Scenes of the South

A sold out crowd of more than one hundred and fifty tourism and hospitality professionals gathered at the Brice Hotel on July 21 for the monthly Tourism and Leadership Council Luncheon featuring, President and Founder of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Paula Wallace. Guests enjoyed a plated dinner prepared by Pacci Restaurant, while learning more about Wallace's early beginnings and the inspirational creation of SCAD, which is detailed in her newly released memoir, The Bee and the Acorn. The next TLC Connection luncheon will be held on August 18 at the International Trade and Convention Center with guest speaker, Joe Marinelli, President of Visit Savannah. Photos by Tracy Scarpati with Cool Savannah Photography

South Magazine and the Mansion on Forsyth Park South Magazine welcomed more than eighty guests to 700 Drayton Restaurant on July 20th for a night of power networking and fundraising to raise money and awareness for the Rape Crisis Center of Coastal Georgia. Attendees enjoyed delicious five dollar martinis in addition to delicious food samples and Live Music performed by Laken. Martinis at the Mansion is held on the third Wednesday of each month with the next event taking place on August 17th to support the Savannah VOICE Festival. Photos by Tracy Scarpati with Cool Savannah Photography.

Members and friends of the NuBarter Network gathered at Wasabi Japanese Restaurant on July 14th for a monthly network and information meeting to provide information about the barter community. Guests enjoyed complimentary appetizers while networking with fellow associates. Photos by Cool Savannah Photography eve

The Savannah Downtown Business Association hosted their monthly networking luncheon at the Charles Morris Center on July 13th featuring guest speaker, District Attorney, Meg Heap. Attendees enjoyed networking before sitting down to lunch and listening to Heap discuss some of the more pressing issues that her office is addressing to help reduce violent crime in the city. Photos by John Dillon

Members and friends of the Visit Savannah tour and travel community gathered for a summer networking social on July 12th hosted at 39 Rue de Jean Restaurant inside of the Embassy Suites Savannah Historic District. Guests at the event enjoyed a variety of happy hour specials while delighting in the delicious samples of sushi, truffle prize and fresh seafood offerings prepared by Drue Longo and her team. Photos by Brittany Gilliam

Hundreds of guests gathered at the Johnny Mercer Theater inside the Savannah Civic Center to enjoy the Award Ceremony for the inaugural Big River Film Festival of July 9th. This one-of-a-kind Summer Film Festival celebrates filmmakers from around the world and invited members of the International Film Community to Savannah as a way to introduce the state of Georgia and highlight its benefits for film production. Photos by Cool Savannah Photography

Dubbed by Movie Maker Magazine as the "Hottest Film Festival in the United States," the inaugural Big Mountain Film Festival kicked off in Savannah on July 7th with a VIP Opening Reception at Savannah Station that welcomed more than three hundred guests to the red carpet. The highly-anticipated event hosted notable professionals from the International film community and one of the most recognizable guests in attendance was Domenica Cameron-Scorsese, daughter of the legendary filmmaker, Martin Scorsese. The Festival’s signature programs include the Filmmaker In-The-Know, Coffee Talks, Master Classes, Screenings, Awards and will premiere features and short films created by rising independent filmmakers across the globe. Photos by Cool Savannah Photography

The Savannah Waterfront Association welcomed hundreds of visitors to River Street on July 4th for the Annual Independence Day Celebration and 60th Birthday Celebration for WSAV3 News. Attendees enjoyed a full afternoon of activities including; live music, food and vendor booths, military stage and kid's zone before selecting their spot to set up for the grand Fireworks Display to conclude the evening. Photos by Cool Savannah Photography

Hundreds of patriotic visitors traveled to Tercentennial Park this Fourth of July Weekend to enjoy a wide selection of Family Fourth Events hosted by the Coastal Heritage Society. Guests could enjoy activities at the Savannah History Museum, Children's Museum and Georgia Railroad Museum's including; costumed interpreters, battle reenactments, musket firing demonstrations, crafts and live music. Photos by Cool Savannah Photography

