Savannah Vacation News

Paula Deen's Food Channel show, Paula's Home Cooking, on DVD

Paula Deen has been serving it up on the Food Channel since 2002. She was quickly embraced by fans. Her cookbooks have been bestsellers and her restaurant, The Lady and Sons, is an extremely popular local Savannah attraction.

Now, the Food Channel offers diehard fans an opportunity to bring Paula Deen into their home with their 9-DVD set of Paula’s Home Cooking. The set includes Sweet Treats, Holiday Celebrations, Celebrate with Friends, BBQ, Summer Treats, Outdoor Eating, Country Store, Country Specialties and Specials from the Sea.

Each disk contains three episodes and never-before-seen footage.

Bringing down the house named for Savannah’s favorite son, Johnny Mercer

Broadway comes to Savannah’s Johnny Mercer Theatre in early fall 2006 through early spring, 2007. The Savannah Civic Center recently released their Johnny Mercer Theatre 2006/2007 Broadway Play schedule spotlighting Mel Brooks 12 Tony Award winning Musical “The Producers” for an early December date as well as other Broadway favorites such as “Rent” and “Camelot” to name just a few. Tourists coming to Savannah should check their travel dates and book individual shows online. Better yet, plan to view all of these performances live by booking your season package today.

Savannah native has assumed the pulpit at Martin Luther King, Jr.'s former Atlanta Church

Reverend Raphael Warnock, 36, is the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church and understand that he has taken leadership over a church that means a lot to people all over the world.  He is the fifth full-time pastor to lead the famed church.

The 119-year-old church is where Martin Luther King, Jr. preached, making the church a home base for the civil rights movement in the South. The original building draws tourists from all around, but the sanctuary is too small to hold services so Reverend Warnock preaches from the newer sanctuary.

Warnock attended Morehouse College and eventually went on to study at New York City’s Union Theological Seminary. He comes from a family full of pastors including his father, mother and sister.

Savannah caterer to sign copies of her new book at E. Shaver, Bookseller

Legendary Savannah caterer, Susan Mason, to sign copies of her new book at the equally legendary independent historic district bookstore, E. Shaver, Bookseller across the street from the DeSoto Hilton on Madison Square. Mrs. Mason will be signing copies of her cookbook entitled Silver Service at the book store located at 326 Bull St., on June 27 from 4 - 6 p.m. 

The cookbook includes more than 80 beautifully illustrated recipes and entertaining stories about Mason’s catering career. She has catered parties and private dinners for the rich and famous in private homes, secret hideaways, airplanes and movie sets. Some of her famous clients include Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, Bill Cosby and Clint Eastwood. Her cooking has been featured in two previous cookbooks and numerous magazines.

Design Press, the Savannah College of Art and Design’s book packaging division, produced the book, and most of the photography included in the book is by Dan Saelinger (M.F.A., photography, 2004). Individual copies of the book will be sold for $34.95.

High Kicking Irish Dancers on the historic district stage

During the recent Savannah Irish Festival this past February, an unknown cinematographer captured a spirited performance of Irish Dance on one of the outside stages. Enjoy the video performance of a few of these accomplished dancers. Better yet, plan to be in attendance at next year’s annual performance.

Enjoy all things Irish in the south’s favorite Irish City, Savannah, Georgia with The Savannah Irish Festival. The SIF enjoyed their 15th consecutive festival this past February 18-19 at the Savannah Civic Center Arena in the Landmark Historic District as well as various venues throughout the district. Performers included Harry O'Donoghue, The Cathie Ryan Band, The Dady Brothers, Brendan Nolan, Pat and Rosie Maloney, The Moon River Chorus, St. Vincent's Academy Chorale, and the fabulous dance schools The Irish Dancers of Savannah and the Glor na h'Eirann Dancers. This year’s Festival saw the debut of first time festival artists making their first appearance in Savannah such as the exciting Roger Drawdy and the Firestarters and the fantastic troupe of 27 fiddlers, Na Fidlieri, from Charleston, SC.

