Issuu

INSIDE:

FEB 19-25 2020 NEWS, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM

WATER WITCH

TIKI BAR

AURA FEST GEORGIAâ€™S VANISHING @THE JINX RAPE KITS PHOTO BY JONATHAN THORPE

MARILYN MINTER

@deFINE ART

CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF SAVANNAH STOPOVER!

MARCH 5-7, 2020

THE BONES OF J.R. JONES

Three Fan-Favorite Bands:

The Bones of J.R. Jones.

Tall Tall Trees. Country Mice. Food Trucks. VIP Lounge. & MORE! TALL TALL TREES

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

Thursday, March 5TH at 6 p.m. at Ships of the Sea Museum

COUNTRY MICE

Tickets start at just $24!

PASSES ON SALE NOW AT SAVANNAHSTOPOVER.COM

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

WEEK AT A H

I G

Glance

I G

H T

COMPILED BY RACHAEL FLORA TO HAVE AN EVENT LISTED IN WEEK AT A GLANCE EMAIL WAG@CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM. INCLUDE DATES, TIME, LOCATIONS WITH ADDRESSES, COST AND A CONTACT NUMBER. DEADLINE FOR INCLUSION IS 5PM FRIDAY, TO APPEAR IN NEXT WEDNESDAY’S EDITION.

I C

WEDNESDAY 2.19 Film: Border South

Tybee Island Mardi Gras Parade SAT 2.22

Tybee will be dressed in an array of purple, gold and green flags depicting the Tybee Island Mardi Gras celebration. Mardi Gras Tybee will include the Mardi Gras Tybee Parade, the Mardi Gras Tybee Street Party featuring free live entertainment and more. The parade will travel south on Butler and head towards the beach on Tybrisa Street 12-6pm Tybee Island

Chris Tucker Live

Filmmaker Raul Paz Pastrana spent four years following migrant routes from southern Mexico to the U.S.-Mexico border. The result is a close-up, nuanced and highly original view of the migrant experience, one fraught with risk and danger but also comradery, ingenuity and humor. 6 p.m. Armstrong Center, 13040 Abercorn St. Free

Film: Mystery of the Wax Museum

This landmark creepy horror film about a madman who lurks inside of an old wax museum stars Lionel Atwill and “King Kong” actress Fay Wray, and was directed by the late, great Michael Curtiz, one of the most prolific filmmakers in the early days of Hollywood, who also directed “Casablanca,” among many other classics. The last film ever shot using Technicolor’s original process, all copies of this film were believed to be lost until a rare print was discovered in 1978. That’s the version the PFS will screen. 8 p.m. The Sentient Bean, 13 E. Park Ave. $7

In Conversation with SCAD deFINE ART Honoree Marilyn Minter

SAT 2.22

Live Stand Up Comedy 8-11pm Johnny Mercer Theatre 301 W. Oglethorpe Ave

Join SCAD deFINE ART 2020 honoree Marilyn Minter as she shares her unconventional process and speaks to her experience of navigating the art world as a radical woman artist. 6 p.m. SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd.

THURSDAY 2.20 Digital Transformations & Global Shifts in Workforce Skills

Arts on Waters Block Party CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

SAT 2.22

The City of Savannah will unveil new art installations in the Waters Avenue Shopping Center at a community block party. This is the second set of exhibits created through the City’s Arts on Waters program, celebrating the revitalization of the Waters Avenue corridor. Local artists Jerome Meadows, Gonzalo Hernandez, John Wyatt, Brian Woods, Rob Hessler and Becca Cook created the latest exhibitions in this series. In addition to the art installations, the block party will feature music from DJ Jay-Rome, arts and crafts, food trucks, community services booths and more. 4 p.m. Waters Avenue Shopping Plaza Community Room, 2005 Waters Ave.

This presentation explores the “Future of Work” and its implications with a focus on the role of advanced digital technologies. Presented by the Savannah Council on World Affairs. 8 p.m. Skidaway Island Presbyterian Church, 50 Diamond Causeway. Free for SCWA members, $10 for non-members

Film: Ida B. Wells and Her Great Passion for Justice

This documentary looks at the remarkable life and activism of Ida Bell Wells-Barnett. 6 p.m. The Beach Institute, 502 East Harris Street. Free and open to the public

WEEK AT A GLANCE

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Film: Little Women

Nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, writer-director Greta Gerwig has crafted a “Little Women” that draws on both the classic novel and the writings of Louisa May Alcott. 7 p.m. Thu. 3 & 7 p.m. Friday/Saturday Tybee Post Theater, 10 Van Horne. $8

Potable Gold: Savannah’s Madeira Tradition

Experience the historic atmosphere of the Davenport House while learning about a unique and flavorful wine, and participate in a Madeira party. See the historic house at dusk including spaces usually off-limits to guests. The performance requires that guests be able to walk up and down stairs and maneuver in candlelit rooms. Naturalist 101: Putting Recycling 5:30 p.m. - Rumors to Rest Davenport House, 324 East State St. r Chatham County’s Resource Conservation $22 Education Center’s Coordinator Anne 9122368097. jcredle@davenporthousemuRobinson educates on recycling process seum.org. from collections to manufacturing. Savannah Music Festival IPA 6:30 p.m. Release featuring Roosevelt Collier Chatham County Resource Conservation & & Jontavius Willis Recycling Center, 1321 Eisenhower Drive. Savannah Music Festival and Southbound Theatre: Red Herring Brewing Co. will celebrate the release of Three love stories, a murder mystery and this season’s Wailin’ IPA with a concert a nuclear espionage plot converge in this featuring pedal steel guitarist Roosevelt noir comedy about marriage and other Collier and bluesman Jontavious Willis. explosive devices. This sixth annual festival beer release Feb. 20-22, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 23 3 p.m. party continues a collaboration between Savannah Music Festival and Southbound r Armstrong Campus, Georgia Southern Brewing Company that is fueled by a University, 11935 Abercorn St. shared love of live music. Chazito’s food $12 truck will also be on-site. FRIDAY 2.21 7:30 p.m. Southbound Brewing, 107 East Lathrop Ave. 2020 Georgia History Festival’s $20 in advance / $25 door As part of the annual commemoration of the founding of the Georgia colony of February 12, 1733 by James Edward Oglethorpe, a tradition dating back to the earliest years of the colony’s founding, we invite you to join us as students, musicians, local dignitaries, and costumed historical figures march through Savannah’s historic squares during this beloved annual event. The parade runs along Bull Street, beginning on the north end of Forsyth Park and ending in front of City Hall Begins 10:45 a.m. Downtown Savannah Free

n Front Porch Improv: Top Secret

Comedy

Each show the audience will add their anonymous secrets to the Confession Bucket. Our cast of improv all-stars will then read the notes aloud and your spin dirty little secrets into a comedy. 8:30 p.m. Front Porch Improv, 210 W. Victory Drive. $10

Odd Lot Improv: Friday Funnies

An improv comedy show in the style of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” 8 p.m. The Loft on Liberty, 215 W. Liberty St. $10 oddlotimprov@gmail.com. oddlot.lol

Tim Kliphuis and Jimmy Grant

Two of the leading artists in the gypsy jazz movement. Get ready for music that is both powerful and passionate. 8 p.m. Randy Wood Guitars, 1304 East Hwy. 80. $28

Todd Oliver

This Top 4 Finalist on America’s Got Talent brings his ventriloquist act to Savannah for 2 performances. Bring the whole family to see Irving the Talking Dog, some magic and non-stop laughter. 8 p.m. The Historic Savannah Theatre, 222 Bull St. $39 adults, $19.50 child savannahtheatre.com

SATURDAY 2.22 Arts on Waters Block Party

The City of Savannah will unveil new art installations in the Waters Avenue Shopping Center at a community block party. Local artists Jerome Meadows, Gonzalo Hernandez, John Wyatt, Brian Woods, Rob Hessler and Becca Cook created the latest exhibitions in this series. Music from DJ Jay-Rome, arts and crafts, food trucks, and more. 4 p.m. Waters Avenue Shopping Plaza, 2005 Waters Ave.

CONTINUES ON P. 6

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

Georgia Day Parade

WEEK AT A GLANCE

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Chris Tucker

Chris Tucker is best known for playing Smokey in Friday and his stand-up on Def Comedy Jam. 8 p.m. Civic Center, 301 West Oglethorpe Avenue. $26.50

Forsyth Farmers Market

Local and regional produce, honey, meat, dairy, pasta, baked goods. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Forsyth Park

Front Porch Improv: Porch Party

Celebrating their first weekend of shows in the new theatre, the cast will take audience suggestions to create magical worlds, big characters, and incite huge laughs. 10 p.m. Front Porch Improv, 210 W. Victory Drive. $5

How Far? Storytime and Book Signing

Natalie Broulette will be reading & signing copies of her new book “How Far?” Storytime will start at 4:30pm with a related art activity to follow. “How Far?” is the story of a brave young girl who has adventures around the world. 4 p.m. Henny Penny Art Space & Cafe, 1514 Bull St.

Laurel Grove South Cemetery Walking Tours

In celebration of Black History Month, the City of Savannah Cemeteries Division, in partnership with the Massie Heritage Center, will be conducting historic walking tours of Laurel Grove South Cemetery on Saturdays throughout February. Each tour is limited to 30 people. Register by calling 912-651-6843 or emailing jbrannen01@ savannahga.gov. noon Laurel Grove South, 2101 Kollock St.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

Mardi Gras Fur Ball Dance and Costume Contest

Fundraiser for the Islands Feral Cat Project. Music by Christy Alan Band, catered by North Beach Grill, and featuring a silent auction, door prizes, and cash bar. 7 p.m. American Legion Post 154 (Tybee), 10 Veterans Drive. $30

11 a.m. Cedar House Gallery, 122 E. 36th St.

Odd Lot Improv: Saturday Shenanigans

An improv comedy show in the style of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Followed by long form comedy. 8 p.m. The Loft on Liberty, 215 W. Liberty St. $10 oddlotimprov@gmail.com. oddlot.lol

Tybee Island Mardi Gras Parade

The event will encompass the traditions of Mardi Gras, an event with origins dating back to the ancient Romans and carried on today in cities such as Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana. noon Tybee Island

SUNDAY 2.23 Film: Andy Warhol’s Women in Revolt!

Produced and partially shot by iconic NYC Pop Artist Andy Warhol, but directed by Paul Morrissey, this 1971 cult film is a brutal satire of the Women’s Liberation Movement, and stars three trans women who were staples of Warhol’s “Factory scene.” Free admission and free concessions, with donations accepted but not required. Part of “The Look Back: An Ongoing Series of Queer Cinema.” 7 p.m. Savannah LGBT Center, 1515 Bull St. Free, donations accepted

Film: The Dawn of Humanity

Paleoanthropologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Lee Berger presents his story of one of the greatest fossil discoveries of the past half century. 3 p.m. Tybee Post Theater, 10 Van Horne. $10

Sip, Savor & Sláinte: An Irish inspired Cabaret

American Traditions Finalist and local favorite Roger Moss hosts Sip, Savor and Slainte, a Celtic twist on his popular cabaret series. Joined by an original member of Celtic Women, Chloe Agnew. This internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter and actress from Dublin, Ireland will make this cabaret night Mimosas for Meows and Caffeine for unforgettable. Canines 6 p.m. A kid friendly event with painting acPerry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, tivities, photo booth sets, a raffle and of Savannah, 256 East Perry Street. course dogs and cats. For the adults there $50-100 are Mimosas, coffee other beverages, and 912.415.9000 brunch food. Dogs and cats on-site, all are available for adoption. Money raised will go to the Humane Society.

! R I A F B O THURSDAY,

FEBRUARY 20, 2020 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Join us for the Coastal Empire’s largest Job Fair right here in downtown Savannah. Interview area will be provided. Food trucks available for attendees!

DON’T MISS THIS!

We would love to have you join us!

Charles H. Morris Center 10 E Broad Street, Savannah

Property Care

Jenkins Plumbing

Tailored Staﬃng

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

FREE ADMISSION!

NEWS & OPINION EDITOR’S NOTE Proud Sponsor

Is the honeymoon over already? BY JIM MOREKIS

Connect Savannah is published every Wednesday by Morris Multimedia, Inc 611 East Bay Street Savannah, GA, 31401 Phone: (912) 238-2040 Fax: (912) 238-2041 www.connectsavannah.com twitter: @ConnectSavannah Facebook.com/connectsav ADMINISTRATIVE Chris Griffin, General Manager chris@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4378 EDITORIAL Jim Morekis, Editor-in-Chief jim@connectsavannah.com Sean Kelly, A&E Editor sean@connectsavannah.com Rachael Flora, Community/Events Editor rachael@connectsavannah.com Josephine Beisel, Editorial Intern CONTRIBUTORS John Bennett, Matt Brunson, Kristy Edenfield, Geoff L. Johnson, Lindy Moody, Orlando Montoya, Jim Reed ADVERTISING Information: (912) 721-4378 sales@connectsavannah.com Bucky Bryant, Senior Account Executive bucky@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4381 Dean Moesch, Account Executive dean@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4378 DESIGN & PRODUCTION

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

Brandon Blatcher, Art Director artdirector@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4379

Loretta Calhoun, Graphic Designer ads@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4380 DISTRIBUTION Wayne Franklin, Distribution Manager (912) 721-4376 CLASSIFIEDS Call (912) 231-0250

jim@connectsavannah.com

THE NEW Savannah City Council came in with a remarkable wave of optimism and enthusiastic public support, greater than any I’ve seen for a local election in over two decades of covering them. Inauguration night on Jan. 2 — it seems so long ago now — was more like an awards show than a somber ceremony, with musical guests and emotional speeches. Each Council member was introduced to roaring crowds as if they were celebrities in their own right, before they’d even taken the oath of office. The hype was inevitably going to come down to earth — it had to. But I don’t think even the most cynical among us thought it would happen this soon, barely a month after inauguration. The particulars of what happened to deflate the balloon won’t be remembered another month from now. But here’s a quick synopsis: This past Saturday’s successful Love March to End Gun Violence in Daffin Park, attended by Alderwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Mayor Johnson and nearly all of Council, will hopefully help heal the already fractured group. Estella Shabazz held a town hall meeting in her district, in part to talk about a conThey say, with justification, that they In the wake of this recent controversy, troversial proposal for Mayor Van Johnwere elected with a mandate for broad a pattern quickly emerged: Each one son to have more control over setting the change, and this is what fighting the status retreated to their respective fan bases on agenda for each Council meeting. social media, to both tell their side of the She specifically did not invite the Mayor. quo looks like. In other words, to make an omelette you story, and to get in a few more shots. In attendance were Alderwomen at have to break a few eggs. Their fan bases responded accordingly, Large Alicia Blakely and Kesha GibsonThey’re not wrong. Not at all. egging them on. Carter, as well as First District AlderThe only problem is that the key word in This of course isn’t unusual in 2020, and woman Bernetta Lanier. “working majority” is “majority.” is in fact more and more the norm. At that meeting, other Council memThe four alderwomen have, at least for From Trump’s Twitter feed, down bers were called out and shamed, some by to local School Board politics and Tony name, for not attending Shabazz’s meeting. the time being, managed to isolate themThomas’s Facebook antics when he was on (This came on the heels of Shabazz call- selves as a voting minority on the ninemember Council. City Council, we’ve seen social media have ing her own impromptu press conference It’s unlikely that this kerfuffle will loom profound effects both in terms of mobilizto talk about a double murder in her dising voters, and in alienating voters from trict, before the Mayor’s own press confer- large for long. Pressing City business is coming up, especially with the key decision each other. ence with the Chief of Police.) on who to hire for our next City Manager. Unfortunately, this discord and mutual An important Council workshop last By this past Saturday, the Mayor and mistrust is a feature, not a bug, when you week, after the town hall controversy, was rely extensively on social media to build dominated by an intensely personal debate Council were already patching things up, over that town hall and what was said at it. together attending the Love March to End your following. Gun Violence, a great community event in Face-to-face communication – such as There are clearly feelings of betrayal on Daffin Park that hopefully will be the first what happened at this Saturday’s Love the part of some Council members. They March – will always have an important will eventually fade away — but they’ll also of many of its kind. Not only a great unifier for the commuplace in our civic dialogue. leave a mark. nity, it also helped serve as a unifier for a And hopefully one lesson learned from For a Council ushered in with an fractured Council. this controversy is that face-to-face diaunprecedented wave of solidarity, stark But the template of the controversy logue should have the most important dividing lines are already apparent, six itself is what is disturbing and unsustainplace. weeks in. Building your brand on social media The most vocal of the new Council mem- able. And it’s a template that mirrors a much larger one nationally. might be important individually, but bers, such as Blakely and Gibson-Carter, For the most part, the Mayor and each building bridges is better for the city in the are quick to say it’s no accident that they member of Council have their own large long run. CS won their elections overwhelmingly, and and loyal Facebook followings, which that real change and real paradigm shift sometimes isn’t pretty. helped get them elected.

