JULY 2020

Weekend in Savannah

When COVID claustrophobia reached peak tolerance level for me, I knew I needed to leave the city - even if only for a few days - and Savannah, GA immediately came to mind. Overdue for a visit, and having heard so much about the recent cultural infusion of creativity and the resulting great new hotels and restaurants, I hit the road with clothes for the weekend, my mask, and Stella (of course).

Four short hours later I arrived at the Perry Lane Hotel, which I can now enthusiastically confirm is a must visit. There are so many great, charming 100-year-old bed-and-breakfasts in Savannah, but, after an almost four month travel hiatus I was looking for as many luxury amenities as possible. I was immediately captivated by the beautiful exterior of the hotel, designed by award-winning Hansen Architects. The cast-stone facade with arched windows sets the tone for high design before entering into the lobby, where you’re graced with a more residential-style check-in and black and grey marble checkerboard flooring. Think Art Deco meets old Southern charm. The textures in the facade transition seamlessly as your eyes shift to the cobblestone streets, a seeming nod to the original architecture of the city.

I settled into my room and made my way to the rooftop pool as quickly as possible. Aperol Spritz in hand, I spent the afternoon disconnected from my device in an effort to truly relax, which for me requires a few hours sans news notifications. That wasn’t hard to do; I was completely transfixed by the stunning tile work of the pool and the cement tiles that reinforced the design.

After my time at the pool I made my way out of the hotel and combined aimless and intentional wandering, visiting Forsyth Park, SCAD, and of course the Starland district. As is the current situation in many cities, several of the places on my list were closed, and I was saddened that the Atlantic restaurant hadn’t survived the pandemic. The Grey restaurant was also temporarily closed, but that didn’t stop me from at least peeking through the windows and admiring the work of one of my favorite design firms, Parts and Labor. It was everything I had imagined: old and new coming together in only the way that I would expect from these guys. I settled on dinner at Local 11Ten, a restaurant designed by fellow SCAD alum, Robby Perkins of Daniel Reed Hospitality group. I first met Robby and his husband Jamie in Dixon Rye, and they’ve since become great clients who we love to see when they’re in town. Fried oysters followed by the boat catch of the day which, in my opinion, is the only way to go when you find yourself dining on the coast.

While I was out, Stella decided to tear into her bed and turn our hotel room into a nylon/cotton cloud, but that was truly the only hiccup of the weekend. Overall, it proved to be exactly what I needed—a quick getaway filled with design inspiration, historic preservation and sunshine! Before heading back north, I enjoyed an eggs Benedict brunch at Collins Quarter, a dog-friendly spot, with delicious food to boot; Stella made new friends while Dad enjoyed brunch and conversation with locals. We will certainly be making our way back to Savannah sometime soon.