Musical Diamond on Reynolds Square downstairs at The Planters Tavern

As this Frommer’s online review indicates, no weekend getaway to Savannah is ever truly completed for music lovers without sticking your head in the door at the Planters Tavern on Reynolds Square located in the cellar of The Pink House. Once inside enjoy Gail Thurmond’s accomplished presence on the keyboards. This pianist, vocalist, and composer is originally from Reidsville, Georgia. She now currently resides as a native Savannahian with her husband. Gail has been performing at the Olde Pink House, downstairs in Planters Tavern, since 1993, six nights weekly (Tues. - Sun.) performing both her own original music (check out a partial cut of her Savannah Moon original composition here) and her own interpretations of favorite composers and artists, such as Gershwin, Porter, Rogers & Hart, Ellington, Carmichal, Savannah’s own Johnny Mercer, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitigerald, Sarah Vaughn, Lena Horne, Keeley Smith, Cleo Laine and Frank Sinatra, to name a few.

This is Savannah's most beloved tavern, graced with a sprawling and convivial bar, a pair of fireplaces, and a decor of antique bricks and carefully polished hardwoods. Because it's in the cellar of the Olde Pink House, many guests ask that platters of food be served at their tables. Otherwise, you can sit, drink in hand, listening to the melodies emanating from the sadder-but-wiser pianist. Foremost among the divas who perform is the endearingly elegant Gail Thurmond, one of Savannah's most legendary songstresses, who weaves her enchantment Tuesday to Sunday.

Next time you find yourself in the Lowcountry of coastal Georgia, make it a point to stop in and hear one of Savannah’s most accomplished pianist’s practice her craft at The Planter’s Tavern, you’ll be delighted that you did.

New ordinance allows taxi rate increase in Savannah with automatic increases each year based on the Consumer Price Index

Savannah City Council has raised taxi rates with built in automatic annual rate increases. The rates will increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index, which will help offset the rising gas prices and operational costs.

This is one of the first cities in the country to have this formula of automatic increases. Rate increases will go into effect each March 1st.

Taxi riders in Savannah will now pay $3.50 for the first mile and $1.80 for each additional mile.

The new ordinance will also allow taxi drivers to park, one per block, to save fuel. There had been previous complaints that there were not enough taxi stands around downtown Savannah so most drivers had to continue circling to pick up customers.

Savannah's Creepy Crawl - The Premier Pub Crawl Tour

Endorsed by some of the heartiest two fisted local drinkers Savannah has to offer, Savannah's Creepy Crawl is the Premier Pub Crawl Tour for discerning spirit seekers on holiday in Savannah's famed historic district. Spinning tales of haunts and spectacular spirits, your guide will take you on a ghostly adventure you will never forget.

On your journey through the streets of Savannah, you will be welcomed into some of the city's best pubs in search of spirits of another sort. Put on your walking shoes, get ready for lots of spirited fun, and join us for Savannah's Creepy Crawl! The Creepy Crawl lasts approximately two and a half hours. Each tour is conducted by an experienced, licensed professional guide

Wild Wing Cafe opens this weekend in Savannah's City Market

Savannah's City Market in the Landmark Historic District is Going Wild! Wild Wing Cafe that is. Join Wild Wing Cafe for the Grand Opening of their newest Wild Wing Cafe this weekend in Savannah, Georiga at the old Malone's in the City Market located smack in the middle of the Landmark Historic District. Live Entertainment, great eats, and your favorite beverage.

Savannah Getaways invites you to bring your "entire family" and stay in one of our pet friendly properties

Are you a pet lover? Can’t go on vacation without bringing the four legged members of the family? Savannah Getaways has a number of accommodations throughout the historic district that welcomes your furry family members!

Listings 1000, 1001 and 1008 are just a few of the great properties that are pet friendly you can choose from for your stay. With quick access to the parks and squares your pets can also enjoy the beauty and convenience of the historic district. So for your next visit to Savannah go ahead and plan to bring your entire family.