Around Telfair Square, Downtown Savannah

Here are some photos taken at Telfair Square which is in between York St and State St where they cross Barnard St on the west side of downtown. this where the Telfair -- Jepson Art center is and the Telfair museum. There are statues of artists in front. such as Ruebens, which give the building a unique, impressive feel. Just up State Street is one of my favorite places to eat lunch -- Debi's. Also included is a picture of one of the many historical churches downtown.

When you are in Savannah, make sure you stop by the art centers here.

Cafe Ambrosia -- downtown Savannah

If you are looking for a light lunch or a cup of coffee, a pastry and somewhere to use your laptop, Cafe Ambrosia is in my opinion the best place in Savannah.

I go there about twice a week to read, eat a couple of cinnamon rolls and drink a few cups of their great coffee.

The atmosphere is a little funky and laid back -- they have classical music in the background and comfortable chairs and couches.

The staff is very pleasant and helpful. It's on the east side of Broughton St right next to Leopold's Ice Cream shop and across from the SCAD library.

I'll add a photo next week. Try it!

Mike from Savannah

Ellis Square and City Market

The Ellis Square Project is moving along. For those unfamiliar with the project, a huge parking garage was built where Ellis Square used to be - now the garage has been torn down and underground parking is taking its place with Ellis Square being restored, creating a nice green park area as the entrance into City Market. City Market is an area where shops and art galleries and restaurants surround a park-like area on the west side of the city close to Bay Street.

I go by the project about twice a week and it looks like the next stage now will be the restoration of the square -- the underground parking is complete, but not open yet. The lage condo development called News Place is almost complete, also, which is going up in front of Ellis Square.

Restoration of Ellis Square will be a huge aesthetic improvement and will enhance the enjoyment of City Market. Savannah was already beautiful, with this development it will be moreso -- plus, the parking problem will greatly helped.

When I first moved to Savannah

I was unsure whether i would like it. I'd heard about the crime and the odor from the paper mills and the bugs and all the negative stuff. And, in the beginning there was a bad odor from the paper mills and there were a lot of bugs. As for crime, I've never been affected by crime in Savannah.

The paper mills improved with pollution technology and I never smell that smell anymore, and the bugs and I have come to a harmonic agreement that if they stay outside we can co-exist just fine.

Downtown Savannah was just beginning to change when I moved to Savannah and all the action seemed to be moving to the southside and to the west. Well the southside and the west are still busy, but the downtown area has boomed as well. I have seen Savannah steadily grow and manage the growth in a way that is protecting its character. I am stuck in a quandary of a preservationist tendency and a dynamic spirit.

I love growth and I love the new, but when I look at the old architecture in Savannah I also want it saved and preserved. That's asking and expecting a lot but so far Savannah has managed to keep the two going with very little conflict.

One reason is that most of the developable land has been developed, so all the new construction is going south and west -- downtown Savannah is able to maintain its character and new growth is able to spread around it -- a very workable arrangement. However, the southside has been influenced by the character of downtown Savannah and much of the new commercial development is maintaing some semblance of the downtown style.

Tybee island has also grown since I moved to Savannah -- when I first moved here Tybee Island was still a sleepy little beach town, eccentric and eclectic -- it's still eccentric and eclectic but it has grown tremendously -- it grew too fast and now it's in a holding pattern waiting for a down market to move its way through. Tybee is still a bargain though when compared to other oceanside communties up and down the Atlantic. Tybee will always be small because it's just, well, small. But more restaurants and entertainment have changed it from sleepy to a little more active and fun for visitors.

One of the major changes I see in Savannah is the renovation of the Victorian district and Thomas Square Streetcar District from Victory Drive to around Forsyth Park. This area has the potential to create many trendy, interesting neighborhoods -- the renovation has been hot for a number of years now and it appears it will continue for a long time to come. There is a tendency now for people to want to move closer to downtown and this is driving the renovation.

However, the westside of Savannah in Pooler and Effingham County are still growing as well as people choose new subdivsions and quite communities outside downtown. All in all it has been fun to watch and be a part of.

It wasn't long after moving to Savannah that I fell in love and the love affair is still going.

Savannah Sandgnats: Baseball in Savannah

I guess baseball is not as popular as it once was; however, for someone like myself who grew up with baseball and who began playing at age 7 or 8, then played every year after until I was almost 20, baseball is in the blood. As a kid a developed an interest in statistics through my love for baseball. I knew Mickey Mantle's batting average on a daily basis. I followed all the great players of the day, Rocky Colavito, Harmon Killebrew, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, Al Kaline, Roberto Clemente -- I could go on and on.

Later, when my two boys became of age, they developed an interest in baseball, and some of my greatest memories are of sweating profusely in 95 degree heat at a ballpark watching one of my sons play, cheering them, sharing with them the successes and failures -- it was if I was there on the field with them every game.

So, for me, it's a good thing that Savannah has a single-A minor league team, the Savannah Sandgnats -- this is the bare beginning of a professional career for a player and the pay is so low the main purpose of playing is still for the love of the sport. Last night I attended a game that turned out to be a good one -- tied in the 9th when the second baseman for Sandgnats knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the inning with a single up the middle. It was good entertainment all around. They have in-between activities where they involve the local children in games like races around the bases.

They have refreshments and a bar for those who like a cold beer with their hotdog. The stadium is Grayson Stadium and is off Victory within Daffin Park, at the western edge of Ardsley Park and the nortthen end of the Parkside neighborhood.

Now you might ask, what is a sandgnat? Here is a link to help you understand the significance of a sandgnat. They aren't as bad as the article makes them out to be, just a minor nuisance at certain times -- most times you won't even know they exist .Once you live here for a while you will know all about sandgnats and how Skin So Soft can prevent them from bothering you. The most interesting thing about sandgnats is that come out only when the weather is perfect, say 78 or 79 degrees.

Going to a game every now and then is good fun and worth the few dollars spent. I'm glad Savannah has a baseball team, even if it is named after a small, annoying insect.

(photo from Sandgnats homepage)