PAPPY’S PRESSURE WASHING, LLC COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL • SIDING • BRICK CONCRETE • DRIVEWAYS • PATIOS SOFT WASH ROOFING

10% GS THROUGH

OF OUR EARNIN SOCIET Y E N A M U H E H T MARCH TO VANNAH OF GREATER SA

CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE! 912.596.6550 • LICENSED & INSURED

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

G WE’RE DONATIN

NEWS & OPINION SPECIAL REPORT

Thus rapists that would otherwise be apprehended remain on the streets of Georgia.

What is a rape kit?

Often called a Sexual Assault Kit, or SAK, by law enforcement, it is a collection of DNA evidence, including blood, semen, saliva, tissue, fingernail scrapings, hair combings, clothing fibers, and other evidence taken from the victim’s body after a rape has occurred. The victim, usually a woman, can be in the emergency room for up to 10 hours after she has been raped. In Chatham County, the evidence is usually collected by a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner). A police officer will also take a report at the hospital. Another Georgia law, sponsored by Holcomb, passed in 2019, requires that after advocated annually for additional sciena rape kit is released by the GBI, it returns tists since SB 304 became law, Reynolds to the local jurisdiction to be stored from presented the first budget request that cuts 30 to 50 years depending on the circumscientists to their crime labs. One of those stances of the case. labs is located in Pooler. Again, this law does not require the GBI On the continuing and mounting backto actually process the rape kits before log, Holcomb asserts, “I remain committed transferring them back to their original to pursuing justice for survivors. We need jurisdiction for storage. to ensure we have systems in place to test The GBI, in consultation with law evidence in a timely manner so that perpe- enforcement, has the discretion to detertrators can be identified and prosecuted. mine which rape kits will be tested and It’s a matter of public safety, and it’s also a which ones will not. The ones that are matter of justice.” tested wait an average of 312 days at one of So how many rape kits have not been the GBI crimes labs to complete testing. tested since the new law went into effect? It Reynolds also testified that the GBI is is not known for certain, since the GBI says looking to outsource testing of rape kits they do not track those numbers. to for-profit labs outside of Georgia. Many But with the numbers that they do believe this method is flawed for several aggregate, it can reasonably be estimated reasons. that over 11,000 rape kits have gone First, it eliminates science positions in untested over the past three years. the state of Georgia. A crime reduction strategy made infaSecond, you lose quality control when mous on HBO’s iconic crime drama, sending to an outside lab. The Wire, is the practice of “juking the Third, you risk chain-of-custody and it stats.” On the show, Roland Pryzbylewski must be proven in court that the rape kit explains it, in part, as, “making rapes was not tampered with while being transdisappear.” One wonders if a similar synported in and out of state. drome isn’t in effect in Georgia, as in the Finally, when a rape case does come in show’s setting of Baltimore. front of a jury, the scientist who tests the Apparently, Georgia knows how to colkit has to appear in court to testify, leavlect rape kit evidence, how to transport ing the burden on the individual counties rape kit evidence, but not how to test rape to absorb the cost of flying scientists in kit evidence, which is really the most from Utah and Virginia. important part.

Georgia’s vanishing rape kits

Budget cuts and bureaucracy combine to make a terrible situation worse BY KRISTY EDENFIELD

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

RAPE KITS are backing up on a monthly basis at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). With a two-year trend of approximately 300 new rape kits submitted per month — but staffing to only process 100 of them — the growing backlog is becoming unmanageable, and causing many victims of rape to have little faith in the system. Despite exceeding the capacity of their current scientists, GBI Director Vic Reynolds is requesting a budget cut that will eliminate 11 scientists and two lab techs. Gov. Brian Kemp has required all state agencies to cut their current budget by 4% and their 2021 fiscal year budget by 6%. When pressed by members of the Appropriations Committee last week, Deputy Director of the GBI Crime Laboratory, Cleveland Miles, disagreed with his own boss. He stated in testimony that the GBI needs to add 10 new scientists, specifically to address the mounting backlog of rape kits, and not cut positions. Considering that many rape kits do not get tested, and that the ones that do take an average of 312 days from receiving to completion, Gov. Kemp’s and Director Reynolds’ proposal to cut scientist and lab 10 tech positions threatens to take an already

out-of-hand situation and make it that much worse. Reynolds’ numbers don’t seem to add up either. He reports that there was a backlog of 768 rape kits. This seems an unlikely number since the previous month, there were 1,540 rape kits in the custody of GBI crime labs — especially when you factor in the additional new kits submitted per month. Given their own data, it seems improbable that the GBI could have tested that many kits in a month, leaving estimates that approximately 1,000 rape kits were excluded from the total that Reynolds presented to Georgia lawmakers.

Dashed hope

In 2016, when SB 304 passed, it was greeted with fanfare, featured by Samantha Bee with Schoolhouse Rock flare. The new law, ushered in by Rep. Scott Holcomb (D-81), required that hospitals turn rape kits over to the police within four days, and that police transfer them to the GBI within 30 days. Holcomb says, “I was aware of the national issue in 2015 and that’s when I first filed the legislation in Georgia. I had a sense it was a problem here, too. And it was.” Unfortunately, the law did not require that the GBI had to actually test the rape kits, or even break the evidence seal. While the previous GBI Director

The Ohio Model

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

As a comparison, let’s take a look at how Ohio processes their rape kits, a protocol commonly considered the national best practice in testing. When Ohio found that they had a problem with backlogged rape kits sitting on hospitals shelves and in police departments, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, then Attorney General, faced the problem head on; starting a new unit, adding forensic scientists and insisting on state of the art lab equipment. “It takes money and commitment,” Governor DeWine tells Connect. “Further, it is

not enough just to do the testing, there has to be an ability and will to then get the case worked up for trial.” “In Ohio’s case, half of the old rape kits came out of the city of Cleveland,” explains DeWine. “We had a dedicated county prosecutor there, Tim McGinty. Further, I gave him some money and investigators to help get the cases prepared, and worked up for trial. It worked well.” Gov. DeWine continues, “To repeat though, you can do the rape kits, get a hit, figure out who the rapist was, but then you are only half way home. You gotta get the

CONTINUES ON P. 12

By the Numbers How prevalent is rape? According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives. In the U.S., one in three women and one in six men experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. 91% of victims of rape and sexual assault are female, and nine percent are male. In eight out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew the perpetrator. 25% of college women, and 15% of college men are victims of forced sex during their time in college. Over 90% of sexual assault victims on college campuses don’t report the assault. Rape is the most under-reported crime; 63% of sexual assaults aren’t reported to police. The prevalence of false reporting is low - approximately 2%, which is lower than false reports of other crimes. What our Chatham County delegation is saying about Governor Kemp’s proposed budget cut for rape kits: Representative Bill Hitchens (R-161): “I would not support budget cuts that would eliminate GBI crime lab staff. The budget battle is not over yet.” Representative Carl Gilliard (D-162) “We don’t want anything to touch the progress of justice prevailing, we need every dollar.” Representative Craig Gordon (D-163): “One of the worst things that we can do, from a public safety standpoint, is to cut the budget regarding the processing of sexual assault kits. We need to honor victims and properly fund testing of rape kits.” Representative Ron Stephens (R-164): “We have come a long way in removing criminals from the street. One of the most important ways was building and staffing the crime lab in Pooler. We staff it with qualified scientists to expedite rape kit testing, so as to accelerate the prosecution of these horrific criminals. The GBI recommended in this year’s budget a cut to their personnel. This cut is intended to help balance our budget. We can’t allow budget cuts to endanger public safety. We have come too far bringing criminals to justice to take a step backward, and I will stand in the gap to prevent this cut.” Representative Mickey Stephens (D-165): “I can’t understand why the GBI would cut funding for testing rape kits, there are other areas that the GBI can cut. I would not go along with the proposed funding cuts, I am not in favor.” Representative Jesse Petrea (R-166): “It is very important to me that any proposed cuts do not impact public safety. For example, we must ensure that proposed cuts to GBI do not negatively impact our ability to efficiently test sexual assault kits. As we focus strongly on gangs in this budget, recognizing that half of violent crimes are gang related, we must not hamper our ability to collect and test evidence.” Senator Ben Watson (R-1): “The goal is to get as much back in the budget as revenue allows. That (rape kits) would be at the top of the list.” Senator Lester Jackson (D-2): “I cannot support a budget that would cut funding for sexual assault kits. Our job as elected officials is to protect the most vulnerable, and that includes victims of violent crimes. Instead of cutting, we need to increase the budget for sexual assault kits.” cs

Annual Festival IPA Release

ROOSEVELT COLLIER/ JONTAVIOUS WILLIS FRI 2/21

SOUTHBOUND BREWING CO. Doors open at 6:30 pm Concert at 7:30 pm Tickets: $20

MARCH 26–APRIL 11, 2020

View the full festival lineup and purchase tickets at savannahmusicfestival.org Box office: 912.525.5050 SPONSOR OF THE 2020 SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL

INVESTMENT IS PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF SAVANNAH Diamond-Level Sponsors: Floor & Decor, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., The Kennickell Group, Savannah Morning News, Visit Savannah, Wet Willie’s Management Corp. Platinum-Level Sponsors: Critz Auto Group, The Drayton Hotel, HunterMaclean, National Endowment for the Arts, Savannah Economic Development Authority, Savannah College of Art & Design, SavannahChatham County Public School System, Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, WTOC 11

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

SPECIAL REPORT

Larsen Musician Spotlight Series

SPECIAL REPORT

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

CINEPHILE DU JOURE:

“Blue Heron” chamber ensemble Sunday, February 23 5:00 pm Lutheran Church of the Ascension

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

BEN WARSAW piano JEANA MELILLI flute JESSICA MESSERE cello ANDY RIPLEY oboe

Rep. Andy Welch (R-110) & Rep. Al Williams (D-168) of the Public Safety Appropriations Subcommittee

guy, work up the case, find your victim, and prosecute. Usually very doable, but you gotta do it!” Some other facts about Ohio: their crime lab tests rape kits in about 3 weeks, from Presented by Nancy & Ken Larsen receiving to completion, vs. Georgia’s 312 Tickets $25 Students $12.50 days, or 44.5 weeks. Ohio tests every kit that is submit#savphil TICKETS: SAVANNAHPHILHARMONIC.ORG ted. Additionally they test the entire kit, including underwear, other clothing items, and any other evidence from the crime scene. In comparison, Georgia doesn’t test all rape kits, nor does the GBI test the entire rape kit, they only select certain swab(s) to test. The GBI also asks police departments not to include anything in the rape kit other than the swabs taken from the victim’s body, therefore clothing and other fiber evidence generally goes untested in Georgia. In Georgia, when a rape kit is a returned to the jurisdiction in which it originated, if the police or District Attorney’s office want more samples tested to prove their case, the rape kit goes in the back of the line at the GBI to wait another 312 days for the requested tests. There is a process in which law enforcement can request priority testing, whereby the rape kit can cut in line ahead of the other ones waiting to be tested. Needless to say, testing the entire rape kit the first time like Ohio does seems to be o f f er ing i ng p eoutlet rt h he aof ltSavannah h a dv i c e s River inc of ex pe rt e alt adv i nc e 1978 Proud Farms, a more efficient method. When Ohio tested their backlogged Southern Swiss Dairy, Vertu Farm and MON–SAT Locally Owned & Operated 1102 BULL ST. rape kits, they received nearly 40% CODIS 9AM–7PM more&local source producers SAVANNAH, GA Brodhead by Peter Janie (Combined DNA Index System) hits. In SUN 12–5:30PM Georgia, when testing the rape kits that Walk-up window back open Valentine’s Day may be over were submitted to the GBI as a result of SB BRIGHTERDAYFOODS.COM CALL US AT (912) 236-4703 • Saturdays 10 - 5. Look for more but our chocolate is on sale 304, the GBI only received approximately ohours f f er i ng ex p e r t he a lt h a dvALL i c eTHIS s inc e 1978 COMING SOON! MONTH! 15% CODIS hits. The biggest difference Organic Fresh Produce • Vitamins & Supplements MON–SAT between the two systems is that Ohio 1102 BullOwned St., Savannah, GA Locally & Operated 1102 BULL ST. Deli & Juice Bar • Outdoor Café 9AM–7PM tested every piece of evidence that is subSAVANNAH, GA by Peter & Janie Brodhead (912) 236-4703 • BRIGHTERDAYFOODS.COM mitted and Georgia does not. SUN 12–5:30PM

In short, CODIS is the FBI’s DNA database. When the results of a rape kit are entered into CODIS, it can help solve rape cases where there is no suspect; furthermore, if there is a known suspect in the rape case, the DNA entered into CODIS can help to solve other cases, like serial rape, homicide, burglary, and gang activity. However, CODIS is only as good as the DNA that each state enters. So when one state fails to do their part, the entire system suffers. Ohio Gov. DeWine says, “Because people move around, including criminals, it is important that all states do the rape kit testing.” “Getting rapists locked up is what the criminologists call a specific deterrent. That person will not be able to commit crimes for as long as they are locked up,” says DeWine. “Removing them (rapists) from society will reduce crime during the period they are locked up.”

