includes a replica ship where visitors can see what travel was like between these two countries at the time. There’s also a section of the museum dedicated to Savannah and “the New World.” The Stricklands visited last Summer. Their family hails from County Kerry on Ireland’s West Coast.

In fact, in 2013 a ‘research axis’ was created to learn more about the connection between Savannah and County Wexford. It’s a partnership between several groups including the John F. Kennedy Trust, Wexford County Council, Savannah Economic

Development Authority, Georgia Southern University and the Georgia Historical Society.

The connections would appear to be endless. Mr. Strickland credits everyone involved in that ‘axis’ with helping them pull this together as authentically as possible.

Deep dives into Savannah’s significant history aside, it’s very good to see an attempt to bring our vibrant food and drink culture together with all of that history in one spot. Wexford Pub sounds like it could end up being a hub for Irish visitors from across the country. It will certainly be large enough to be its own tourist attraction.

So when will we see it?

As we mentioned the pieces will begin to be put together on March 4. The hope is that this portion will be done in two months. No one will ever commit to a date for an ‘opening’ but all parties involved are hopeful that Savannah will be introduced to its newest pub by the end of May.

We will most certainly keep you posted.

Tim Strickland, Jennifer Strickland, Chris Swanson

SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL TO FEATURE MORE THAN 75 LIVE PERFORMANCES MARCH 28-APRIL 13, INCLUDING BLOCKBUSTER DEBUTS, SPECIAL COLLABORATIONS AND NEWLY COMMISSIONED WORK

The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) –known for its unique mix of jazz, classical and American and global roots music programs presented in venues across Savannah’s National Historic Landmark District – will present more than 75 live performances from Thursday, March 28 through Saturday, April 13, 2024 in iconic venues throughout downtown Savannah.

“We’re thrilled to bring incredible live performances to Savannah throughout the spring, offering a world of music in one city,” said Savannah Music Festival Executive Director Gene Dobbs Bradford. “Savannah Music Festival has a deep commitment to the local community and to expanding access to live music. We invite everyone to enjoy their favorite musicians and to discover exciting new artists at the 2024 festival.”

The festival’s kick-off concert will showcase GRAMMY Award-winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy, preceded by the annual Spring Fling, a party to

benefit SMF’s year-round artistic and education programs. Featured 2024 Savannah Music Festival artists will include world renowned soprano Renée Fleming, bluegrass living legend Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, eminent classical pianist Emanuel Ax, high-energy Southern rockers North Mississippi Allstars with blues icon Bobby Rush, Afro-Cuban jazz pioneer Chucho Valdés, bluegrass supergroup Mighty Poplar, jazz wunderkind Matthew Whitaker, GRAMMY Award-winning Malian Wassoulou singer Oumou Sangaré and acclaimed singer-songwriter-guitarist Madison Cunningham, among others.

“The 2024 Savannah Music Festival lineup encourages the celebration and discovery of acclaimed artists throughout classical, jazz and American and global roots music,” says SMF Artistic Director Ryan McMaken. “We’re delighted to spotlight genre standard-bearers along with standout luminaries and to present more than 75 incredible live performances

throughout historic downtown Savannah this spring.”

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS, CLASSICAL MUSIC, JAZZ AND MORE

During the 17-day festival, top artists from around the world will converge in Savannah. In 2024, talented musicians from India, South Africa, Ireland, Cuba, Sweden, Portugal, Mali, Canary Islands, France, Argentina and Spain will take the stage.

In addition, American roots music abounds in the 2024 lineup, with multiple projects that illuminate the musical legacies of American masters, including Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Clifton Chenier, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.

The 2024 festival season also features a classical music (and adjacent) schedule featuring exceptional notoriety,

LEFT (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): Tony Trischka, Oumou Sangare, Samara Joy, Sabir Kahn. ABOVE: Cha Wa |

Photos provided by SMF

newly-commissioned work, specially conceived chamber music programs, a multimedia presentation and genrebending crossover concerts. In jazz, 2024 programming moves chronologically along an arc from more traditional to contemporary, spotlighting genre standard-bearers and standout luminaries.

NEWLY ANNONCED PERFORMANCES

Savannah Music Festival recently announced several exciting new performances, including Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal on April 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts, 32 Abercorn St. Cash is a composer and singer-songwriter with four Grammy Awards, in addition to having partnered in programming collaborations with Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, SFJAZZ, the Minnesota Orchestra and the Library of Congress. Cash will be joined by her husband and longtime creative partner John Leventhal for their first SMF performance in six years, this time celebrating the 30th anniversary of her acclaimed album The Wheel, which the duo co-produced and which led to their partnership.

