SCOOP: St. Patrick's in Savannah? by Meryl Truett

Photo by today's guest blogger Meryl Truett!

St. Patrick’s Day is bigger than Christmas in Savannah, Georgia. Everyone who’s anyone takes the day off and heads down to the Historic District for the parade. More than 400,000 visitors are expected but here’s the low down on how to get around and make the most of what our hostess city has to offer during this festive weekend.

When I moved to Savannah 12 years ago, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” was at the height of its popularity. The movie came out in 1997 and yes the party scenes are true Savannah. On St. Patty’s Day, Bloody Mary’s and green grits are served on verandas all over town starting at 8AM. Just the thing to put spectators in the correct frame of mind for the big parade. If you don’t know anyone throwing a morning party, then stake out a seat on one of the twenty-one oak tree laden/Spanish moss dripping historic squares that local floats and marching bands wind their way through the parade route or just travel along the sidewalks maneuvering your way through the costumed revelers and souvenir vendors. Watch out for the “Kiss me I’m Irish” crowd or you could end up smothered in red lipstick.

So here’s the inside skinny………..

Stay: award winning Thunderbird Inn Motel just on the edge of the historic district from $99.00 a night 866.324.2661.

EAT:

Wall’s BBQ

Leopold’s Ice Cream on Broughton Street on the parade route 912.234.4442

Local 11 ten at the south end of Forsyth Park 912. 790.9000

SHOP/ART: ShopScad on corner of Bull and Charlton…….very cool store selling the unique wares of student, faculty and alumni of Savannah College of Art and Design Pick up a copy of my book Thump Queen and Other Southern Anomalies, a collection of eccentric southern images exploring the world of Thump Queens, Velvet Elvises, Soul Palaces, and Bad Antiques…….

Jepson Center/Telfair Museum of Arts- 207 West York……permanent collection (recent acquisitions include large scale photographs by Meryl Truett) and traveling exhibitions plus a fun to browse museum shop.

The café on the second floor is a lovely spot for an upscale lunch.

Meryl Truett is a fine art and editorial photographer. The second printing of her book Thump Queen and Other Southern Anomalies is available through Amazon. com.