Scenes of the South

In honor of National Bike to Work Week, The Comfort Inn and Suites Historic District offered 'Sweet Rides" to members of the Savannah hospitality community to celebrate the launch of their bright assortment of colorful new bicycles available for guests to rent and ride around the Landmark Historic District. Dignitaries and VIPS from MeetSavannah.com, Image Hotels, Visit Savannah, The City of Savannah, Old Savannah Tours, ESPN Radio Savannah and the Savannah Bananas, were on hand at the event to claim a bike and take a ride to showcase the collection and highlight the benefits of riding bicycles. Guests enjoyed delicious food from the hotel's culinary team and beer from Service Brewing Company before taking a guided tour of the property's beautiful hotel rooms. Many of the evening's attendees walked away with a variety of swag from VisitSavannah.com in addition to giveaways and amazing door prizes including; Comfort Suites Historic Distric Hotel stays, Old Savannah Trolley Tours, Savannah Bananas Baseball VIP passes, Service brews and more!

More than four hundred literary fans arrived to Ladies Night at the Brice Hotel in Savannah on May 16th to celebrate the newest book launch of ten time, NY Times Best Selling Author, Mary Kay Andrews​ and purchase a copy of "The Weekenders" to have it autographed. Guests enjoyed dining on delicious culinary treats from Savannah Coffee Roasters and the team from Virginia College and Service Brewing Company was also in attendance to provide their signature cold brews. and everyone walked away with a special swag bag of sponsored and donated gifts from around the community. Photos by Lindsey Clark with Lorien Studios

The beautiful Spring Savannah weather offered a world of #INFINITEPOSSIBILITIES as guests headed to the Top Deck Bar inside the Cotton Sail Hotel on May 14th to attend the opening reception of the Savannah Art Walk Hosted by the Tiffani Taylor Gallery and sponsored by Heej Chung Art and Designs, participants at the second Saturday walk enjoyed sipping on Sangria while mingling with featured artists before departing on the self-guided tour of more than thirty locations. Guests could choose to walk or ride on board the free Old Savannah Tours Trolley to make their way throughout the locations on the map and collect ten signatures to be entered into the evening's raffle announced at the finale reception at the Andaz Hotel . Photos by Krystal Oblinger

Hundreds of hard core athletes and first time competitors made their way through 4.5 miles of mud and over thirty obstacles to cross the finish line at the Grainger Nissan of Savannah Big Nasty Mud Run on May 14th. A portion of the proceeds from the 2016 event will go to benefit the Beckilee Epilepsy Foundation in memory of local community advocate, Beckilee Stanton. Photos by Sheila Rozell

Business leaders and residents joined members of the Savannah Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Leadership Council to welcome Veteran owned and operated Service First Real Estate Associates to the local business community at a special grand opening and ribbon cutting on May 12th. Hosted by Savannah VIP Events, the event introduced owner and Air Force Veteran, Joe Dyer and his real estate team to the crowd of more than one hundred attendees who were asked to bring two cans of food to donate for America's Second Harvest Food Bank. Guests enjoyed food and cocktails and were invited to tour the new office location at 101 West DeRenne Avenue. Photos by Sheila Rozell

Members of the community gathered together on May 11th to welcome a new Savannah business to the South Side at the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of OrthoNow Orthopedic Urgent Care center, located in front of Lowes at 11102 Abercorn Street. OrthoNow is the city's only dedicated orthopedic urgent care center designed to offer a total orthopedic solution to patients on a walk-in basis. Guests were invited to tour the facility and meet the medical team while enjoying delicious food prepared by Savannah Coffee Roasters and listening to great tunes by Patrick Connell. Photos by Tracy Scarpati with Cool Savannah Photography VIEW THE SCENES GALLERY HERE

Local Savannah Celebrities were paired with professional ballroom dancers for the Dancing Stars of Coastal Georgia Fundraiser on May 6th to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. Each dancer competed in the gala dance competition, hosted at the International Trade and Convention Center, in an attempt to raise the most money for the organization. Photos by Traci Scarpati with Cool Savannah Photography VIEW THE SCENES GALLERY HERE