The cost of testing

According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, the cost of testing one rape kit ranges anywhere from $400 to $1,000. Since the DNA contained in a rape kit can help solve other crimes and cold cases, many believe testing rape kits to be a good value when it comes to fighting crime. Additionally, rapists are commonly recidivists and not specialists, meaning statistically they commit a myriad of criminal offenses, including robbery, burglary, and homicide. When the CODIS is used appropriately, rapists are more easily and more specifically identified. In response to the value of a rape kit, Ohio Gov. DeWine states, “Needless to say, it is cheaper to lock them (rapists) up.” Statistical trends across the United States have proven that when a rape kit is not tested, disproportionately the victim is

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

a woman of color. In January 2017, the GBI started the year with 10,314 rape kits; 3,164 of those were a result of SB 304. The other 7,150 were the “normal” backlog at the GBI crime labs. The GBI reports that 9,810 rape kits have been submitted in the past three years, and in that same period of time, 8,538 rape kits have been tested (out of the 20,124 total). Since GBI Director Reynolds reported last month that there were 768 rape kits waiting to be tested, that leaves about 10,818 unaccounted for, most likely returned to the original jurisdiction untested and deteriorating for up to 50 years before they can be destroyed. Why does it matter? Each rape kit is the account of a horrible experience, it contains DNA evidence along with the tears of the victim — these kits deserve respect. Rape is the most under-reported crime, and while some think that “women lie,” the incidents of false reporting of a rape are no more than false reporting of other crimes. Testing rape kits also exonerates suspects when needed.

How can Georgia do better?

Priority one, increase the budget to add more scientists and lab equipment, so that every rape kit can be tested every time

GBI Director Vic Reynolds testifies; GBI Fiscal Officer Connie Buck at left

— the entire rape kit. While both Gov. Kemp and GBI Director Reynolds inherited this problem in 2019, it is negligent to propose budget cuts when a less than adequate job is being done. The GBI has trained scientists that can test the rape kits. They just need more of them and

additional equipment. Not testing rape kits is reckless and a public safety hazard for all Georgians. Both Gov. Kemp and Director Vic Reynolds declined comment for this article.

Other rape bills at the Georgia Capitol that are waiting for a committee hearing: • HB 629, sponsored by Representative Scott Holcomb, would if passed provide for the refusal, suspension, or revocation of the license of a physician who has committed a sexual assault on a patient. • SB 287, sponsored by Senator Harold Jones II, would if passed remove the statute of limitations on the offenses of rape, aggravated sodomy, and aggravated sexual battery. Senator Jones says, “We knew that we needed to increase the statute of limitations on rape from 15 years; but then the question became to what - 20 years, 25 years? To some extent, they were arbitrary numbers. The better route is to have no statute of limitations. It (rape) has such a life-changing impact, why would you put a statute of limitations on that?” If you want to know about the backlog of rape kits, the HBO documentary, I Am Evidence is powerful. Also, the documentary The Hunting Ground investigates the prevalence of rape on college campuses. Statistically rape affects more women than men. Statistically more men make laws and establish procedures. Each rape kit contains a sacred and horrible experience. “Test the damn kits.” CS

It’s Simple. Great Food. Great Beer.

301 west jones st. crystalbeerparlor.com

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

SPECIAL REPORT

NEWS & OPINION CITY NOTEBOOK

Race and gender in the voting booth Quality Eats + Drinks

LUNCH DINNER FULL BAR

League of Women Voters holds a special lecture series

had about what is proper behavior for men and what is proper behavior for a woman, which completely erased our political roles. I think we’re erasing women from their own history.

BY RACHAEL FLORA

rachael@connectsavannah.com

MON - SAT 11AM - 1AM C lassic Sandwiches on Locally Baked Bread FRESH HOUSE MADE

soup

sides

pickles

dine in 912.200.4940 take out

Weekly Specials 1215 barnard street savannah, ga 31401 w w w .b la c kra b b itsav.com

2020 IS A big political year, and not just because of the presidential election. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment as well as the 55th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act. In honor of this big year, the League of Women Voters of Coastal Georgia is hosting a lecture series on the complicated history of voting rights in this country through the years. Their second lecture in the series continues this Monday with “The Black Vote: From Emancipation through Jim Crow.” Delivering the lecture will be Dr. Julie de Chantal, assistant professor of history at Georgia Southern University. de Chantal’s specialty is African American history, and the lecture will cover a wide range of black history. We spoke with de Chantal last week. One of the topics you’ll cover is the importance of black women in politics, so let’s start there. What’s their role, both in the past and present?

Savannah’s Oldest

URBAN FARM & PET

SUPPLY STORE

Specializing in

ORGANICS

- WE CARRY -

ALL TYPES OF FEED & SEED CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

HAY•FENCING•TRAPS•PEST CONTROL

POTTERY & STATUARY•ANIMAL BEDDING PROPANE REFILL & EXCHANGE•LAWN & GARDEN • SEASONAL VEGETABLE PLANTS

PET SUPPLIES•FARM SUPPLIES & MORE Located downtown at

307 Carolan St 912.233.9862 Just west of Bay St. Viaduct

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1938

Recently, I was reading the news about how black women will be a key voting bloc in the 2020 election. A lot of people are arguing that black women only started to get involved with politics after ’65, so after the Civil Rights Act was passed. It’s actually very wrong, because women have been involved in politics from the get go. What was interesting to read in the new research coming out, women have been extremely involved in formal voting, right after slavery ended. When the states were able to reintegrate the Union after [1865], they had two things to do. One was to have 10% of the eligible voters swear an oath of allegiance to the Union, and the other was to rewrite the state constitution eliminating slavery. So since the Republican government was in charge, they wanted to have as many voters as possible of the Republican party so that the white supremacists wouldn’t get back in power and go back to the exact same problem they had before the war. So, potential Republican voters were black voters. That was the party that eliminated slavery. In the Republican conventions, they were trying to rewrite the Constitution. Both women and children not only attended, but also participated in voting on all the proposals that were

Is that erasure being felt today?

Dr. Julie de Chantal

passed because they were trying to define what freedom meant for the community. As time went, white men of the Republican party wanted to make sure that only men voted. At that point, women and children were still allowed, but they would signify their approval or disapproval, vocally at first. Once those rights got eroded, once violence started against African Americans and men could not vote, women actually accompanied them to rallies.

There’s a poll that just came out from Essence Magazine that said of the people they polled, 95 percent of them were going to vote in the upcoming election. 95 percent is not a small number. The turnout usually is about 60-65 percent as a general rule. And we’re talking about the 15 million black women in the U.S. of eligible age for voting. Young black women will hold that power, which is really important to reestablish that history and look at why it’s been erased. Women’s history has been erased in and of itself, but black women have that double jeopardy of being black and being a woman. Let’s return to that idea of the vote as a collective right.

All throughout history, communities have had interests that they could push through Why do you think the perception exists to vote, and we’ve seen more and more of that black women didn’t get involved in a personal interest in the vote in the past politics until later? 20 years. With late-stage capitalism, we’re more centered on what impacts us perPart of the Reconstruction-era white sonally instead of the greater good, which supremacy push was to keep black men is something the founding fathers were in check. They assumed they were the thinking about. They were questioning the only ones voting, so the intimidation and idea of factions. Technically, good voters lynching started towards them. It was in the early republic were those who could much more important for women to have put their interests aside and vote for the that subdued role, to work politics in the greater good. background. They were the ones that kept We need to bring this back, because everybody in check in terms of who they there are some groups that are vulnerable voted for; they’d impose sanctions on black that might not be represented in any way, men who voted differently from what they shape or form, and we need to vote as if we wanted. were these groups. We need to forget about However, when we get to the 1880s or our class status, the color of our skin, and 1890s, black men are trying to grab on put [our common interests] first. That’s the last remnants of their political power what black women have done all throughbecause they’re pushed slowly away from out history, up to the past 40 years. That’s the polls, segregation starts to take hold, when we see a division between conservaand women will have to devise a new strat- tive and liberal women, but up to that point egy to be political. They’ll turn to women’s most of the black women were keeping organizations, to clubs that focused on people in check, making sure that everyone middle-class respectability, and they’ll voted with the community in mind and not continue to be in the political arena, for with their own interest in mind. CS instance fighting against lynching like Ida THE BLACK VOTE: FROM B. Wells. EMANCIPATION THROUGH JIM But until then, everything about hisCROW tory and collective memory is about what Mon., Feb. 24, 5:30 p.m. is happening to black men. The violence, Skidaway Island Presbyterian Church, 50 the lynching, the attacks on their homes, Diamond Causeway and whatnot. So I think it’s imposing the kind of views that the white male class $15 per person, register at lwvcga.org.

NEWS & OPINION BLOTTER 2020 Sav/Chatham County Crime Stats through Sunday Feb. 16

HOMICIDES

Savannah Police arrest suspect in drugs, firearms case

On Feb. 12, a collaboration between SPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) and Gang Unit resulted in the apprehension of a subject who was in possession of multiple firearms, drugs and drug paraphernalia. “In January, the VCTF was made aware of possible drug-related activity in the area of Royal Inn Court by concerned community members. Task force members began an investigation into the possible activity and were able to identify suspects in connection to the illegal activity,” SPD reports. Tazjuan Arrington, 20, was identified as a suspect and was subsequently arrested today after a search warrant at a residence on Royal Inn Court revealed he was in possession of seven firearms, with one being stolen, and drugs. Arrington has been charged with possession of marijuana over one ounce,

possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession and use of drug related objects, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and theft by receiving a firearm. He was transported to the Chatham County Detention Center without incident. “We are continuing to crack down on violent offenders and those partaking in illegal activity in our community,” said Chief of Police Roy Minter. “We appreciate the willingness of the community working with us to address these issues, and we encourage anyone who has information on crimes in our City to contact us. The Savannah Police Department is committed to the safety of this community and will continue to work to eradicate this type of behavior from our neighborhoods.” The following items were seized: -570.2 grams of marijuana -Two vials of THC oil -Multiple digital scales -Drug paraphernalia -Seven stolen firearms and related items -Gang-related paraphernalia

The bust at Royal Inn Court

CNT search warrant leads to drug arrest and seizure

On Monday morning Feb. 11, members of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT) executed a search warrant at a residence located in the 1200 block of West 41st Street in Savannah. “The search warrant resulted in the seizure of various controlled substances to include a substantial amount of ecstasy (MDMA), crack cocaine, and marijuana.

Agents also seized $850,” CNT reports. CNT arrested 36-year-old William “Redd” Butler of Savannah. Butler is charged with various felony related drug charges to include Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute. He is in the Chatham County Detention Center. CNT’s investigation into Butler began in January “after CNT was tipped off that he was selling various controlled substances to include crack cocaine and ecstasy. Throughout the investigation, undercover CNT agents made drug purchases from Butler and identified his residence on West 41st Street. At the time of his arrest, he was on misdemeanor probation,” CNT says. The seized narcotics have an estimated street value of up to $2,500. ALL CASES FROM RECENT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT INCIDENT REPORTS. GIVE ANONYMOUS CRIME TIPS TO CRIMESTOPPERS AT 912/234-2020 OR TEXT CRIMES (274637) USING KEYWORD CSTOP2020.

NOW HIRING SEEKING DIGITAL & PRINT SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

The ability to identify, qualify, cultivate and grow new business is essential. Customer-centric focus, presentation skills, creativity, energy and accountability are expected. Base salary, commission, auto allowance, paid vacation & holidays, insurance and 401K. Please email cover letter and resume to: sales@connectsavannah.com

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

Candidates must have local business contacts and a verifiable successful record of print, digital or broadcast sales.

NEWS & OPINION NEWS OF THE WEIRD From Bad to Worse

A well-meaning neighbor’s attempt to save his friend from a dog attack went south on Feb. 5 in Adams, Massachusetts. Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington told the Associated Press the neighbor heard yelling shortly after noon and discovered his friend being attacked by his own dog and his girlfriend’s dog. The good Samaritan returned to his apartment, got the crossbow he used for hunting and fired it up a stairwell at one of the dogs. But the bolt glanced off the dog and went through the door into the apartment where it struck and killed the victim. Harrington said the dogs had a history of aggression and were usually kept in separate kennels. She described the man as “very distraught” and did not expect criminal charges to be filed. Officers responding to the scene shot both dogs.

Prespective

Juan Zamora, 63, of Kissimmee, Florida, needed directions on Feb. 8 and flashed his headlights at a Marion County Sheriff’s squad car to ask for help, the Ocala StarBanner reported. Deputy Calvin Batts obliged, but during the conversation, he noticed Zamora smelled like alcohol and was unsteady on his feet, according to the arrest report. Zamora then resisted

GRAND OPENING!

Batts’ request to take a breath test, saying, “You didn’t pull me over. I pulled you over,” and told the officer he is “legally disabled,” which would account for his instability. However, it wouldn’t explain the bag of white powder found in Zamora’s shirt pocket, which field-tested positive for cocaine, according to the report. Batts also reported finding a two-thirds-full bottle of Canadian whiskey and a 15-year-old passenger in the vehicle. Zamora was arrested and charged with DUI and possession of cocaine.

get free hotel rooms. KUTV reported on Jan. 30 that authorities allege State would release the rodents in a hotel room, then complain about them, prompting hotel workers to offer the room for free. State faces charges of theft by deception and criminal mischief.

Chutzpah!

On Dec. 19, five prisoners in Belgium’s Turnhout Prison escaped by climbing over a wall and jumping into a getaway car waiting nearby, Newsweek reported. Four of the men were captured within a few weeks, Police Report but officials failed to track down Oualid Shareeka Strawn, 28, must have panSekkaki, 26, who was serving time for drug icked when the car she was riding in was possession. Sekkaki added insult to injury pulled over by police in Wichita Falls, when a letter arrived at the prison on Jan. Texas, on Jan. 15 for a minor traffic viola20. Inside was Sekkaki’s prison badge and tion. According to the probable cause affia card saying “Greetings from Thailand.” davit, Strawn, who had several outstanding Sekkaki, who hails from an infamous warrants, identified herself as Porshala Moroccan prison-escaping family, is still Strawn, but was apparently unaware that at large. a records check revealed Porshala also Awesome! had an outstanding warrant. The Times Residents of an apartment building in Record News reported Shareeka was arrested and is facing a number of charges, Kerala, India, were surprised on Feb. 3 when a pungent mixture of beer, brandy including allegedly giving a false name. and rum began flowing from their faucets What’s in a Name? instead of water. Officials told the BBC A former employee of a finance firm is that about 6,000 liters of alcohol confisbehind bars in Macon County, Tennescated on court orders had been buried in see, after allegedly stealing $51,000 in a pit nearby, but it seeped through the soil customer loan payments, WATE reported. into the well used as a water source for Serena Swindle, 41, was arrested on Feb. 5 the building. “The children couldn’t go to after a yearlong investigation by the Tenschool, and even their parents couldn’t go nessee Bureau of Investigation. She was to work,” Joshy Malyiekkal, the building held on $3,500 bond at the Macon County owner, said. Jail.

Bright Idea

Sweet Revenge

Ryan Sentelle State, 37, has been arrested in Salt Lake City after police said he admitted using mice and hamsters to

Housepainter Dean Reeves of Bolsover, England, came to a slow realization that his client, Terry Taylor, was never going to pay him the rest of what he says he is owed

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

NEPALESE INDIAN FUSION CUISINE

from the foothills of the Himalayas to Historic Savannah Delicious Dinner Monday-Sunday featuring the most authentic cuisine in the region. We cater events of all sizes. Order Delivery with the Uber Eats and Waitr apps

912.201.3730

7506 White Bluff Rd. www.HonorAndGraceTattoo.com

8 Broughton St. 912.298.0112 Like us on Follow us on

for painting Taylor’s building. So in January, Reeves took his complaint public and painted a graffiti message on the building’s exterior: “Want your house painting? Don’t be like Terry. Pay the bill! Now you will!” According to Oddity Central, Reeves said Taylor “changed the job, kept asking me to do extra work. ... He kept saying, ‘I’ll pay you tomorrow,’ but tomorrow never came.” For his part, Taylor denies Reeves’ accusations and is threatening to press criminal charges.