The monthly Buy Local Savannah Luncheon was hosted at the Pirate's House Restaurant on June 26th, featuring guest speaker Lou Phelps, President and Publisher of the Coastal Empire News. The crowd of more than sixty attendees listened intently as Lou gave her tips and advice for how businesses can utilize the local media and make it work to promote their products and service. Buy Local Savannah lunches are scheduled for the fourth Thursday of the month with the next meeting scheduled for August 22nd where guest speaker, Bridget Liddy, Director of the City of Savannah Tourism Department, will be reporting the success of the city's new Ambassador program. Photos by Cool Savannah Photography

The Savannah business community welcomed a new member to the city's Historic District on June 18th at the Grand Opening Celebration of the Brass Belle. Located at 201 East Charleton Street, this new boutique offers a unique variety of clothing and gift ideas including, home-goods, jewelry, fashion, wedding registry and more. Attendees at the event were asked to bring a canned good for America's Second Harvest Food bank and enjoyed a 15% discount for items purchased at the store in addition to door prizes from several local businesses. Photos by Brittany Gilliam

A night of torrential Summer thunderstorms poured throughout the Lowcountry to create the perfect storm of muck and mud for the 5th Annual JCB Mud Fest hosted on Saturday, June 18th at JCB Headquarters in Pooler, Georgia. More than seven hundred runners joined in the competition that featured a five-mile, muddy obstacle course in addition to a Bike Trail and new 5k experience. Proceeds from this year's food and beverage sales went to benefit the Lady Bamford Center for early childhood development.

More than one hundred guests arrived at 700 Drayton Restaurant on June 15th to celebrate diversity with the Savannah Pride Organization at the monthly Martinis at the Mansion event hosted by South Magazine and the Mansion on Forsyth Park . Guests enjoyed delicious five dollar Georgia Peach Martinis in addition to delicious food samples prepared by Chef Roberto Leoci and team while raising funds and awareness for this special non-profit organization. The Savannah Pride event will take place in Forsyth Park on Saturday, October 22nd with a special kick off White Party held on October 20th at the Jepson Center for the Arts. Martinis at the Mansion is held on the third Wednesday of each month with the next event taking place on July 20th to support the Rape Crisis Center of Coastal Georgia. Photos by Tracy Scarpati with Cool Savannah Photography.

More than six hundred brave participants got their chance to escape from jail and find their way to freedom at the 2nd Annual Jailbreak Mud Run Challenge hosted by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department on June 11th. Contestants made their way through the grueling four mile course that featured fifty challenging obstacles that tested the limits of their physical and mental abilities. All of the proceeds from the Mud Run Challenge went to benefit the Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes, a local non-profit that offers at-risk children a loving and safe home environment. Photos by Sheila Rozzel

Over one hundred guests gathered together in the Historic District to celebrate the Summer Finale of the Savannah Art Walk on June 11th. Presented by the Tiffani Taylor Gallery and Heej Chung Art and Designs, the opening reception began at the Top Deck Bar inside of the Cotton Sail Hotel where visitors enjoyed a complimentary cocktail while meeting several of the event's artists. The free Old Savannah Tours Trolley allowed for easy transportation for guests throughout the locations on the map before the group reconvened on the second floor terrace of the Andaz Hotel for a finale reception complete with complimentary wine, live music and raffle drawings for participants who visited ten or more galleries. Photos by Krystal Oblinger

Hundreds of visitors made their way to Emmett Park in the Historic District on Sunday, June 5th to celebrate the largest Savannah Food Truck Festival to date. Food lovers could order their favorite street food from more than fifteen vendors at the event while browsing the additional shops and booths in attendance. Proceeds from the event went to benefit the Savannah Downtown Business Association, The Savannah Children's Choir and Food Truck Philanthropy. Photos by Cool Savannah Photography

Kendra Scott Savannah hosted a special evening of bubbly and refreshments to give back to the community and a portion of the sales from the night went to benefit the Living Vine, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young pregnant girls in crisis. Photos by Cool Savannah Photography