The most exciting two minutes in sports offered the perfect opportunity for guests to enjoy an afternoon at the Andaz Savannah for their inaugural Kentucky Derby Party on May 7th. The team at 22 Square Restaurant and Bar prepared a delicious array of derby fare and attendees were encouraged to dress in their best Derby attire to compete to win a fifty dollar bar tab for best outfit. Photos by Casey Hauser

The Savannah Weather provided a picture perfect afternoon for the 18th Annual Tourism Leadership Council Golf Tournament hosted at the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort Golf Club on May 3rd. The sold out event welcomed thirty-seven teams with one hundred and forty eight players who competed in a four-team scramble tournament that featured, a men's and women's long drive along with a putting contest sponsored by Old Savannah Tours. The tournament is one of the largest fundraisers of the year for th TLC, raising money for tourism scholarships and special programs. Photos by Lindsey Clark with Lorien Studios

Hundreds of runners of all levels joined together at Savannah State University on April 30th for the Girls on the Run 5K Celebration. This annual event is hosted to inspire young girls to take charge of their lives and define their future on their own terms. Photos by Krystal Oblinger

Four of Savannah's finest fashion designers joined forces at the Jepson Center for the Arts on April 30th to create a stunning fashion show to celebrate Telfair Museum's State of the Art Exhibit. In addition to the Savannah Style fashion show, guests could explore the exhibition, browse the various pop-up shops and mingle with the movers and shakers of the city's thriving style and fashion scene. Photos by Traci Scarpati with Cool Savannah Photography

The second annual Soul Proprietors Screening Event was held on April 28th at the Jepson Center for the Arts with an opening VIP reception where guests could meet the film crews and faces behind the scenes. The competition featured three Savannah based businesses who were paired with their own film crew who was tasked to capture the essence of the business by creating its documentary in just five short days. The winning film crew featured Fleet Feet Sports Savannah and took home the the $5000 grand prize. Susan G. Komen was the featured charity selected by Fleet Feet to receive a percentage of the proceeds raised from the event. Photos by Traci Scarpati with Cool Savannah Photography

Several local area restaurants participated in the Spring Taste of Pooler Event on April 28th at the Mighty Eighty Air Force Museum. More than two hundred guests were in attendance at the bi-annual event hosted by the Pooler Chamber of Commerce to enjoy samples of delicious food from favorites as well as discover new finds. Photos by Casey Hauser

An exclusive list of more than 250 invited guests from around the South Eastern tourism community joined together on April 27th in Savannah to celebrate the grand opening reception for the new Hotel Indigo Historic District. Attendees enjoyed tours of several of the property's twenty-two room types, along with samples from Five Oaks Tap Room Restaurant and Bar and live music in their large event room and meeting space. General Manager, Kelly Linder, introduced the owners from the Noble Group and thanked her staff before introducing, Mayor Eddie DeLoach, who gave a brief recollection of his personal memories of the location throughout the last fifty years at Barnard Street and Bay Street. Photos by Tracey Scarpati with Cool Savannah Photography VIEW THE SCENES GALLERY HERE

The highly-anticipated Savannah College of Art and Design Sidewalk Art Festival took place on Saturday, April 22nd, showcasing Sidewalk Art Masterpieces drawn along the paved walkways of Forsyth Park in the famed Historic District. Featuring work by students, Alumni and prospective students, this annual tradition is almost as old as the University itself and is a favorite for locals and visiting SCAD families. Savannah was happy to host the return of this event which was canceled due to rain in 2015. Photos by Krystal Oblinger

A sold out crowd of food and wine enthusiasts joined in the fun at the Tybee Wine Festival Grand Wine Tasting on April 22nd, to benefit the Tybee Post Theater. The beautiful Spring afternoon set the perfect backdrop against the historic grounds of the Tybee Island Lighthouse where guests enjoyed live music on the festival stage, a silent auction and sample tastings from more than one hundred international wines and food from favorite local area restaurants. Photos by Casey Hauser