Newly announced shows also include Grammy Award-winning guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram on April 6 at 8 p.m. at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts and singer and multiinstrumentalist Amy Helm, the daughter of The Band drummer Levon Helm, making on April 12 at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at the Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden. Also, an exciting Closing Night Party will showcase the Rebirth Brass Band and Eddie 9V on April 13 at 8 p.m. at the Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden.

FESTIVAL DEBUTS, SPECIAL PROJECTS AND UNIQUE COLLABORATIONS

Festival debuts will include Renée Fleming, Oumou Sangaré, Marta Pereira da Costa, Emanuel Ax, Dervish, Isaiah J. Thompson, Stephane Wrembel, Cha Wa, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, The Savoy Family Cajun Band, Orquesta Akokán, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Viv & Riley, Brandee Younger, Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Bobby Rush, Madison Cunningham, Juana Molina, Matthew Whitaker, and Mighty Poplar.

Unique co-bills and artistic collaborations run throughout the season. New chamber music works by Terence Blanchard, Rhiannon Giddens, Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate and David Balakrishnan, co-commissioned by SMF, will be performed by Turtle Island Quartet. In addition, the co-commissioned “Quintet in the Key of Blue” by Stefan L. Smith will be performed by the Dubhe

Special projects celebrate the legacies of iconic artists ranging from J.S. Bach to Francisco Goya. The Philip Dukes & Friends chamber music series is anchored by first half performances showcasing the music of Bach, with each program taking a distinctly different shape in the second half.

The free Encounters Artist Talks Series begins with Renée Fleming’s Music & Mind, a public discussion about the intersection of the arts and mental health. In Doc @ 100, also at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center, author Ted Olson discusses Doc Watson’s musical history, with stories and songs shared by Jack Lawrence, Wayne Henderson and Jack Hinshelwood. Additional panel discussions and Q&As, including one with longtime SMF photographer Frank Stewart, will be announced in advance of SMF 2024.

TICKET INFORMATION/ DISCOUNTS/EXPLORER PASSES

Savannah Music Festival tickets start at $32 and can be purchased online at savannahmusicfestival.org, by phone at 912.525.5050 or in person at the Savannah Box Office, located at 216 E. Broughton St.

In addition to discounts for students, military, educators and seniors, Savannah Music Festival offers discounts for purchases of tickets to more than three concerts (10% off), more than five concerts (15% off) or more than 10 concerts (20% off). Tickets to most classical concerts at Trinity United Methodist Church are available to patrons age 40 or younger for a discounted rate of $20.

Savannah Music Festival will also bring back the successful Explorer Pass program, which offers all SavannahChatham County Public Schools students and a family member or chaperone free tickets to general admission Savannah Music Festival performances.

Ensemble featuring Savannah native and Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Bassist Joseph Conyers.

Tatiana Eva-Marie | Photo provided by SMF Brandee Younger | Photo provided by SMF

SELDOM SOBER BUT ALWAYS ENTERTAINING

By Frank Ricci MUSIC REPORTER

CATCH UP WITH MICHAEL CORBETT TO DISCUSS HIS HISTORY IN IRISH MUSIC, THE SAVANNAH MUSIC SCENE, ST. PATRICK’S DAY AND WHAT’S NEXT.

Irish culture has long been a feature of the Savannah experience. Most people know we have the second largest St. Patrick’s Day parade while being far from the second largest city to hold one. In the 19th century, a surge of Irish immigrants to the city and surrounding area led to newcomers and their descendants playing key roles in Savannah’s development. Today there are thriving cultural groups like the Irish Heritage Society, the Savannah Gaelic Athletic Association promoting sports, parade organizers, and the Hibernian Society of Savannah. One thing they all do is gather people for a good time, and that means there must be music.

For almost two decades, Irish music act Seldom Sober has been a part of the Savannah Irish cultural and music scene.

The duo of Michael Corbett, a Boston native, and Colleen Settle, a New Yorker, have performed at countless shows, events and jam sessions. After a 17-year run, the band is coming to an end.

Connect Savannah caught up with Michael Corbett to discuss his history in Irish music, the Savannah scene, St. Patrick’s Day, and what’s next.

WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP IN BOSTON, WAS THERE A MOMENT THAT STANDS OUT THAT CONNECTED YOU TO THIS MUSIC? SOME EXPERIENCE THAT SPARKED AN INTEREST?

Connections locally and in high school got me into Irish music, and then I started listening. I never thought about doing it myself, but then I went to see the Clancy Brothers for the first time in June 1993 and I went to see them again two months later. They were playing the song Finnegan’s Wake and I just sat there, and I said, ‘Why can’t I do that?’ My parents owed me a high school graduation gift at the time, so I asked for a guitar and some lessons. I learned the instrument specifically to do Irish music and nothing else.

YOU NEVER PLAYED ANY OTHER STYLE LIKE ROCK OR JAZZ?

That might be a good thing, right?

Like the House of the Rising Sun and stuff like that. But once I learned the basics, I got with my teacher, and he taught me how to play the Irish style. He taught me how to fingerpick, he really taught me how to play folk music on the guitar, which is really what I wanted to do the whole time and that’s really something that’s unique about Colleen and me compared to other Irish musicians in the Southeast. We both learned our instruments and we’re trained specifically for Irish music. What you find a lot down here, and I’m not complaining about it because we want as many people in the music as possible, but you have a lot of people who learned other styles first and gravitated towards Irish music. They weren’t trained in the actual Irish style.

YOU WERE SORT OF A LATE BLOOMER TAKING UP THE INSTRUMENT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

You’re right, and that’s probably why I mostly play rhythm. I mean, I do some really nice fingerpicking, but not usually in a public show, mostly at home. But no, I’m not one of those guitar players who can strum the chords and pick out a melody at the same time. I developed my rhythm style around Colleen’s fiddling style, which is one of the things

Photo provided by Seldom Sober

that made us work so well together. Before I got together with Colleen, I was really a multi-instrumentalist, which meant I played a lot of instruments but wasn’t great at any one.

When Colleen and I started playing together, I was more of a banjo player not necessarily because I wanted to be, but because there were already so many other guitar players who were around who got there before I did. When I got together with Colleen, I really had to get good at guitar and so naturally my style evolved around the way she plays and that’s not usually how things work out. That’s one reason why we sound so good together. I think I developed a style where I could compliment her without being overbearing and letting her melody take center stage. She’s an amazing musician.

HOW DID YOU END UP GRAVITATING TO SAVANNAH FROM BOSTON?

A lot of it had to do with cost of living. My ex-wife and I couldn’t really afford to have a kid if we stayed in Massachusetts and then of course part of it was the weather. We were taking a big risk. I had a decent thing going with an Irish band in Massachusetts and I left it not knowing if anything good would await me down here, but it worked out for the best. Colleen moved the next year, in 2006. I’m sure cost of living factored into it.

WHAT DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SCENE BEFORE COMING HERE?

SAVANNAH HAS ALWAYS HAD A REPUTATION FOR THE BIG ST. PATTY’S DAY PARADE, SO YOU MUST HAVE KNOWN THAT THERE WAS AN IRISH CULTURE SCENE HERE, BIGGER THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A CITY THIS SIZE.

When we came down to look at it, Danny Doyle was playing. He’s one of the most famous musicians to ever play at Kevin Barry’s, and It was unusual for him to play a small place at that point in his career. I knew this would be a great place for us and I thought I’d never make it up to that stage because it looks like you need an Irish passport to play.

Fast forward to today and some of the most memorable shows of my career were on the Kevin Barry’s stage. It all worked out, but I certainly didn’t feel like I was guaranteed to fall in with some kind of Irish band, but I thought at least there was a chance.

SO YOU GOT HERE AND STARTED

SITTING IN ON JAM SESSIONS. HOW DID YOU MEET UP WITH COLLEEN TO FORM SELDOM SOBER?

I fell in with some of the local musicians playing sessions, where you play in a pub informally not for any money, but maybe for free drinks. I started playing with them and I was somewhat engaged with it, but I was the low man on the totem pole being so new. Then Colleen moved to town and started playing with the session groups. We were playing a session at Murphy’s Law Pub on Congress Street, where Boomy’s is now, and the owner approached me and wanted me to do regular paid gigs there. I immediately went to Colleen and asked her if she’d play with me, and she immediately said yes. That’s when Seldom Sober was born, and that’s when we got to know each other’s material and started working on our own music. It all started out in that little Irish pub.

