Messages, I Love You and The Sentient Bean

Well, our Winter travels are coming to an end and soon we'll head north, leaving sunny Savannah.  We're totally hooked on our new Victorian East neighborhood and hope to return to it and the very same rental next year. Can't beat staying in a renovated Victorian with a wrap-around porch and a garden to boot!

The wall and sign that inspired 'Private Parking Message' was along our daily route and always caught my eye, as new additions would pop up regularly.  I took liberty with some of the placements and sizing, but each message is indeed on the wall.

Private Parking Message - Savannah

The lovely old-school marquee of the Savannah Theater has inspired collage during our stays here over the years. You can see my gut response to the title in the strong text image. Our vibrant woman is wearing her favorite Marvel characters dress.

I love you. You're Perfect. Now Change. collage - Savannah

We were having breakfast in the Sentient Bean, our favorite local coffee place, when I looked up, saw the counter and background and said that is a great image and so it became the basis of my last collage this trip.  Crows are a welcome element in any of my collages.

Sentient Bean - Savannah

Follow-up!  I walked past the mural that was beginning that I used in an earlier collage and it's complete!  Super!

We've spent a lot of time enjoying Forsythe Park, which is quite nearby.  I had lovely conversations with bought some prints from two Forsythe vendors.

Phil Musen does these whimsical prints.  I love his sensibility and colors and he was a pleasure to chat with.  I think this one will be a great addition to my kitchen.

Hot Dog Cats by Phil Musen

Michelle A Stafford captures Forsythe Park and creates wonderful mystical women, magical animals and more.  This one really spoke to me. We had a great conversation and discovered that we both had lived in Philadelphia.

Digital Synthesis by Michelle A Stafford

Our Winter Trips are always renewing and refreshing and this one, especially so.  I find there is a great verve to having the sense of place as an anchor to my collages.  Thanks for traveling with me.

Cuban Window Cafe and a Cargo Ship Meet Pabst Blue Ribbon With a New Mural

While Savannah is most known for it's beautiful historical and Victorian architecture, you'll find other things to catch your eye.

I read about the Cuban Window Cafe before we arrived in the Savannah in the  'Eat It and Like It' blog by Jesse Blanco.  Check out his Cuban Window review here.  We were very delighted to find this little gem was quite near where we are staying.  Carry-out traditional Cuban Sandwiches were our first meal in Savannah.  Since then, we've enjoyed their extensive menu often, and have new favorites in Guava Pastelitos, Papa Rellena and Empanadas Cuban-style. Everyone who works there are just terrific and working hard to keep you happy - all in a funky vibe that I love.

Cuban Window on Abercorn - Savannah

Savannah is one of the major cargo ship ports in the country.  It is quite impressive to stand on the River Walk and have one of these behemoths glide by right in front of you. Catching sight of the ships is one of my husband's favorite Savannah things. The yellow teacups are a huge sculpture that is on the River Walk in the new renovated power plant area, Plant Riverside.  By the way, check out the JW Mariott lobby on the Plant Riverside website.  It houses the most glorious natural crystals collection, in sizes I have never seen before.

Savannah River Cargo

Well, I didn't drink PBR or go bowling, but I did love the building and jaunty air of Moodrights on Abercorn Street, where you can do both those things - Duckpin bowling to be exact.   Pool and Bingo too!  I think my retro characters would feel right at home at Moodrights.

Pabst Blue Ribbon Moodrights - Savannah

There is a lot of wall art and murals in the city and I thought it rather cool to come upon one at the beginning of the venture.  I decided my artsy style  people would appreciate it fully. SCAD - Savannah Collage of Art & Design - offers many fashion design programs, and I am often taken by the unique stylings people wear.

Mural Beginnings on Bull Street - Savannah

Savannah continues to be one of my most favorite cities and places to be.

Savannah Savannah 2019

Spending a good length of time in another city is my favorite version of travel.  We're enjoying the sense of being in a 'second home' and have become 'regulars' at several favorite haunts. Apparently Savannah is more a short-term stay kind of place and people are surprised we're longer term visitors. But our longer stay allows us to enjoy discovering and rediscovering places, architecture, shops and restaurants.  There is a vast array of detail in everything that makes your most typical walk or visited place turn up something fresh and not noticed in that way before.  

ShopSCAD is one place we always check out.  A gallery shop of SCAD - Savannah College of Art & Design - on Bull Street and in one of the first SCAD restored buildings  with fine art, jewelry and fun little things as well.  This January window display caught my eye.

ShopSCAD

Henry's Restaurant on Drayton Street is one of our favorite breakfast places.  It has the vibe of an old school diner, very reasonable prices and really, the best grits in town. 

Henry's

Folklorico also on Bull Street is a wonderful shop always worthy of exploration, with many imported treasures, especially art from Mexico.  Last year my friend Joanie gifted me with a wonderful Frida Kahlo santos I had admired while we were in the shop together.  So Folklorico and Frida is a natural combo.

Folklorico Fridas

I came across an interesting collection of vintage photographs awhile ago and was looking for the perfect background and found it here in 24 E, which is the back of an vintage storefront on East Broughton Street, a main drag in the Savannah historic district. I later discovered that 24e is an interesting store, 24e Design, with unique furniture and art made from vintage and retro things, but the old brick wall and concrete spoke to me first. Felt fitting for our little group who, it turned out, were all members of an English early 1920's criminal gang.

24 e