Cultural Walkabout to the Muse of the Expanding Creative Coast

Savannah’s most recent nickname as the “Creative Coast” defines a booming art scene stemming from the students and faculty of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). A closer look into the why of this recent phenomenon will take you on a cultural walkabout through the unexpected gems that inspire Savannah’s post-grads.

10:00 a.m.
Breakfast & People Watching in Forsyth Park

There’s no better place to people watch than the southern end of the infamous Forsyth Park. Grab a cup of fair trade Colombian coffee and the city’s best breakfast burrito in the cash only Sentient Bean, and take it to go across the street for a picnic in the park. It’s an off day if you don’t see the park’s  “Pharaoh,” a local dressed up in a tunic and head dress, or the traffic of students racing their 8-foot high unicycles, bicycles, and tricycles.

11:00 a.m.
Scenic Treasure Hunt

History literally breaks the surface of the ground in the old southern city, and with every downtown construction site comes a cult of treasure hunters and mine detectors at the close of each business day. You can unearth a few relics of your own on a scenic walk north along the Drayton Street path of Forsyth Park. Pay close attention to the ground near the giant oak trees where a SCAD jewelers craft heaven awaits your unearthing: Shards of old China and porcelain, colonial pipe stems, and even Civil War uniform buttons to name a few.

1:00 p.m.
Lunch with the Wall’s

Tourists go to Lady & Sons for a taste of traditional southern flavor, but the locals have been going to Wall’s Barb B Que for over 20 years. Hidden in the York Street alley near Price Street, a taste of their the classic pulled pork sandwich, collared greens and homemade macaroni and cheese will make you understand why natives try to keep it on the down low.

2:30 p.m.
A Cult of Personality

The most thorough lesson to appreciate Savannah’s culture will cost you nothing and is found in the remaining mom and pop businesses scattered in between the SCAD scene.

You’ll have to ring the doorbell and pass the house golden retriever’s sniff test to enter Duncan V&J Antique Maps & Prints. Mr. Duncan’s rare collection of historic maps, memos, photographs, and prints paint a brilliant picture of Savannah’s history, from General Oglethorpe’s peaceful landing and settlement amongst the Yamacraw Indians in 1733, and through the years of blood in the wars to follow.

If you found a few artifacts on your treasure hunt, then it’s time to visit Esther of E. Shavers Booksellers. Esther’s library caters to the locals who value their rich heritage, stocking anything from children’s books about the Tybee Island lighthouse to porcelain shard identification guides.

“We fix everything except a broken heart,” is one of the hand painted signs hanging outside of Bradley’s Lock and Key shop on State Street downtown. Known as the magician, Mr. Bradley and his crew really can fix anything with his collection of welding tools more commonly seen in a museum or an antique shop. A walk into this store is a portal into Savannah circa 1940. Even if you don’t need a copy of your key, it’s worth paying a buck or less just to go inside and witness the dynamics between these folks.

Bernstein Co-Food Services Equipment, directly in the heart of City Market, has been around since 1897, and is understandably passed by tourists all the time unless the smart traveler happens to catch a glimpse of old bottles through the window. It’s a jackpot for Savannah antiques when Nathan Fruitticher, Mr. Bernstein’s nephew, is in house. Nathan stores a stash of freshly unearthed relics from the city limits. If he’s not around, grab his card from the front and contact him directly, or Uncle Bernstein will assist connecting the dots.

5:00 p.m.
Happy Hour With the Legends

17 Hundred 90 Inn & Restaurant for happy hour is a 20-year tradition for the older generation of Savannah natives. These are the storytellers, the judges, the pilots, and the fishermen of the city: The ones who can tell you about growing up with Paula Deen, or what it was like to be loved by Lillie Simmons, an infamous Gullah woman of Dafuskie Island who died at 103 with one of her beloved legend’s by her side. They will tell you a story of Savannah never to be found in a book, and one you’ll remember for a lifetime.