Government in Action

-- The Washington, D.C., Metro has spent five years and $3.8 million building two still-unfinished bike racks at two of its stations, WJLA reported on Feb. 12. The original budget for the two covered racks, which each will house 92 bikes, was $600,000 apiece. “Quality control issues with contractors can take time to sort out,” the Metro said in a statement, “but Metro determined it was important to get the project done right rather than get it done quickly.” It hopes the projects, first set to be completed in December of 2015, will be finished in the next few months. -- Giovanni Palmiero, 101, has been living in the United Kingdom since 1966, so logically, he applied to remain there after Brexit. Alarmingly, the Home Office demanded that Palmiero’s parents confirm his identity and accompany him to an office in north London to make his application. Dimitri Scarlato, a volunteer helping Palmiero, immediately realized the computer had read his birth year as 2019 instead of 1919. “I phoned the Home Office and it took two calls and a half an hour for them to understand,” Scarlato told The Guardian. Palmiero has been married to his 92-year-old wife, Lucia, for 75 years. They will be able to remain in the U.K.

Clever

An unnamed 47-year-old Italian woman convicted of fraud in 2017 in Sicily has been on the run since then, The Guardian reported, eluding authorities by hiding in convents. The woman moved to the northern regions of Italy and phoned convents pretending to be a sister “looking for help and claiming she was severely ill,” investigators said. As she moved from convent to convent, she changed her identity, duping nuns who trusted her and thought her to be kind. Finally, a Benedictine nun grew suspicious and phoned police, telling them her stories were “full of contradictions.” Authorities verified her identity and arrested her. She now faces further charges of claiming false identity. CS

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

MUSIC AURA FEST Inter Arma plays The Jinx Feb. 21 PHOTO BY JOEY WHARTON

LIVE MUSIC & EVENTS IN THE SOUNDGARDEN

SATURDAY, MAR 7

DEPARTURE JOURNEY TRIBUTE

Inventive band headlines the first night of AURA Fest Underground Weekend

BY SEAN KELLY

sean@connectsavannah.com

LISTENING TO Inter Arma’s records, you might get the idea that what they do is highly conceptualized. The songs are epic, there are intros and interludes, and the music bursts through the confines of genre. As drummer T.J. Childers explains, it’s not nearly as concept-oriented as it seems. “I kind of hate the phrase ‘writing a record,’” Childers tells Connect ahead of the band’s headlining set at AURA Fest’s Underground Weekend on Fri., Feb. 21. “It’s more of an organic process of writing songs. Riffs come, song ideas come, while we’re at home or on tour. As we’re in the studio, we start thinking about the flow of the record. The intros and interludes are sometimes written in the studio for the purpose of creating more flow for the record. There’s never really any concept going into it. It just sort of takes shape.” The band’s latest album, Sulphur English, was perhaps the only project that employed any kind of concept at

all—though the drummer says it was a loose one. “The idea was to be as ugly and abrasive as possible,” he says. The brilliance of Inter Arma’s stylistic bend within the scope of extreme music is that it truly is an organic thing. Even when it came to forming the band, there were no preconceived notions about what kind of band it would be. The simple idea was to write and record music that they were excited about. “There definitely was no preconceived idea in the beginning. It was just a bunch of dudes who hung out and drank beer,” he says. “It was also kind of born from the ashes of another band, but it took us a couple of years to even get to where we were on our first record. We actually started out being a lot thrashier, and then we kind of realized that everyone was doing that. Metallica and Slayer kind of cornered the market on that. So we decided to get away from that a little bit.” The Richmond, Virginia-based band wanted to be open in their approach to writing—being open-minded about

writing slower songs (and even acousticbased compositions) rather than focusing entirely on fast-paced ones that might box them in creatively. “For the most part, I don’t really want to listen to a record that’s a million miles per hour the whole way, or one mile per hour the whole way,” Childers says. “I like dynamics and things of that nature. Most of the records that I listen to the most, like Beatles records or Led Zeppelin records, there’s acoustic songs and heavy rockers. To me, if you get four or five guys on the album playing instruments, it’s still going to sound like the same band.” CS

MONKEY MAN

ROLLING STONES TRIBUTE

SATURDAY, MAR 28

TRIBUTE

ALLMAN BROS TRIBUTE W/ OPENING ACT DRAUCKER

INTER ARMA @AURA FEST UNDERGROUND WEEKEND / THE JINX

Fri., Feb. 21, 7:30 P.M. doors Individual night ticket - $18 Adv / Weekend Ticket - $30 (Admission both nights) VIP Weekend Ticket - $45 [Includes Weekend pass, Fest T-Shirt, Poster, and sponsor swagbag] Full lineup available aurafestsavannah.com 127 W Congress St

TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE

3016 E. VICTORY DR.

912.352.2933 • COACHS.NET

DOWNLOAD OUR APP!

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

Inter Arma’s ambitious metal soundscapes

FRIDAY, MAR 13

www.socialcluBrocks.com anD more see our lineuP Get Directions,

MUSIC AURA FEST

Torche weathered a lineup shift ahead of their latest album PHOTO BY DAN ALMASY

Use your phone

No Cover!

ic o Cover! MusMusic Live N LiveLive Music THURSDAY FEB, 20

DJ SQUARE ONE FRIDAY FEB, 21

PREACHERVAN SATURDAY FEB, 22

Live Music THELive TRAIN WRECKS Music

Torche powers through change on Admission Miami metal band headlines AURA Fest at The Jinx

SUNDAY FEB, 23

VOODOO SOUP MONDAYS

$2.50 BOURBON & CRAFT BEER NIGHT

No Cover!

TUESDAY NIGHT

TRIVIANo @9PM Cover! • $100 1ST PRIZE

Use your phone $2.50 Dos Equis Daily!

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

Use your phone Get Directions, see our lineuP Get anDDirections, more see our lineuP www.socialcluBrocks.com anD more

www.socialcluBrocks.com

No Cover!

Use your phone Get Directions, see our lineuP conGress street social cluB anDwest more 411 conGress street savannah, Ga 31401 conGress street social cluB www.socialcluBrocks.com

BY SEAN KELLY

sean@connectsavannah.com

MIAMI-BASED heavy metal band Torche has been going strong since 2004, but a shakeup in 2017 caused them to shuffle roles. With the departure of guitarist Andrew Elstner at the end of 2016, they could have easily hired someone new. Instead, bassist Jon Nuñez decided to move to guitar and the band brought in bassist Eric Hernandez. That shuffle brought about new creative energy, which was evident on the band’s most recent release—last year’s Admission. “The major change was Steve, Eric, and myself bringing songs that were completely written to the table. That was about three songs a piece, and then two were collaborative,” Nuñez tells Connect ahead of the band’s headlining set at AURA Fest Underground Weekend on Feb. 22 at the Jinx. “We were writing all over the place, from Gainesville to Miami, a couple of sessions in L.A. The changing of instruments definitely impacted the sound.” Nuñez was no stranger to playing guitar on Torche records. In fact, he’d often contribute overdubs to songs in the studio, “rounding out” the recordings and accenting arrangements. This was

different, though. This was the chance for him to contribute entirely to the scope of the songs on a completely different instrument. “Moving over to guitar was kind of cool, because I was able to not only continue [playing on the records] but also do it live,” he says. “I was able to not just blend into the mix, but have things that I want more at the forefront of the music and even be the spotlight.” The amazing part of this story began with the challenge of building a live rig in his new role. Not only did Nuñez design and build a rig for himself that encompassed everything he needed in a live setting, it also inspired a business venture. “Due to changing to guitar, I was really unhappy with my initial sound. It turned out that I’d grown very used to feeling a certain power from the bass rig. Pushing air and having a certain tonal depth that I hadn’t been prepared to wave goodbye to, if you will,” he says. “I ended up working with a good friend of mine and we designed a head that’s actually two guitar heads in one. It has extreme versatility EQ-wise, and there’s way more expansion in the top end and bottom end.” Building that “Frankenstein” amp rig, as Nuñez calls it, led to him wanting to build more—resulting in Nuñez Amplification, a boutique amp and pedal company.

“It led to a bass pedal being made, and a guitar pedal being made, and now there’s a whole equipment line. Once people started hearing the records and on stage, people noticed. They found it to be a tool, much like I did, to not be content or complacent with sound. It was like, ‘You choose your sound. Here’s a lot of frequency bandwidth, a ton of gain—do whatever you want,’” he says. “After being on the brink of insanity with this shit, luckily other people liked it too.” The band’s lineup shift didn’t just lead to a revitalized creative energy in Torche, it also led to a new venture that has opened up the same musical and tonal possibilities for other guitar players. “It was a long journey,” Nuñez says. “It was happening for around two to three years. The equipment itself is the sound of Admission.” CS

TORCHE @AURA FEST UNDERGROUND WEEKEND / THE JINX

Sat., Feb. 22, 7:30 P.M. doors Individual night ticket - $18 Adv / Weekend Ticket - $30 (Admission both nights) VIP Weekend Ticket - $45 [Includes Weekend pass, Fest T-Shirt, Poster, and sponsor swagbag] 127 W Congress St

MUSIC FEATURE

Reel Big Fish play Victory North on Wed., Feb. 26 PHOTO BY JONATHAN THORPE

REEL BIG FISH: CHAMPIONS OF SKA

Trumpet player John Christianson chats ahead of Victory North gig

REEL BIG FISH rose to prominence during the third wave of ska that emerged in the late 80s and early 90s. It was something of a punk rock infused version of the genre, that saw bands like the Fish achieve critical and commercial success alongside the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Less Than Jake, and Fishbone. The band is still touring, decades later, amid a few lineup shifts. One of those came in 2004 with trumpet player John

You’ve been in the band since 2004, is that right?

Cheer Up!, and Aaron [Barrett, lead singer and remaining original member] wasn’t sure that the band was going to go on Right! 15 years. anymore. He started another band called The Prior to joining, did you know the guys? Forces Of Evil, and Derek started playing How did you end up joining? bass in that. The original trumpet player in that band became a Jehovah’s Witness and I went to high school with Derek Gibbs, our couldn’t play in a band that was called The bass player. He’s two years older than I am, Forces Of Evil anymore. So Derek called It’s great to get to talk to you about and when he graduated he started playing me. being in this crazy band! in a ska band and I went away to school. Occasionally, I’d go to their concerts. Reel That must have been so crazy to [laughs] Hey, to be able to make a living jump into a band like Reel Big Fish. playing music for people that love what you Big Fish was having some internal strife do is the best job in the world. around the time that they were recording CONTINUES ON P. 20 19 Christianson joining the fold. He’s still with the band to this day, and has contributed to several of their albums. It was evident on our call with him, ahead of the band’s Victory North gig on Wed., Feb. 26 as part of their This Life Sucks...Let’s Dance! tour, that he loves what he does for a living.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

BY SEAN KELLY

sean@connectsavannah.com

FEATURE

THUR, FEB 13 SWAMP CABBAGE AND MISSIONARY BLUES 9:00 PM - 12:00 AM

BOGO 2:00 AM - 3:00 AM

FRI, FEB 14 HUSTLE SOULS 9:00 PM - 12:00 AM

SAT, FEB 15 DRUNCH V-DAY 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM 117 WHITAKER STREET

ELROCKOLOUNGE.COM t h e

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Especially at that point, when they’d already achieved a lot of success and had cultivated a dedicated fanbase. What was that first little bit of time in the band like? It was definitely a learning experience! Being in a band like this, you can do whatever you want in your off time, and that tends to get people into trouble. I had to learn that. I had to go crazy a couple of times, and experience that excess that the road can provide. I learned that I’d rather keep my job than party all the time. I feel like a lot of people don’t think enough about that. Having music as a full-time job does mean that you have some freedoms, but it’s still a job. And you have to learn how to take care of yourself to maintain your relationships. I have a wife and a 7-year-old daughter, and maintaining those relationships while being gone for seven months out of the year is a real learning experience. The whole third wave thing is fascinating because there were so many great bands that came out of that. What’s maybe the most amazing thing about it is that bands like Reel Big Fish still

Being in a band like this, you can do whatever you want in your off time, and that tends to get people into trouble. I had to learn that. I had to go crazy a couple of times, and experience that excess that the road can provide. I learned that I’d rather keep my job than party all the time. have incredibly passionate and dedicated fan bases that allow them to keep going. To what do you attribute that longevity? You have to have songs that people know and love, that become part of the lexicon of people’s lives. That’s a testament to Aaron and his ability to write songs that people really love. But if he would’ve written those songs and we would never have toured, it wouldn’t be the same. Everyone loves coming and seeing a Reel Big Fish

show because it’s their chance to forget about all the shit that happens to them during the rest of the week. They go and have a good time, and learn how to laugh at yourself. They laugh at the absurdity of life, and we definitely really need that. CS

REEL BIG FISH W/ BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE, KEEP FLYING @VICTORY NORTH Wed., Feb. 26, 7 P.M. doors, $23.50 2603 Whitaker St

NOW HIRING

warehouse Bar & Grille ™

cOLDEST, CHEAPEST bEER IN TOWN

SEEKING DIGITAL & PRINT SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

WED. 2/19 jubal kane 8pm-12mid THURS. 2/20 Jon Lee’s apparition’s 8pm-12mid

FRI. 2/21 Jason bible 2-6pm Eric Culberson 8pm-12mid SAT. 2/22 Eric Britt 2-6pm Thomas Claxton 8pm-12mid

SUN. 2/23 Thomas Claxton 8pm-12mid MON. 2/24 Ray tomasino 7pm-11pm TUES. 2/25 brett barnard 8pm-12mid

HAPPY HOUR MON - Fri .3PM - 7PM

$$3 Miller Lite drafts $4 Blue Moon drafts $4 well drinks . $1 off calls . 50 ¢ wings

service industry night Sunday 25% off entire bill

Kitchen Open Late Nightly!