The Buy Local Savannah Networking group welcomed members and guests to Pearl's Saltwater Grille near Isle of Hope, Georgia on June 1st featuring a delicious display of food and tickets for cocktails to the bar. Photos by Cool Savannah Photography

Thousands of Lowcountry baseball fans braved the rainy weather on June 2nd to welcome the new Savannah Bananas Baseball Team to the city as they hosted their season home opener against the Lexington County Blowfish at Historic Grayson Stadium. The team made good on its promise to provide fans with 99% entertainment and 1% baseball as ticket holders enjoyed watching Mayor Eddie DeLoach throw out the first pitch of the season before the starting lineup was driven to the infield in style by the Old Savannah Tours Trolley. Photos by Cool Savannah Photography

Thousands of pub enthusiasts gathered at Savannah Smiles to register for the 3rd Annual Crawl of the South to benefit the Lukemia Lymphoma Society of Savannah on May 28th. Crawlers visited more than twenty locations throughout the historic district to take advantage of drink specials and to ge their official stamp to register and win various prizes. Photos by Cool Savannah Photography and Casey Hauser Photography

Memorial Day Weekend in Savannah kicked off bright and early on Saturday, May 28th at the 11th Annual Savannah Mile race to support the 200 Club of the Coastal Empire. Hundreds of runners from all age groups and skill levels began at the start line on Drayton Street at Forsyth Park to make the one mile journey North to the Finish Line at Broughton Street. Presented by Fleet Feet Sports Savannah and Savannah Lodging, the event raises much needed funds for the families of fallen first responders in our area and celebrates the lives of those lost in the line of duty. The post-race party and award presentation took place in Johnson Square with highlights that included, Leopold's Ice Cream, Coca Cola and photo opportunities with Forrest Gump from Old Savannah Tours. Photos by Krystal Oblinger

Hundreds of runners of all shapes, sizes and ability levels joined together at the Hutchinson Island Racetrack on May 21st for the 3rd Annual Nine Line Run for the Wounded 5k/10k. Hosted by Nine Line Apparel, proceeds raised at this year's event will benefit the Nine Line Foundation's current candidate, SFC Aaron Causey, a combat wounded veteran with multiple severe injuries, who will use the money to help build a handicap accessible home. Photos by Krystal Oblinger

The 24th Annual Savannah Kiss A Pig Gala Swine Actor's Guild Awards was hosted by Savannah Vascular and Cardiac Institute at the Wilmington Island Club on May 21st to announce the winning team who raised the most funds for the American Diabetes Association of SE Georgia and Coastal Carolina. ​ Guests at the event enjoyed an open bar, delicious food and live music performed by A Nickel Bag of Funk, while celebrating the people who competed in this year's fundraising campaign. The Savannah Boars team of lawyers walked away with the coveted honor of kissing the pig for saving lives, raising more than $42,000 from the proceeds of their annual Lawyers, Guns and Money Clay Shoot Tournament. Photos by Dream Weaver Photography

South Magazine and the Mansion on Forsyth Park hosted the monthly Martinis at the Mansion event on May 18th at 700 Drayton Restaurant featuring special guests from the Coastal Heritage Society. This 501 (c)3 nonprofit corporation founded in 1975 and operates five historic museums in Savannah including; the Georgia State Railroad Museum, Savannah Children's Museum, Savannah History Museum, Old Fort Jackson and Pin Point Heritage Museum. This month's event focused on educating guests about the organization's "Cultured Coast" events, giving attendees a chance to test their knowledge of Savannah history, facts and lore with a special trivia door prize game. Guests enjoyed sipping on the evening's five dollar Chatham Artillery Martini special in addition to tasting delicious food samples prepared by Chef Roberto Leoci and team and dressing up with historic costume props to pose on the red carpet. The next Martinis event will take place on June 15th from 5:30pm until 7:30pm with special host, Savannah Pride. Photos by Cool Savannah Photography.