KEVIN BARRY’S EVENTUALLY BECAME A PLACE WHERE YOU AND OTHER MUSICIANS WOULD GATHER AND HOLD SESSIONS. SINCE IT CLOSED, WHERE DID THE JAM SESSIONS CONTINUE?

We had weekly, informal Irish sessions with other local musicians at Kevin Barry’s. We just played for free drinks, and it was a great way to learn new material and keep sharp and play for people. That went away. We were never able to bring that back.

Our new home has been Debellation Brewing Company in Richmond Hill. It’s a Viking-themed brewery and the owner used to own an Irish pub. He hired us and we can play there whenever we want. It’s what keeps us sharp all through the year and then we pepper it with some seasonal gigs around February and March and the occasional wedding and events like that, but it’s not the same.

The stage shows at Kevin Barry’s were so different from anything we’ve ever done because it was a listening room. People are expected to listen, and we had this interaction back and forth with the audience. Sometimes they made us laugh more than we made them laugh. You know that there’s no venue like that that I know of anywhere and playing at the brewery is not quite the same thing because it’s not a listening room, a lot of the people are not paying attention, but it’s a great place to play and it keeps us sharp. If we can’t have Kevin Barry’s, at least we have something.

IS THERE A SPECIFIC REASON SELDOM SOBER IS COMING TO AN END?

Well, Colleen’s had some health problems. But I think it really comes down to, you know, post-Kevin Barry’s. We don’t have as many of the kinds of gigs that are really enjoyable and as we age, the three-hour pub gigs take a big toll on our body. We didn’t mind that at Kevin Barry’s. We’d play a four-hour gig on a Sunday night and have to go to work on Monday because we got so much energy back from the audience and it was such a thrill that you know, you just didn’t mind it as much. But then next thing you know, you’re five years older and you’re not getting that kind of energy back from an audience and it takes a toll on your back and on your shoulders and everything like that.

I’m continuing. I’ve got someone else that I’ve been playing with for a long time, and I don’t know exactly what we’re going to do except play at the brewery, but I’ll be continuing. Colleen is definitely done after April 19. She might play sessions when they come up, but she’s not going to perform professionally anymore.

DOES ANY PARTICULAR TIME PLAYING ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY STAND OUT AS EXTRA MEMORABLE?

Most of our St. Patrick’s Days involved playing Kevin Barry’s and that was a real trip. In our heyday, we’d play from 2pm to 2am. I don’t know how we got through that. One time we were playing at the airport at 9am the next morning!

But I always felt like Bruce Springsteen playing St. Patrick’s Day. You’d have the most dedicated of the locals and all these northerners and tourists who just eat up Irish music and they know lots about it. They were so enthusiastic, and they are yelling and screaming and cheering and I remember times where Kevin Barry’s would have three acts there at the same time. You’d have one act playing downstairs, one act playing upstairs and one act relaxing in the musician’s apartment taking a break.

I remember coming off the stage and then checking back in and having the waitresses come and say, ‘you guys got to get back on the stage, everybody’s asking for you.’ It feels good, you know, that’s not a normal day in the life of Seldom Sober in Savannah. So it just felt great the last time we played Kevin

Barry’s when that happened. The people were asking for us. We were done at 8:00pm, and we asked the owner if we could go back on and play more without getting paid extra. I think we went back on about 8:45pm and we got off stage at 11pm.

GIVEN THE BAND’S NAME, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE A HEALTHY SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT SOME ASPECTS OF IRISH CULTURE, BUT ON A SERIOUS NOTE, DOES PLAYING THE MUSIC CONNECT YOU WITH YOUR IDENTITY, ASSUMING YOU ARE AT LEAST PARTIALLY IRISH.

Oh, yeah. Colleen is 100 percent Irish. She’s second generation. I am more Irish than anything, but mostly Irish. I think for both of us, the music connects us with our ancestry and the history. I made a point to formally study the history of Ireland when I was in college so that I would understand what it was that I was singing about, and I really feel a deep connection to that and a deep meaning and when I sing these historical songs about heroes from the 1798 Irish rebellion and write things like that. Because I studied it and I understand what actually happened, it’s not just singing a song. We’re conveying history to people whether they’re paying attention to it or not, and it’s really meaningful, and really our goal. Yeah, we’ve made some money off it and stuff which is nice, but our whole goal starting out was just to promote Irish culture in Savannah and bring it to the people.

After 17 years and far too many pints, laughs and singalongs to count, Seldom Sober can declare mission accomplished.