Call for Take Out

18 E. RIVER STREET 912.234.6003

Candidates must have local business contacts and a verifiable successful record of print, digital or broadcast sales. The ability to identify, qualify, cultivate and grow new business is essential. Customer-centric focus, presentation skills, creativity, energy and accountability are expected. Base salary, commission, auto allowance, paid vacation & holidays, insurance and 401K. Please email cover letter and resume to: sales@connectsavannah.com

MUSIC INTERVIEW

Guitar great Jontavious Willis comes to Southbound Brewing Grammy-nominated guitarist helps celebrate Savannah Music Festival

BY SEAN KELLY

sean@connectsavannah.com

JONTAVIOUS WILLIS IS a unique guitar player. The young musician, a native of Greenville, Georgia, has been playing since he was a kid and got into the blues after spending years singing gospel music. He discovered Muddy Waters when he was 14, and the rest was history. As he dove into the broad world of blues, he discovered Delta and Piedmont among other variants, and ultimately landed on a compelling playing style that nods to the fingerpicking style of the 20s and 30s but is ultimately all his own. He’s now found the balance between blues and country with his own music, and has garnered critical acclaim for his unique style. He also grabbed the attention of legendary blues players and songwriters Taj Mahal and Keb Mo’. He ended up developing a working relationship and friendship with both. “I met Taj first, and he kind of felt like a second grandpa. He’s really wise,” Willis tells Connect ahead of his performance at Southbound Brewing on Fri., Feb. 21. “Both of them gave me a lot of great information, you know? My biggest influences are the guys that recorded in the 20s and 30s, and Taj was in touch with some of those guys. It was an experience being with them, but it’s been an experience being with a lot of the older guys I’ve played with. Any elder, really; not just musicians. You’ll learn something if you just stick around.” Willis’ unique approach to guitar and banjo wasn’t something he was necessarily looking for, in the sense that he wasn’t striving to do something new or different— just absorbing the music around him. “I think it happens like that, because if you have different influences then what you do is automatically different,” he says. “BB King listened to Lonnie

Johnson—the vibrato he did was all Lonnie Johnson. Lonnie Johnson and T-Bone Walker were definitely his big influences. If you listen to different people, then what you do is going to be different. It might not be better or worse, but it’ll be different.” The upcoming show at Southbound Brewing Co. will mark the annual release of Savannah Music Festival’s Wailin’ IPA, and Willis is on the bill alongside pedal and lap steel virtuoso Roosevelt Collier. Willis started playing piano when he was very young, but the death of his piano teacher caused him to stop and he never quite picked the instrument up again. He played trombone in band at school, before getting into guitar. Banjo was something he discovered later, and has only recently invested energy into. “I had one, and I thought I knew what playing the banjo was. But I didn’t,” Willis laughs. His interest in the instrument came from the blues and what came before it historically and musically. “One you go to the precursor of blues, you find out that all the black folks were playing banjo before guitar was a thing,” he says. “A lot of the early guitar players were real percussive in their playing style, and they used open tunings. It was really reminiscent of banjo, so I was like, ‘Yeah, banjo is where it’s at.’” Willis, who was nominated for a Best Traditional Blues Album Grammy award this past year, says he’s constantly writing and working towards the next project. “I’m always touring and I always have ideas and concepts,” he says. “Always.” CS

SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL WAILIN’ IPA RELEASE PARTY @ SOUTHBOUND BREWING CO. Fri., Feb. 21, 6:30 P.M. doors $20 adv. / $25 at the door 107 E Lathrop Ave

COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

“If you listen to different people, then what you do is going to be different. It might not be better or worse, but it’ll be different.”

MUSIC THE BAND PAGE

BY SEAN KELLY

THE BROADCAST @BARRELHOUSE SOUTH

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

Ashville’s The Broadcast are a soul band, through and through. They do put their own thing in it—it’s pretty psych-centric often times—but at its core the music just oozes soul. One of the producers on their latest album is the renowned bassist Tim Lefevbre, who was just tapped to be bassist in the revamped Black Crowes and most notably played in the band on the final Bowie album, Blackstar. His endorsement of this band should tell you all you need to know. SAT., FEB. 22, 9 P.M.

THE KERNAL @SERVICE BREWING

One of the most exciting voices in country music currently, The Kernal would fit right in with the more psychedelic slant on the genre that emerged in the 60s. But he’s also a bit ahead of his time, and does something that you really can’t pin down in terms of an era of the genre. As a songwriter, he’s pretty singular. Don’t miss him and Paul Cauthen at Service. SAT., FEB. 22, 4 P.M., FREE

CHEW, BERO BERO @EL-ROCKO LOUNGE

Experimental rock trio CHEW return to Savannah for some truly in-yourface, groove-oriented psychedelic rock. They’re an incredible band, and the chance to see them is one you should take seriously. Also on the bill for this one is Bero Bero, quite possibly the best thing to come out of Savannah in a long time. FRI., FEB. 21, 9 P.M.

CLOUDS & SATELLITES @FOXY LOXY CAFE

Markus Kuhlmann has played with nearly everyone in the Savannah scene, but it’s Clouds & Satellites that really lets his true artistry shine. There’s a brand new album out, and Stopover appearance on the way, but this is a chance to see Kuhlmann perform in one of the best intimate settings that Savannah has to offer. TUES., FEB 25, 7:00 P.M.

Soundboard

SOUNDBOARD IS A FREE SERVICE - TO BE INCLUDED, PLEASE SEND YOUR LIVE MUSIC INFORMATION WEEKLY TO SOUNDBOARD@CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM. DEADLINE IS NOON MONDAY, TO APPEAR IN WEDNESDAY’S EDITION. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR CUT LISTINGS DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS.

WEDNESDAY 2.19 LIVE MUSIC

Barrelhouse South VuDu Shakedown, Every other Wednesday, 10 p.m. Bay Street Blues Hitman Blues Band Bayou Cafe Ray Tomasino, 9 p.m. Boomy’s Blues Night w/ Ben Keiser, 9:30 p.m. El-Rocko Lounge Trivia w/ Jules and Chris Grimmett, 9 p.m. Fiddler’s Crab House (River St.) Michael McCormick Good Times Jazz Bar and Restaurant Laiken Williams with Eric Jones Trio, 7 p.m. Jazz’d Tapas Bar Anne Allman, 7 p.m. Mansion on Forsyth Park George Evans, 7 p.m. Rachael’s Open Mic Night, 8 p.m. Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant Bill Smith Trio, 6:30 p.m. Savannah Smiles Dueling Pianos, 7 p.m. Skidaway United Methodist Church American Traditions Vocal Competition Quarter Finals II, 4-6 & 7:30-9:30 p.m. Southbound Brewing Company Boogaloo Bingo and DJ Miami, 7 p.m. The Warehouse Jubal Kane, 8 p.m. White Whale Craft Ales Open Mic Music, 7 p.m. Wild Wing Cafe Jason Courtenay and Uncle Buck, 7 p.m., Jason Courtenay and Uncle Buck The Wormhole Open Jam, 9 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

The Chromatic Dragon Geeky Trivia Night, 8 p.m. Dub’s Pub Trivia, 7:30 p.m. The Jinx Human Jukebox Trivia, 10 p.m. Service Brewing Company Trivia Night with Daniel, 6:30 p.m. Tailgate Sports Bar and Grill Trivia, 9:30 p.m. Tubby’s Tank House (Thunderbolt) Bingo, 7 p.m., Tubby’s Bar Bingo, 7 p.m. World of Beer Trivia, 7 p.m.

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m. McDonough’s Karaoke, ongoing, 9 p.m. Wet Willie’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

COMEDY

Totally Awesome Bar Blackout Comedy Show, 8:30 p.m.

Little Lucky’s DJ and Karaoke

THURSDAY 2.20 LIVE MUSIC

787 by Chazito’s Salsa Night, 8 p.m. Bay Street Blues Hitman Blues Band Bayou Cafe Eric Culberson Band, 9 p.m. Billy’s Place at McDonough’s Nancy Witt, 6 p.m. Cohen’s Retreat Munchies and Music, 5-9 p.m. Congress Street Social Club DJ Square One, 10 p.m. El-Rocko Lounge Myfever, Mountains Like Wax, Jalen Reyes, 9 p.m. Fiddler’s Crab House (River St.) Jeremy Riddle Good Times Jazz Bar and Restaurant The Howard Paul Quartet, 7 p.m. Jazz’d Tapas Bar Claire Vandiver, 7 p.m.

the sentient

BEAN

Award-Winning Organic Vegetarian Food + Fair-Trade Coffees & Teas

OPEN 7AM10PM MON  SUN 13 E. Park Ave •232.4447 full listings @ sentientbean.com

HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY 5PM-9PM

$5 WINE & $3 BEER

GOT A BEAN CARD? USE IT LIKE A CREDIT CARD & DON’T PAY THE BIG BANKS!

PICK UP A BEAN HANDMADE MUG!

Hari Kondabolu @VICTORY NORTH

Comedian, podcaster, and writer Hari Kondabolu—known for his Netflix special Warn Your Relatives—comes to Victory North for a night of stand up. Don’t miss one of the best political comedians working today. This will be a show to remember. THURS., FEB. 20, 7 P.M. DOORS, $26+ The Perch at Local 11 ten Josephine Johnson, 5:30 p.m. PS Tavern Live Music Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant Gypsy Jazz, 7 p.m. River House Rachael Shaner Savannah Smiles Dueling Pianos, 7 p.m. The Shrimp Factory Matt Eckstine Skidaway United Methodist Church American Traditions Vocal Competition Semi-Finals, 4-6 & 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tailgate Sports Bar and Grill Open Mic, 9 p.m. Top Deck James Lee Smith, 6:30 p.m. Victory North Hari Kondabolu, 8 p.m. The Warehouse Jon Lee’s Apparitions, 8 p.m. Wild Wing Cafe Chuck Courtenay Band Wild Wing Cafe (Pooler) Jason Courtenay, 6:30 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

B & D Burgers Pop Culture Trivia, 7:30 p.m. McDonough’s Trivia, 7 p.m. Pour Larry’s Explicit Trivia, 10 p.m.

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m. The Jinx Karaoke, 10 p.m. McDonough’s Karaoke, ongoing, 9 p.m. Rusty Rudders Tap House Karaoke World of Beer Karaoke, 9 p.m. The Wormhole Karaoke, 9 p.m.

COMEDY

Totally Awesome Bar Totally Open Mic, 8 p.m.

Little Lucky’s DJ and Karaoke Rusty Rudders Tap House DJ Tap

BAR & CLUB EVENTS

Club One Full Metal Tassels, 9 p.m. Stafford’s Public House Open Mic, 9 p.m.

FRIDAY 2.21 LIVE MUSIC

201 Tapas Lounge Reggae Night, 10 p.m. Barrelhouse South Underground Springhouse, Chuck Magid Band, 9 p.m. Billy’s Place at McDonough’s Nancy Witt, 6 p.m. Congress Street Social Club Preachervan, 10 p.m. Doc’s Bar Chester Love Band, 9 p.m.1 a.m. El-Rocko Lounge KMD Stripped, Chew, Bero Bero, 9 p.m. Elan Savannah Trina, 9 p.m. Good Times Jazz Bar and Restaurant Gina Rene with Kevin Bales Trio, 8 p.m. Jazz’d Tapas Bar Voodoo Soup, 9 p.m. The Jinx AURA Fest: Underground Weekend, 7:30 p.m. Joseph’s Restaurant and Lounge Anne Allman, 6 p.m.

Molly MacPherson’s Scottish Pub Lafayette Molly McGuire’s Moss City Groove, 6 p.m. Pour Larry’s DJ & Live Music Prohibition Bootleg Beats, 10:30 p.m. Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant Jody Jazz Trio, 6:30 p.m. Randy Wood Guitars Tim Kliphuis and Jimmy Grant, 8 p.m. River House Josephine Johnson Rusty Rudders Tap House Live Acoustic Music, 6 p.m. Ruth’s Chris Steak House David Duckworth, 8 p.m. Saddle Bags Waterloo Revival, 8 p.m. Savannah Cultural Arts Center American Traditions Vocal Competition Master Class, 3-5 p.m., 2020 American Traditions Vocal Competition Finals, 8-10 p.m. Savannah Smiles Dueling Pianos, 7 p.m. The Sentient Bean Dr. K, 6:30 p.m. Service Brewing Company Bluegrass By The Pint w/ City Hotel, 5:30 p.m. The Shrimp Factory Alex Bazemore Skidaway United Methodist Church 2020 American Traditions Vocal Competition, 8-10 p.m. Taste of India Don Read, 6:30 p.m. Vic’s on The River Claire Frazier, 6 p.m. The Warehouse Eric Culberson and Jason Bible Wild Wing Cafe The Perry Brothers, Bill Hodgson outside, Laiken Love Band inside Wild Wing Cafe (Pooler) Clear Daze, 9:30 p.m. The Wormhole Area 51 Tour, 9 p.m.

S PROCE ED B EN EFIT LOOP IT U P

WEDNESDAY, FEB 19 | 8 PM | $7 PSYCHOTRONIC FILM SOCIETY

MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM

THURSDAY, FEB 20 | 7:30 PM

NO WAR WITH IRAN

HISTORY & CULTURE WORKSHOP PART 4

FRIDAY, FEB 21 | 12:30 PM

DR. K TUESDAY, FEB 25 | 8 PM

TONGUE: OPEN MIC & MUSIC WEDNESDAY, FEB 26 | 8 PM | $8 PSYCHOTRONIC FILM SOCIETY

NIGHTMARE IN BADHAM COUNTY

TRIVIA & GAMES

PS Tavern Beer Pong Tournament, 10 p.m.

KARAOKE

American Legion Post 184 Karaoke, third Friday of every month, 7 p.m.

CONTINUES ON P. 24

FRIDAY, FEB 28 | 7:30 PM

SISTER IVY

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

MUSIC

SINCE 2001  BREWING COFFEE & COMMUNITY

U Sounds & Spirits Concert Series

Unitarian presents…

Universalist Church of Savannah

Sounds & Spirits Series

Sing! That Girl Can POSTPONED DUE TO ILLNESS

Amanda Jeter & Friends

Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 4pm Admission: $20 online at www.uusavannah.org/home or $25 at the door Wine reception follows the concert Amanda Jeter could justifiably wear the title of best young female vocalist in Savannah. No, we’re not kidding. Come hear for yourself. The girl has pipes and can deliver in spades every musical style from Broadway to jazz to pop and hip-hop and beyond. She will be joined by Bill Smith (guitar), Marc Chesanow (bass), Kelly Blackmarr (piano) and Kelly Adams (vocals), who together will serve up a smorgasbord of tunes to spice up your February plate.

Amanda Jeter and Friends

COMEDY

Foxy Loxy Cafe Comedy Night, third Friday of every month, 7:30 p.m. Front Porch Improv Front Porch Improv: Top Secret Comedy, 8:30 p.m. The Historic Savannah Theatre Todd Oliver, 8 p.m. The Loft on Liberty Odd Lot Improv: Friday Funnies, 8 p.m.

Little Lucky’s DJ and Karaoke Rusty Rudders Tap House DJ Tap Vice Mojito Bar and Lounge Live DJ

SATURDAY 2.22 LIVE MUSIC

20 online at www.uusavannah.org/home or $25 at the door Wine reception follows the concert

SAVANNAH’S PREMIER VENUE FOR CONCERTS & PRIVATE EVENTS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH

| 8PM SHOW 7PM DOORS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH

| 8PM SHOW 7PM DOORS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH

| 9PM SHOW 8PM DOORS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29TH

| 8PM SHOW 7PM DOORS

HARI KONDABOLU

REEL BIG FISH - THE LIFE SUCKS… LET’S DANCE! TOUR BIT BRIGADE PERFORMS MEGA MAN III

A NIGHT OF FINE ACOUSTIC COUNTRY MUSIC WITH BRENT COBB AND MADDIE MEDLEY

| 8PM SHOW 7PM DOORS

THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH

UNCLE KRACKER CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

Bay Street Blues Karaoke Blueberry Hill Karaoke, 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m. McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m. Tailgate Sports Bar and Grill Karaoke/DJ, 10:30 p.m.