More than two hundred guests joined the Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire to celebrate their more than forty years of service to the Lowcountry at the 2016 Pearls of Power Awards Gala. Hosted at the Historic American Legion Ballroom, the evening kicked into full swing as internationally acclaimed artist, Jon Moody, painted a canvas of the Forsyth Park Fountain live as the soothing sounds of Trae Gurely serenaded those in attendance with his unique crooner style. Honorees Tiffani Taylor and Molly Lieberman were recognized for their continued support of RCC's mission and the evening concluded with a speech by survivor, Brittany Brett, followed by a live art auction which raised more than 15,000 dollars for the organization. Photos by Tracey Scarpati with Cool Savannah Photography VIEW THE SCENES GALLERY HERE

Expressionist painter, Tiffani Taylor, and photographic encaustic artist, Melissa Schneider, presented their co-exhibit, "Light in the Garden: Two Artists Meet Monet," at the Andaz Hotel's monthly Artist Salon on April 21st. Guests enjoyed delicious offerings from Chef Lauren Teague and her team from 22 Square Restaurant and Bar while meeting the artists and admiring their work. Following the Salon, attendees were invited back to the Tiffani Taylor Gallery for a private tour. Photos by Krystal Oblinger

Guests arrived to the Jespon Center for the Arts on April 21st dressed in their poodle skirts and pompadours to celebrate the opening of the Telfair Museums' Elvis at 21 exhibit. Exhibition organizer and music photography expert, Chris Murray, got the evening swinging with a special presentation followed by a 50s sock hop celebration complete with nostalgic Coca-Cola Floats from Savannah Coffee Roasters, dance instruction from Savannah Ballroom Dance Studio and Music from All About You Entertainment. The #Elvisat21 exhibit opens on April 22nd and runs through October 2nd, 2016. Photos by Krystal Oblinger

South Magazine and the Mansion on Forsyth Park hosted more than eighty guests on April 20th for an evening of power networking, fundraising and five dollar martinis to benefit the 200 Club of the Coastal Empire. Attendees were able to participate in a special trivia raffle to learn more about this special non-profit organization that provides financial assistance for families of first responders who are injured or killed in the line of duty. Forrest Gump from Old Savannah Tours made a special appearance to register to "Run Forrest Run" in the organization's Savannah Mile race on May 28th and donations from local businesses including; Tiffani Taylor Gallery, Grand Garages, Jeff's Beverage, Johnnie Ganem's and more provided a variety of prizes for the evening's fundraiser. Martinis at the Mansion occurs on the third Wednesday of each month at 700 Drayton Restaurant from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm at with the next event taking place on May 18th featuring the Coastal Heritage Society. Photos by Tracey Scarpati with Cool Savannah Photography

Ellis Square was dressed in pink on April 15th to celebrate the lives of Breast Cancer Survivors at the Komen Survivor Dinner kick off reception for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure weekend in Savannah. Sponsors from Memorial Health, Coastal Empire Plastic Surgery and Fleet Feet Sports offered inspirational comments to the crowd of more than one hundred guests before each survivor was escorted to the podium to announce the number of years they've beaten Cancer by Marines of the Savannah Landing Support Company, stationed on Hunter Army Airfield. Photos by Tracy Scarpati with Cool Savannah Photography

The inaugural Savannah Tattoo Festival came buzzing into the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center on April 15th providing the perfect opportunity for ink fans to hang out, have fun and possibly make some questionable decisions. Running from Friday to Sunday, the event featured over two hundred tattoo artists, live music, unique vendors, hotrods, motorcycles, sideshows, suspensions, body painting, murals, pin-up girls, contests, prizes, and more. Photos by Lindsey Clark and Krystal Oblinger

International Artist and Author, Tiffani Taylor, celebrated the fourth anniversary of her Savannah Gallery on April 14th with an Infinite Possibilities reception. Guests enjoyed touring the gallery and getting a view of the new additions from Tiffani's time in France. Keesha Gibson Carter, Director of the Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire, delivered an emotional introduction of Tiffani to the attendees and brought the audience to tears. Tiffani Taylor is an alumni of the Savannah College of Art and Design and currently splits her time between Paris and Savannah, she will be honored by the Rape Crisis Center for her continued philanthropy in the community at the Pearls for Powers Gala on April 22nd. Photos by Lindsey Clark at Lorien Studios