THE HOTTEST TICKET IN SAVANNAH! BEST OF SAVANNAH IS MAY 16 GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

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ASTRALIS CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

Baroque Brunch

Saturday, March 9, 11:00am

Lutheran Church of the Ascension’s Crumley Hall (ground floor)

120 Bull Street on Wright Square • Savannah

Parking available in the public garage at the corner of Drayton & State Streets

Bach Ascending is pleased to present its first Baroque Brunch! This elegant, seated event will feature Thrive Catering’s classic Southern tea sandwiches, savory tarts, colorful fresh salads, and country ham and cheddar-stuffed buttermilk biscuits. Deviled eggs, European-style cookies and beverages, including complimentary mimosas, will also be served. Dessert will be a musical coda by Astralis Ensemble!

$45.00 per person, limited availability. Tickets must be purchased by February 23

Registration is available at www.bachascending.com Or by check or cash to Bach Ascending, 120 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401 Info@bachascending.com

FLAMMABILITY ENGINEER (SAVANNAH, GA)

Design and test engineering solutions for aircraft interior elements related to fire properties, fire containment, and wall temperature. Prepare technical certification documents. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering and 5 years of progressive aircraft engineering design experience, to include strong experience in each of the following: design of aircraft interior components and primary and secondary structures; aerospace tool design, including production support for aircraft assembly and integration (jigs, fixtures and supporting equipment); preparing flammability test plans and test reports; GD&T application and analysis; functional tolerance and annotations; migrating Catia V4 datasets to CatiaV5; SAP QM product life cycle management; Enovia; PLM SmarTeam; FTA workbench; MS office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Knowledge of FAR part 25.853, Appendix F. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Salary $65.00 per hour, DOE. MUST follow these application instructions to be considered: Send CV & cvr ltr to j.young@hitekprofessionals. com or Joe Young, Hi-Tek Professionals, Inc., 103 Chesley Drive, Ste. 207, Media, PA 19063w/in 30 days & ref Job #S2023-463.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

"STRONG SUITS "-- DEALING WITH ANOTHER PUZZLE

by Matt Jones ©2024 | Matt Jones

ACROSS

1. As of yet

6. Judge’s seat, in law

10. “Ray Donovan” actor Schreiber

14. Jumper cable terminal

15. As well

16. Give the creepy eye to

17. Remove all the dirt and grime from

19. Server operating system

20. Release

21. Three-part vacuum tube in old TVs

23. “___ Little Tenderness”

24. Becomes enraged

25. Double sextet

28. Borrower

29. 2001 high-tech debut

30. Apt answer for this clue

32. It had a hub at JFK

35. Keanu’s “Matrix” role

36. What you may need to do to understand the four sets of circled letters

37. Talking computer in “2001: A Space Odyssey”

38. Slippery tree

39. Inquisition target

40. Clock feature

41. Kicks out

43. Injection also used to treat migraines

44. Gangsters’ headwear, in old movies

46. Tiger sound

48. Cider fodder

49. EnglandScandinavia separator

53. Golden State sch.

54. They’re unbiased and accepting, and not short-sighted

56. Wine bouquet

57. Expert pilots

58. Rice-___ (“The San Francisco Treat”)

59. Lawyer, for short

60. Put a stop to

61. “The Walking Dead” villain

DOWN

1. Rude response

2. “Falling Slowly” musical

3. Ticonderoga, e.g.

4. Took on grown-up errands, so to speak

5. Like a phoenix

6. Lightweight modeling wood

7. Out of the breeze, to a sailor

8. Hush-hush govt. group

9. In a satisfied way

10. Thelma’s cohort, in film

11. “Disregard what you just saw ...”

12. Avoid some syllables

13. Bewildered

18. Slyly shy

22. Change color again

24. Peasants of yore

25. Feast

26. European car manufacturer

27. Went by quickly

28. “One of ___ great mysteries ...”

30. Locale in a Clash title

31. “Everybody ___” (REM song)

33. Home of Baylor University

34. James Patterson detective Cross

36. Hobbits’ homeland

40. Available to rent

42. Tennis shot

43. Role for Keaton and Kilmer

44. Animals, collectively

45. Disney World acronym

46. “I Only ___ the Ones I Love” (Jeffrey Ross book)

47. Airport code for O’Hare

49. “Great British BakeOff” co-host Fielding

50. Make out in Manchester

51. ___ Mode of “The Incredibles”

52. “O ___ Oscar”

55. “His Master’s Voice” company