Abe’s on Lincoln DJ Doc Ock El-Rocko Lounge Savannah’s First Burlesque Bar Crawl!, 6 p.m.

Universalist Church of Savannah (Troup Square) Sunday, February 23, 2020 4:00 pm

| 8PM SHOW 7PM DOORS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH

BLACK TIGER SEX MACHINE - FUTURISTIC THRILLER TOUR SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS

| 9PM SHOW 8PM DOORS

2603 WHITAKER ST | WWW.VICTORYNORTHCONCERTS.COM @victorynorthsavannah

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

BAR & CLUB EVENTS

d justifiably wear the title of best young female vocalist in Savannah. No, Come hear for yourself. The girl has pipes and can deliver in spades every Broadway to jazz to pop and hip-hop and beyond. She will be joined by ), Marc Chesanow (bass), Kelly Blackmarr (piano) and Kelly Adams ther will serve up a smorgasbord of tunes to spice up your February plate.

SOUNDBOARD

@victorynorthsavannah

@victorynorthsav

American Legion Post 154 (Tybee) Mardi Gras Fur Ball Dance and Costume Contest, 7 p.m. Barrelhouse South The Broadcast, 9 p.m. Billy’s Place at McDonough’s Nancy Witt, 6 p.m. Congress Street Social Club The Train Wrecks, 10 p.m. El-Rocko Lounge Bloodkin, 9 p.m., Bloodkin, Eric Culberson, 9 p.m. Elan Savannah Getter, 9 p.m. Good Times Jazz Bar and Restaurant Joshua Bowlus Trio music by Ahmad Jamal Trio, 8 p.m. Jazz’d Tapas Bar Sally’s Fur Coat, 9 p.m. The Jinx AURA Fest: Underground Weekend, 7:30 p.m. Joseph’s Restaurant and Lounge Anne Allman, 6 p.m. Molly MacPherson’s Scottish Pub Hitman Molly McGuire’s The Island Boys, 6 p.m. The Olde Pink House David Duckworth & Alisha Duckworth The Perch at Local 11 ten Mary Kenyon, 5:30 p.m. Pour Larry’s DJ & Live Music Prohibition Bootleg Beats, 10:30 p.m. Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant Jody Jazz Trio, 6:30 p.m. River House Adam Nye Rusty Rudders Tap House Live Acoustic Music, 6 p.m. Saddle Bags Jason Morton and the Chesapeake Sons, 8 p.m. Savannah Civic Center Chris Tucker, 8 p.m. Savannah Smiles Dueling Pianos, 7 p.m. Service Brewing Company The Kernal, 4 p.m. The Shrimp Factory Billy Brennan Stafford’s Public House DJ Rudy Lui, 9:30 p.m. Vic’s on The River Claire Frazier, 6 p.m. The Warehouse Jubal Kane, Eric Britt Wild Wing Cafe TG Live, Greg Fortune, Bill Hodgson outside, Johnny Burgin Band inside

KARAOKE

Bay Street Blues Karaoke Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m. McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

COMEDY

Front Porch Improv Front Porch Improv with the Morons, 8:30 p.m., Front Porch Improv: Porch Party, 10 p.m. The Historic Savannah Theatre Todd Oliver, 3 p.m. The Loft on Liberty Odd Lot Improv: Saturday Shenanigans, 8 p.m. The Wormhole Neighborhood Pub & Music Venue One Night Only: Evan Rollins, 8 p.m. Visitor’s Information Center Savannah for Morons: The Trolley Tour, 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.

The Black Rabbit DJ Square One, 9 p.m. Little Lucky’s DJ and Karaoke Rusty Rudders Tap House DJ Tap Vice Mojito Bar and Lounge Live DJ

SUNDAY 2.23 LIVE MUSIC

Bayou Cafe Don Coyer, 9 p.m. Congress Street Social Club Voodoo Soup, 10:30 p.m. Good Times Jazz Bar and Restaurant Eric Jones Trio w/ Teddy Adams and Cynthia Utterbach, 7 p.m. Jazz’d Tapas Bar Jason Bible, 7 p.m. Mansion on Forsyth Park, Autograph Collection The Bailsmen, 4:30 p.m. The Olde Pink House Eddie Wilson Prohibition Bluegrass Brunch w/ Cory Chambers and Evan Rose, 11 a.m., Whiskey and Wine, 8 p.m. River House Georgia Kyle The Shrimp Factory Eric Britt Tubby’s Tank House (River St.) Jeremy J Riddle, 6-9 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Church of Savannah That Girl Can Sing!, 4 p.m. Vic’s on The River Claire Frazier, 6 p.m. The Warehouse Thomas Claxton Wild Wing Cafe Perry Bros, Laiken Love Band

TRIVIA & GAMES

Moon River Brewing Co. Trivia, 6 p.m. Tailgate Sports Bar and Grill Trivia, 9:30 p.m.

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m. McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m. Tailgate Sports Bar and Grill Karaoke/DJ, 10:30 p.m.

Boomy’s DJ Basik Lee, 10 p.m.

BAR & CLUB EVENTS

Exclusives Bar & Grille Open Mic Poetry Night, 7 p.m. Saddle Bags Bar Olympics

MONDAY 2.24 LIVE MUSIC

Abe’s on Lincoln Open Mic, 10 p.m. Bayou Cafe David Harbuck, 9 p.m. Fiddler’s Crab House (River St.) Phillip Wise Open Mic Wild Wing Cafe Fat Gouda

The Warehouse Ray Tomasino The Wormhole Open Mic, 8 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

Club One Bingo with Dawn Dupree, 5:30 p.m. The Flying Fish Trivia Night, 7-9 p.m. The Jinx Music and Movie Trivia, 10 p.m.

KARAOKE

Boomy’s Karaoke, 10 p.m. Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m. McDonough’s Karaoke, ongoing, 9 p.m. Wet Willie’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

COMEDY

The Loft on Liberty Odd Lot Improv: Monday Night Madness, 8 p.m. White Whale Craft Ales White Whale Open Mic Comedy

Little Lucky’s DJ and Karaoke

BAR & CLUB EVENTS

Fia Rua Irish Pub Family Movie Night, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY 2.25 LIVE MUSIC

Bay Street Blues Ben Keiser Band Bayou Cafe Jam Night with Eric Culberson, 9 p.m. Civvies Solo Termite, James K, Hank Jackson, soundaltar., Raine, 7:30 p.m. Fiddler’s Crab House (River St.) Eric Moore Foxy Loxy Cafe Clouds and Satellites, 7 p.m. Good Times Jazz Bar and Restaurant The Phil Morrison Trio, 7 p.m. Jazz’d Tapas Bar Ray Lundy, 7 p.m. The Jinx Hip Hop Night The Ordinary Pub Jeremy J Riddle, 7-10 p.m. The Sentient Bean Tongue: Open Mouth and Music Show hosted by Melanie Goldey, fourth Tuesday of every month, 8 p.m. Top Deck James Lee Smith, 6:30 p.m. Victory North The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra Mardi Gras Party, 6 p.m. The Warehouse Brett Barnard, 8-11 p.m. Wild Wing Cafe Brett Barnard 5-8 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

Basil’s Pizza and Deli Trivia, 7 p.m. Coach’s Corner Texas Hold ‘Em, 7 p.m. CoCo’s Sunset Grille Trivia, 7 p.m. Congress Street Social Club Trivia, 10 p.m. Fia Rua Irish Pub Trivia, 7:30 p.m. McDonough’s Bingo, 7 p.m. Mellow Mushroom Trivia, 7:30 p.m. PS Tavern Poker Rachael’s Adults Only Trivia, 9 p.m. Savannah Taphouse Trivia, 7 p.m. Wild Wing Cafe (Pooler) Trivia, 9 p.m.

KARAOKE

Blueberry Hill Karaoke, 9 p.m.3 a.m. Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m. McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m. The Rail Pub Karaoke, 9 p.m. Wet Willie’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

SOUNDBOARD

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

SOUNDBOARD DIRECTORY 787 by Chazito’s 2222 Bull St. Abe’s on Lincoln 17 Lincoln St. 912-349-0525 abesonlincoln.com

American Legion Post 154 (Tybee) 10 Veterans Drive 912-786-5356 www.tybeefun.com

American Legion Post 184 3003 Rowland Ave. 912-354-5515

B & D Burgers 13 East Broughton St. 912-231-0986 www.bdburgers.net/

912-238-1985 congressstreetsocialclub.com

Doc’s Bar 10 16th Street 912-786-5506

912-233-6136 mcdonoughssavannah.com

Dub’s Pub 225 W. River St.

Mellow Mushroom 11 W. Liberty St.

El-Rocko Lounge 117 Whitaker St.

Molly MacPherson’s Scottish Pub 311 W. Congress St.

912-200-3652 dubspubriverstreet.com

912-495-5808 elrockolounge.com

Elan Savannah 301 Williamson St. 912-662-3526 elansavannah.com

Exclusives Bar & Grille 2003 Greenwood Street 912-695-2116

Barrelhouse South 125 W. Congress St.

Fia Rua Irish Pub 10132 Ford Ave.

Basil’s Pizza and Deli 216 Johnny Mercer Blvd.

Fiddler’s Crab House (River St.) 131 West River St.

912-662-5576 barrelhousesouth.com

912-897-6400 basilsonline.com

Bay Street Blues 17 E. Bay St. 912-236-6655

Bayou Cafe 14 N. Abercorn St. 912-233-6411 bayousavannah.com

Billy’s Place at McDonough’s 20 E. Perry St.

912-231-9049 billysplacesavannah.com

The Black Rabbit 1215 Barnard St. 912-200-4940 blackrabbitsav.com

Blueberry Hill 546 Dean Forest Rd. 912-964-8401 blueberryhillbar.com

Mansion on Forsyth Park, Autograph Collection 700 Drayton Street McDonough’s 21 E. McDonough St.

912-459-4160 fiaruairishpub.com

912-644-7172 www.liveoakstore.com/ fiddlersriverstreet

The Flying Fish 7906 E. Hwy 80

912-897-2009 www.flyingfishbarandgrill.webs. com/

912-495-0705 mellowmushroom.com

912-239-9600 macphersonspub.com

Molly McGuire’s 216 Johnny Mercer Boulevard

912-898-0852 liveoakstore.com/mollymcguires

Moon River Brewing Co. 21 West Bay St. 912-447-0943 www.moonriverbrewing.com/

The Olde Pink House 23 Abercorn St.

912-232-4286 www.plantersinnsavannah.com

The Ordinary Pub 217 1/2 West Broughton Street 912-238-5130 www.theordinarypub.com/

The Perch at Local 11 ten 1110 Bull St.

Foxy Loxy Cafe 1919 Bull St.

912-790-9000 local11ten.com/perch

Front Porch Improv 210 W. Victory Drive

912-232-5778 sportsbarinsavannahga.com

912-401-0543 foxyloxycafe.com

843-868-1553

Good Times Jazz Bar and Restaurant 107 W. Broughton St. 912-236-2226 goodtimesjazzbar.com

Pour Larry’s 206 W. St. Julian St.

Prohibition 125 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 912-200-9255 prohibitionsavannah.com

PS Tavern 11 W. Bay St.

Boomy’s 409 W. Congress St.

The Historic Savannah Theatre 222 Bull St.

The Chromatic Dragon 514 MLK Jr. Blvd.

Jazz’d Tapas Bar 52 Barnard St.

912-920-7772 rachaels1190.com

Civvies 14 East Broughton St.

The Jinx 127 W. Congress St.

912-238-1311 therailpub.com/

Club One 1 Jefferson St.

Joseph’s Restaurant and Lounge 4700 US Highway 80 E, Ste P

912-436-6660 boomysbar.com

912-289-0350 chromaticdragon.com

912-236-1551 www.civviesclothes.com/

912-232-0200 clubone-online.com

Coach’s Corner 3016 E. Victory Dr. 912-352-2933 coachs.net

CoCo’s Sunset Grille 1 Old U.S. Hwy. 80 912-786-7810 cocostybee.com

Cohen’s Retreat 5715 Skidaway Rd. 912-355-3336 cohensretreat.com

912-233-7764 www.savannahtheatre.com

912-236-7777 www.jazzdsavannah.com

912-236-2281 www.facebook.com/thejinx912/

(912) 349-6347

Little Lucky’s 6 Gateway Blvd. E. 912-925-1119

The Loft on Liberty 215 W. Liberty St. 912-352-2994 savannahcoffee.com

Mansion on Forsyth Park 700 Drayton St.

912-238-5158 mansiononforsythpark.com

912-495-5145 pstavernsav.com

Rachael’s 1190 King George Blvd. The Rail Pub 405 W. Congress St. Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant 402 MLK Jr. Blvd. 912-292-1656 ranchoalegrecuban.com

Randy Wood Guitars 1304 East Hwy. 80

912-748-1930 www.randywoodguitars.com

River House 125 W. River St.

912-234-1900 liveoakstore.com/riverhouse

Rusty Rudders Tap House 303 W. River St. 912-944-6302

Ruth’s Chris Steak House 111 W. Bay St. 912-721-4800 ruthschris.com

Saddle Bags 317 West River St.

912-349-5275 saddlebagssavannah.com/

Savannah Civic Center 301 West Oglethorpe Avenue Savannah Cultural Arts Center 201 Montgomery St. Savannah Smiles 314 Williamson St.

912-527-6453 savannahsmilesduelingpianos. com

Savannah Station 601 Cohen St. Savannah Taphouse 125 E. Broughton St. 912-201-8277 savannahtaphouse.com

The Sentient Bean 13 E. Park Ave. 912-232-4447 sentientbean.com

Service Brewing Company 574 Indian Street 912-358-1002 servicebrewing.com

The Shrimp Factory 313 East River Street

912-236-4229 www.theshrimpfactory.com

Skidaway United Methodist Church 54 Diamond Causeway 912) 598-8460 www.siumc.org/

Southbound Brewing Company 107 East Lathrop Ave. 912-335-1737 southboundbrewingco.com

Stafford’s Public House 306 W. Upper Factor’s Walk 912-660-9001 staffordpromotions.com/ staffords-public-house

Tailgate Sports Bar and Grill 11215 Abercorn St. 912-921-2269

Taste of India 401 Mall Blvd. Ste. 102C 912-356-1020 tasteofindiasav.com

The Wormhole Neighborhood Pub & Music Venue 2307 Bull Street Top Deck 125 W. River Street 912-436-6828 topdeckbar.com

Totally Awesome Bar 107 B Whitaker St. 912-349-1707

Tubby’s Tank House (River St.) 115 East River St. 912-233-0770 www.liveoakstore.com/ tubbysriverstreet

10 YEAR PHOTOGRAPHY RETROSPECTIVE OPENING RECEPTION: February 27th from 7-9 p.m. 411 West Charlton St. SAVANNAHSTOPOVER.COM CURATED BY

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

912-988-1281 201savannah.com

Congress Street Social Club 411 W. Congress St.

IMAGE © ADRIANA IRIS BOATWRIGHT

201 Tapas Lounge 201 James Blackburn Drive

CULTURE DANCE

Obsidian Dance Repertory’s year of return Director Toni Renee Johnson talks about upcoming performance

BY SEAN KELLY

sean@connectsavannah.com

AS PART of the Savannah Black Heritage Festival, the Obsidian Dance Repertory is prepping a performance entitled “The Year of Return.” It’s a concert that will symbolize, through dance, the first enslaved person arriving in Jamestown, Virginia, 400 years ago. “The Year of Return” is a powerful display of art by Savannah State University’s pre-professional dance company, led by director Toni Renee Johnson. A press release for the event describes “The Year of Return” as “a movement tapestry dancing across the African diaspora, paying tribute to our return to beauty from ashes.” Ahead of the concert, which runs from Feb. 20 (as an open dress rehearsal) to the 22nd at 7 P.M. at the Kennedy Fine Arts Building, here’s what you need to know about Obsidian Dance Repertory and this moving dance performance.

Obsidian was formed to help students transition to the professional world

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

Johnson moved to Savannah from New York City and started Obsidian Dance Repertory as a way to help students bridge the gap between their dance education and the professional world. “I took a job at Savannah State as the Assistant Professor of Dance, and one of the things that I noticed was lacking in the department was offering students real-world exposure and pre-professional experience on stage, as well as networking with peers and master choreographers,” she says. “I wanted to be able to establish a company that gave students that opportunity to bridge the gap between amateur and professional, so that they get some real experience underneath them and have something to put on their resumes. I wanted them to be more prepared going out into the dance world.”

They’ve traveled to China for a collaborative dance production

“For some of the students, that was the first time that they’d even been on a plane. So, to travel almost 18 hours or more across the world, as your first experience, was pretty dope,” Johnson says. When they arrived in China, the language and cultural barriers were quickly shattered when they met with students from a local dance program and collabo26 rated on a production.

Obsidian Dance Repertory presents ‘The Year Of Return’ as part of Savannah Black Heritage Festival.

“We communicated through our bodies. We communicated through movement, because there was limited—if any—direct communication verbally. We didn’t have that fluency. Our production wound up being well-attended, and we were able to blend our cultures and make art. It was very profound what we were able to put together in such a short time, but it was substantive and beautiful.”

The Year of Return is an event among the African Diaspora, commemorating 400 years since the first enslaved person was brought in Virginia

Johnson says that her event will commemorate the Year of Return, which pays homage to the pivotal moment in African history.

“In forming this concert, I wanted a way to celebrate the African Diaspora. The idea is that before slavery, Africans were fine in their own world and their own spaces. Highly productive and highly intelligent. When we were brought into slavery by our own people and by the white man, that was stolen from us,” she explains. “That greatness that already existed was stolen. The Year of Return commemorates the first footsteps in Jamestown 400 years ago, but it also commemorates returning beauty from ashes. We were never really in ashes—now, it’s a bettering of the self, after having gone through something as a diaspora. This concert is not a narrative; it doesn’t tell the story of slavery. What it does is that it brings out the essence of the greatness of the African Diaspora, from the time when we were in our own land and

doing our own thing. Spanning the universe, spanning the world, and landing in places to be even better than we were.” The upcoming concert, which will commemorate not just African-American history but many different cultures among the Diaspora, will feature dancers from Obsidian as well as a crossover piece of AfroPeruvian dance from Dr. Kisha Aites. “This concert is of the people. It’s about the experience, and it’s of the people, and it’s about a return to greatness, Johnson says. CS

THE YEAR OF RETURN / SAVANNAH BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL @ KENNEDY FINE ARTS BUILDING AT SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY

Thurs., Feb. 20-Sat., Feb. 22, 7 P.M., $10 [$5 for students]

Tied and Tasseled Fetich Cabaret host Full Metal Tassel on Feb. 20.

Performer Sadie DeSade is one of the guides for the burlesque bar crawl Feb. 21.

Tied and Tasseled and Beers and Babes collaborate for a double header weekend BY RACHAEL FLORA

rachael@connectsavannah.com

THIS WEEKEND, Tied and Tasseled Fetish Cabaret partner with Beers and Babes for a heavy-hitting weekend of burlesque. The fun starts Thursday at Club One with Full Metal Tassel, the troupe’s season opening show featuring performances from every era of metal music. The next night, Savannah gets its first burlesque bar crawl led by members of Tied and Tasseled and other local burlesque performers. The starting point of the bar crawl is El-Rocko, but everything after that is a mystery, since the tour is up to the performers leading it. The partnership was an easy choice for Beers and Babes organizers Leisha Bananas and Sadie DeSade, who cemented their decision at a Tied and Tasseled show. Performer Rose LaRuse was emceeing for the night and dealt with a heckler particularly well. Bananas and DeSade decided then and there that they wanted LaRuse to emcee their first show, and the partnership has flourished ever since. Since their first show on Halloween weekend of 2014, Tied and Tasseled Fetish Cabaret has sought to push Savannah’s collective boundaries.

The performance troupe incorporates neo-burlesque dance with elements of fetish for a show that’s probably unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. “Most people, when they hear the word fetish, they’re like, ‘Oh, it’s S&M and BDSM,’” explains Ginger von Bleu, cofounder and producer of Tied and Tasseled. “Ultimately we bring in all these elements because it’s so much bigger then that. Not only are we performing, but we’re trying to educate as well. You get a lot of vanillas that come in and are like, ‘Oh, what are you guys all about? I’m really interested, I read Fifty Shades of Grey, is it like that?’ And we’re all like, ‘Blech!’” In fact, fetish cabaret is nothing like 50 Shades, which is watered down to make kink more palatable for a wide audience. Tied and Tasseled performs shows every other month, and between those, they host fetish parties, which is an exploratory night for anyone interested in the idea of fetishes to see what it’s all about. “Those build the community because we’re trying to create a safe space for everybody to come, people that are brand new and just figuring it out to people who have been in the community,” explains von Bleu. “Obviously, we’re in a public space so we’re limited to how far we can take it, but we definitely push the limits.” Fetish parties are totally confidential

and open to anyone who’s interested in joining or watching, even those who think that seeing “puppies” at the party means that there are some dogs in the bar (spoiler alert: it doesn’t). “The last one we had, we had a lot of puppies there, which was a first,” remembers von Bleu. “They just came down the stairs. Any other place, you say ‘puppies’ and they think puppies, but it’s totally different.” One of the struggles that Tied and Tasseled faces is censorship. von Bleu notes that most places don’t even say the word “fetish” when introducing their troupe, which is a major problem—if a venue can’t even bring themselves to say the word fetish, would they even be willing to host a fetish party or performance? “I think the issue is that there aren’t enough spaces for performance—not just drag, not just cabaret. There are not enough physical, actual stages that are alternative friendly, whether it be queer spaces or sexually positive spaces,” says Bananas. The lack of alternative-friendly performance spaces has been compounded by the recent announcement by the Jinx that they’ll only book one drag or burlesque performance a month in an effort to get back to booking musical acts. DeSade, a member of the Savannah Sweet Tease Burlesque Revue, has

performed on the Jinx’s stage multiple times and understands their perspective. “The Jinx wants to go back to being a predominantly music venue, and I understand,” she says, “but it’s limiting for the rest of us because we’ve found such a haven in that bar opening its doors to us. People have come to understand it as the burlesque bar in town, as opposed to the gay bar, which will always be Club One.” As spaces for shows like this dwindle, the importance of events like the Burlesque Bar Crawl become more clear. “You have overhead going into a show, and we’re trying to offset those unexpected expenses that ultimately cut into how much you can pay the performer,” says DeSade. “By doing things like a bar crawl, we can fund these mutual collaborations.” In turn, collaborations like these strengthen the Savannah’s burlesque community, already a tightly-knit group. “We’re not trying to compete with [Tied and Tasseled], we’re trying to help bring more diversity to Savannah in general via burlesque, which is why we created Beers and Babes because it’s not your typical burlesque show,” says Bananas. “Our goal is to be predominantly in breweries, and because it’s a big open space, we found it works very well and it’s different. It’s bringing that variety into it.” Part of the excitement of the Burlesque Bar Crawl is that participants will be able to learn more about the performers who were just on stage the night before. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions that might otherwise remain unanswered. “If you don’t know a performer, how else are you going to ask these questions that may seem awkward or untoward?” asks DeSade. Ultimately, the weekend is all about the love of performing. “At the end of the day, performers just want to perform,” says von Bleu. “That’s all we want to do! We just want to present ourselves on stage as this character or act that we’ve created. We just want to present it for you to enjoy, though I feel like a lot of the stuff I do is just for me—you just get the benefit of watching whatever shitshow I create.” “I couldn’t say it better for myself,” laughs DeSade. “When I get onstage and I pour a bunch of corn oil that smells like butter on myself with a bunch of yellow glitter, I do that for me and you guys are all just privy to it.” CS

TIED AND TASSELED FETISH CABARET PRESENTS FULL METAL TASSELS Thurs., Feb. 20, 9 p.m. Club One, 1 Jefferson St. $15, ages 18+ Savannah’s First Burlesque Bar Crawl Fri., Feb. 21 6 p.m. El-Rocko Lounge, 117 Whitaker St. $20-$50 packages available

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

CULTURE PERFORMANCE

CULTURE THE ART•BEAT OF SAVANNAH

A conversation with Marilyn Minter BY RACHAEL FLORA

rachael@connectsavannah.com

MARILYN MINTER has been a fearless feminist artist since before it was acceptable to be one. She’s been creating work that pushed the limits for five decades, working in a variety of media and styles to get her message across. Now, Minter is the honoree for SCAD’s deFINE ART 2020, and a selection of her work will be on view at the SCAD Museum of Art through the summer. “Nasty Woman” is a selective survey of Minter’s career, taking the visitor on a journey through her early work. It includes work from her “100 Food Porn” series, which comments on the eroticism in food commercials, as well as her films “Green Pink Caviar” and “Smash,” which adopt the look of fashion advertising while embracing imperfection. It’s not everyday that we get such a high caliber artist to Savannah, so definitely take the opportunity to see Minter’s work, or to hear from the artist herself. Minter will give the SCAD deFINE ART keynote lecture on Wed., Feb. 19 at 6 p.m., and her exhibition will be on display at the museum through Aug. 2. We had the pleasure of speaking with Minter via email last week.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

What have you seen change, and not change, in terms of issues that women faced through the years you’ve been creating art?

Honestly, the issues women face are exactly the same but they have evolved. On the one hand, we’re still fighting for equal pay for equal work, bodily autonomy, and reproductive rights. On the other, there are a lot more opportunities for women in all fields and we have started to see a greater representation of women of color. My generation of men rarely had powerful women in their lives. The women were mothers, nurses, stewardesses, teachers, etc. Those are important vocations, of course, but they were no female doctors, scientists, lawyers, or heads of universities. Younger generations are more used to women in power and are therefore more comfortable with it. My generation just didn’t perceive women that way, which made it that much harder for women to break through.

L-R: Marilyn Minter, Glazed, 2006, Courtesy of the collection of I Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn and Nicolas Rohatyn; Wangechi Gold 4, 2009, Courtesy of the artist and Salon 94, New York.

like to make room for that duality. Everything human is inherently shot through with imperfections. So removing or denying imperfection does not create perfection. It actually makes us unhealthy. In the 80s, viewers didn’t really understand you or your art—you fought the patriarchy with your work, but women didn’t embrace that. What was that like for you as an artist? I was and continue to be anti-patriarchy, but I don’t feel that I was too much woman. I just never tried to be a good girl or anything other than what I am. I got a tremendous amount of pushback in the ‘80s when I made paintings based on porn imagery. I thought that women should be able to own sexual imagery and pleasure. This didn’t seem vulgar to me–I assumed all feminists felt this way. So you can imagine my shock when I was basically kicked out of the art world. I was asking questions that I didn’t have answers to (still don’t) and people got really upset. I would be lying if I said that being shunned by the art community didn’t make me doubt my work. But ultimately I stuck to what I knew was true and everyone else eventually caught up. You’ve said that your work comments on the paradox that glamour gives us both pleasure and disappointment. Why is it important to you to capture that paradox?

How does it feel to be the honoree at SCAD deFINE ART 2020? Great, Ariella Wolens (Assistant Curator at SCAD Museum of Art) is a dream to work with. What would you want younger artists, particularly female artists, to learn from you and your work? I always tell my students that if something comes easily to you, that’s what you should be doing. I see it all the time, a young artist says, “Oh, it comes easy, it must not be any good.” So it’s my job to get them to see that it’s exactly what they’re supposed to be doing. This is so important to me because I wrote off the skill I have for so long. I could draw or copy anything and I really loved doing it. But for the longest time, I didn’t think I could do that in my art. It was a game-changer when I finally gave in and made it work for me. Females and female artists tend to downplay their strength even more, so I try to empower them by nurturing their strengths. CS

CULTURE VISUAL ARTS

QUESTIONS

WITH

Francie Lowman BY RACHAEL FLORA

rachael@connectsavannah.com

DESIGNER Francie Lowman seeks to create an oasis with her furniture design company, the Mangata Experience. Lowman, the current ambassador for SCAD’s Alumni Atelier program, worked at Anthropologie for a few years before quitting her job to pursue her passion of starting her own business. While she’s in residency with the atelier, which is made possible by SCAD’s President Paula Wallace and artist Tiffani Taylor, Lowman will work on pieces for Mangata Experience, which uses sustainable products and a minimal yet feminine design. We caught up with Lowman last week.

Francie Lowman’s designs are minimal, feminine, and a little bit boho, making her line completely unique. PHOTOS COURTESY SCAD

1. How did you first get interested in design?

From a very young age, I’d always been into art and design. I grew up with a family of builders and makers—my grandpa does construction, my dad is an engineer, my uncle is an architect. I’d always grown up in that. I was very much fostered by my family and local art teachers. When I was younger, if I didn’t have an art material, I’d just go dig in the recycling bin and then hot-glue it together, make it whatever I wanted it to be. I was a little bit of a black sheep in a small town. I went [to Anthropologie], and I initially came to SCAD for illustration, so I have a very artistic hand. I started doing a lot of their ceramic patterns and carved wood. They offered to let me work from home, so I worked in office for a year and then remotely for a year and a half.

2. What did you learn from working at Anthropologie?

They taught me so much about how a successful big corporation runs. Really, what I gathered from there was how to design for a consumer and figure out what your audience is—really understanding what you want your audience to be, and then designing into that. We were one of the few companies that designs mostly for women because it started off as an apparel brand. We only referred to our customer as “she.” “She likes this, she likes that.” One thing I think I was really struggling

with was trying to be more ethical with it. It’s not just them; it’s a large-scale problem. I think that [with] a little bit of guilt I was feeling, I really wanted to do something a little more ethical. Now my brand is really coming in on that. This was also something I’d been itching to do for a while. It was a crawl to the edge of the diving board to jump off and finally just leap and do it. And to be honest, it’s still scary now. It’s as scary as skydiving—it’s adrenaline rushing, you’re having so much fun but it’s still like, “Ahh!” I’m so glad I got into the program; it was hard work, but I’m just really excited that Paula Wallace has set up opportunities like this for alumni.

What’s the transition been like to go from working at a big corporation to creating your own small business? I think we can get back to the ethical idea. I’m not calling them unethical, I’m just saying I’m going to be intentionally ethical, and I think large-scale productions can’t really do that. Obviously we’re going to be a much smaller scale production, but I want to grow it and have a lot of artists working under me and just being more of a creative director role and allowing more creativity. But that’s the 15-year plan; that’s the big dream. I think allowing other artists to come in and experience the brand and also the hand-craftedness, which I feel like we’re

missing a lot when we buy stuff from Target and West Elm. Big corporations like that, you’re not getting this hand-touched element to it all. Working at a big corporation, I see how mass production works, but I’m able to do more of that American-made hand-craftedness. So, one thing I’m trying to do with my brand that a lot of corporations can’t do is making it ethical. We’re using all solid brass, all our wood products are locally sourced and sustainably harvested. We do import products, but I do a lot of research to make sure it’s fair trade. All our fabrics are going to be naturally dyed with vegetables or dried flowers.

4. Has it been difficult to design into being ethical?

It’s just a material. I’m substituting materials we would usually build with, but I’m doing it the right way. I think maybe with my colors I’m designing into it a little bit, but those colors speak to me. I also just love the idea that thees colors come from the earth. I just want to challenge myself and learn new materials, and I like that furniture taught me all these different materials and things I would not have been able to learn.

My aesthetic is very thought out for my consumer. If you want to get feminist with it, the furniture industry is actually saturated with male designers and makers. There’s not that many women out there who feel like they can get into woodworking or welding. That’s just something our industry is rarely saturated in—it’s just so many men doing it. That really translates into design. If you look at West Elm or CB2 or any of these big corporate brands, they’re very masculine. The only way we really see feminine design is usually through color, and not everyone wants a hot-pink sofa, you know? One thing I’m doing with my brand is being extremely thoughtful with my design and adding more feminine touches, but we’re not doing hot pink. It’s a softer, more easy-to-take feminine design. It’s not shouting at you. That’s one thing I’m really aiming for with my designs. I also intentionally design almost minimal in color, and I have very feminine details to my design, but in a minimalistic way. I feel like furniture and lighting is a very understated form of art. We are so intimate with our furniture, and we don’t really think about it. Like our sofa: we watch TV and take naps on it. We have a dining room table we sit and eat at. It’s not something we think about every day as a piece of art, but it’s a piece of art that’s so functional to you. That’s something that really drove me to furniture as well. CS Follow Lowman on Instagram at @mangata_experience.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

5. Tell me about your aesthetic.

ART

Patrol

OPENINGS & RECEPTIONS

AFTERGLOW — “Afterglow” by artist/illustrator Stacie Jean Albano features landscapes and streetscapes. The work is bolstered brightly by the artist’s vibrant underpaintings. This under layer of color peeks through, bringing a sense of time and place via palette. Profits are donated to Savannah LGBT Center. Fri., Feb. 21. Location Gallery at Savannah LGBT Center, 1515 Bull St. CINDY MALE ARTIST TALK — Cindy Male is the current artist at Gallery Espresso and will give an artist talk. Thu., Feb. 20, 6 p.m. galleryespresso.com/. Gallery Espresso, 234 Bull St.

CONTINUING EXHIBITS 230 YEARS AGO... — This exhibition reflects on the 230th anniversary of the City of Savannah government (incorporated in December 1789), featuring a sampling of the treasures preserved in the Municipal Archives for our citizens. Through June 30. Savannah City Hall, 2 East Bay Street. AMALGAM RETURNS COMIC ART SHOW — Thanks to the students of SCAD profes-

sor Rashad Doucet, the Amalgam Age of Comics has returned! In 1996, DC and Marvel joined forces in one of the greatest “What If” scenarios in comics history. They forged a combined universe of stories and new “mash-up” characters like Dark Claw (Batman + Wolverine), Speed Demon (Flash + Ghost Rider) and Lobo the Duck (Lobo + Howard the Duck). This art exhibit is the result of a class project to revisit these characters with new costume designs, sample covers and interior pages. Open 11-7 Mondays-Fridays, 10-6 Saturdays and 1-5 Sundays. FREE Through March 6. Neighborhood Comics, 1205 Bull St. AMY PLEASANT: ECHO — Amy Pleasant maneuvers with ease between drawing, painting, ceramic sculpture, and installation; between small and large-scale compositions commanding equal visual attention and gravitas. Through March 21. Laney Contemporary, 1810 Mills B. Lane Blvd. ANOTHER BODY FOR MYSELF — Through Feb. 23. The Hen House @ The Stables, 7 Rathborne Dr. ANTHROPOMORPHIC MESSAGES: LINOCUTS BY ANDRE BERTOLINO — Andre Bertolino has exhibited his paintings and prints in seven states. Anthropomorphic Messages consists of hand carved linoleum blocks, printed with a spoon on handmade paper in the artist’s living room. Through Feb. 23. Foxy Loxy Cafe, 1919 Bull St.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

“ON THE LINE” — 25 MILLION STITCHES: A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ART INSTALLATION Local stitchers have been gathering at Friendship Cafe on Wilmington Island to work on the upcoming exhibit “On the Line” featuring embroidered panels they created in recognition of the global refugee crisis. Their work will be exhibited in the Cafe beginning February 13 when you can meet the stitchers between 10am and 1pm. The panels will be hung on a clothesline in Friendship Cafe from February 13 through March 11. Friendship Coffee Company, 205 Johnny Mercer Blvd, Ste I.

Wood sign workshops to guide your inner DIY!

Come visit us at the

Southern Women’s Show 2020

Booths 920 & 922 Savannah Convention Center Feb. 28–March 1

CHROMA — Celebrate Sulfur’s fifth anniversary with an exhibition of some of Savannah’s favorite artists. Through Feb. 22. sulfurstudios.org. Sulfur Studios, 2301 Bull St. CHROMOZONE 2020 — Working in sculpture, murals, and immersive installations, Icelandic artist Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir, aka Shoplifter, transforms spaces with the unique medium of hair. Through Aug. 2. scadmoa. org/. SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd. CINDY MALE — The unique conversations that go on in the creative mind during art making continually renew Cindy Male’s involvement in the visual arts. Through April 6. Gallery Espresso, 234 Bull St.

ART PATROL IS A FREE SERVICE - TO BE INCLUDED, PLEASE SEND YOUR INFORMATION WEEKLY TO ARTPATROL@CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM. DEADLINE FOR INCLUSION IS 5PM FRIDAY, TO APPEAR IN NEXT WEDNESDAY’S EDITION. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR CUT LISTINGS DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS

CONGRESSIONAL HIGH SCHOOL EXHIBITION — An Armstrong Campus-juried high school art exhibition for students in Georgia’s First Congressional District. Through Feb. 21. Armstrong Campus, Georgia Southern University, 11935 Abercorn St. FANTASIES, PASSIONS AND DREAMS — Fantasies, Passions & Dreams features work that portrays Jade’ B.’s thoughts and feelings about life, love, politics, and relations. Through March 3. sentientbean.com. The Sentient Bean, 13 E. Park Ave. FRIENDS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ART MEMBERS ONLY GROUP EXHIBITION — During African American History Month, FAAA has been invited to exhibit annually at SSU. Featured artwork from Ahmad Jackson, Aimee Ruth Gill, Akeem R.A. McMichael, Amiri Ferris, Becca, Cook, Calvin Parker, Calvin Woodum, Danzella J Calloway, David Laughlin, James Graham, Kat L. Robertson, Kenneth Martin, Marcie L. Thomas, Michelle Perez, Nicholas Seward, Phil Starks, Ruth Cohan, Sauda Mitchell, Sharon Norwood, Sharonna Ray, Theresa Martin, Tom Van de Ven and Toni Hazel. Through Feb. 21. Savannah State University, 3219 College St. GETUIE — Working in performance, weaving, sculpture, and installation, South African artist Igshaan Adams explores materiality, phenomenology, and identity. SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd. GO DOWN TO SAVANNAH: WW LAW’S NEGRO HERITAGE TRAIL — Westley Wallace Law (1923-2002) was born in Savannah, Georgia, in an era of great inequality and social injustice. He earned a modest income as a postman and would become an icon of civil rights as a historian, teacher, preservationist and an inspiring presence in the community. This display sheds light on a unique aspect of Law’s legacy, with documents and images capturing the inception and early years of the Negro Heritage Trail in historic Savannah. Free Through March 31. Massie Heritage Center, 207 East Gordon St. THE JOURNEY IS MINE: CHAPTER ONE — The Journey is Mine: Chapter One is a solo #art912 exhibition of paintings by Savannahbased artist William Kwamena-Poh (B. 1960). Museum admission Through May 25. Jepson Center for the Arts, 207 West York St. LAUNCHING SAVANNAH’S ART SCENE: FOUNDERS OF THE SAVANNAH ART CLUB — In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Savannah Art Club, Telfair presents this exhibition of work by and about the founding members of the club, including local favorites such as Lila Cabaniss, Anna Hunter, Mary Comer Lane, Juliette Gordon Low, Christopher A.D. Mur-

phy, Hattie Saussy, Margaret Gray Thomas, Emma Wilkins, and others. Jepson Center for the Arts, 207 West York St. NASTY WOMAN — Over the course of five decades, artist Marilyn Minter has radically redefined the nature of feminist art. Nasty Woman is a selective survey that highlights the bold prescience of Minter’s early practice, while simultaneously offering viewers the chance to immerse themselves in an array of her most acclaimed artworks. Alongside this landmark visual presentation, SCAD celebrates Minter as the SCAD deFINE ART 2020 honoree. Through Aug. 2. SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd. ON::VIEW RESIDENCY: DARLA ELAM & SARAH BERNZOTT WITH THE SAVANNAH ART ASSOCIATION — Originally formed as the Savannah Art Club in 1920, the Savannah Art Association is celebrating one hundred years of promoting arts appreciation through exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, play shops, as well as income-producing opportunities for independent artists. During their residency at Sulfur Studios, they will conduct interviews, perform research, and gather images to produce an ever-evolving, tangible timeline of their history as Georgia’s oldest, continually running art association. Through March 8. sulfurstudios.org. Sulfur Studios, 2301 Bull St. A RAKE’S PROGRESS — British artist Charlie Billingham presents a site-specific installation within the SCAD Museum of Art lobby, in which he pays homage to the museum’s permanent collection holdings of William Hogarth’s historic engraving series A Rake’s Progress (1735). SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd. SCAD DEFINE ART — SCAD celebrates its annual program of special commissions, exhibitions, lectures, and performances. Taking place Feb. 18-20 at university locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia, SCAD deFINE ART recognizes emerging and established artists and visionaries. Wed., Feb. 19 and Thu., Feb. 20. 912-525-7191. scadmoa@ scad.edu. scad.edu/defineart2020. scadmoa.org/. SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd. TAMARA GARVEY: LET’S ALL PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND TAKE A GOOD LOOK — This exhibition features whimsical pen and ink artwork, depicting the color, magic and intricacies of the natural world. Tamara Garvey draws quirky, cheerful illustrations of forests, text, abstraction, desserts, animals, and absurdism, which frequently incorporate tiny handwriting hidden within the images — like a fun little reward for those who look closely! Through March 10. Starland Cafe, 11 East 41st St.

FOOD & DRINK EPICUROPEDIA

The Blue Hawaii

The Ring of Fire

Water Witch heats up Starland with retro vibe, inventive cocktails

BY LINDY MOODY

WITH THE end of Prohibition, the concept of the American tiki bar emerged. And like most movements, tiki popularity died out over time. In recent years, the interest in tiki has seen quite the revival. Starting in the west, like it did with its inception, the tiki bar has made its way to Savannah.

It should be no surprise that Savannah has fallen in love with the tiki concept. Living in a beachside city, locals are partial to a fruit-flavored cocktail to cool them down during the hot summer months. There is one new tiki bar that has set itself apart from the rest. If you have visited Water Witch Tiki, which opened this month in the heart of the Starland District, you know exactly what I mean. Why do something at all unless you fully commit? When you walk through the vine covered doors of Starland’s Water Witch you will feel like you have traveled to the South Pacific. The team behind Water Witch, partners Jennifer Restivo, Jason Restivo, Brigitte Harley, and Jeff Harley accomplished a memorable feat by thrusting patrons into the steamy vibes of Pacific Island living. Enough rattan chairs to seat an army greet you when you walk in. I foresee many

a late night getting lost in the soft cushions of any one of those seats. An actual tiki bar made up of a grass and bamboo roof sits in the back. The coolest part of all are the two giant Easter Island Moai Statue replicas resting comfortably next to the bar. Sea glass, ropes, palms, and vibrant wallpaper are just a few of the exuberant details guests can expect to find. Brigitte searched for years for the right location to open a bar. For at least the last decade opening a local bar had been her dream. Starland became her desired location after learning about its growth. She paired up with Atlantic’s dream team, Jennifer and Jason, to bring in their detail-oriented perspective. The name Water Witch is an homage to the Navy’s USS Water Witch that was taken

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

The signature USS Water Witch cocktail, based on the ship’s figurehead

CONTINUES ON P. 32 31

EPICUROPEDIA

HAPPY HOUR Mon-Fri 4:00-6:00pm $2.50 sliders Sliders • Slider Dogs • Hand-Cut Fries FRESH INGREDIENTS

Healthy and Vegeterian Options including Falafel and Salmon Event space available. Includes discounted platters and drinks. Contact slysslidersandfries@gmail.com for pricing and availability.

1710 ABERCORN ST. SLYSSILDERSANDFRIES.COM

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

by the Confederates during the Civil War. Eventually, the Water Witch was burned to prevent recapture and still remains underwater off the Savannah coast. Water Witch is a double entendre. Brigitte explains its double meaning: “Water Witch is a thing—these people who are one with the water and very mystical. That kind of goes to, in our view, the potions that we are pouring, because there is a high level of liquor in these drinks,” she says. After searching through countless names, Water Witch fit in both its meaning and lore. “We want to be a modern tiki. We want to be succinct, short. We don’t want to go on forever. So, we have a really cool curated menu,” she says. For example, the Modern Cocktail section hosts six hand-crafted drinks that are tiki, but reflect Water Witch’s modern update. There are also six classic tiki cocktails as well as two types of rum bowls. I am a guest that appreciates a well-thought out menu, instead of flipping through a novelesque selection. The Chi Chi Pina Colada adds a touch of southern with a finish of pecan syrup drizzle. USS Water Witch could be called the signature cocktail, and it features good rum, whiskey, ginger beer, citrus, and

BEST

SEAFOOD since 1998!

bitters. “We have the classics—those are all very well-known drinks in the tiki world. And, we have our spin on some tiki cocktails. Obviously, we have a full bar in every other way,” Jennifer explains. Because let’s face it, tiki is not for everyone, but having fun is. If you want all of the atmosphere but with a less showy drink, you can still order a vodka tonic or whiskey coke. The wine list was created by wine expert Jason Restivo. He curated the list to tie in with the Polynesian offerings. The beer list is succinct and has both Georgia and Pacific area beers, all of which are light and balanced. Each drink acts as a showstopper. If you take that much time building out and creating such an immersive atmosphere, you cannot skimp on the drink presentation. Each one-of-a-kind cocktail has an original coordinating tiki glass. Water Witch plans on extending the drinkware even more as time goes on. You can buy any of the unique cups or distinctive items. Apparently, its common practice for tiki bars to feature vintage items for sale. Water Witch’s “gift shop” sits to the right of the entrance and looks more like the décor than a shoppable shelf.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

912.786.9857 • www.thecrabshack.com 40 Estill Hammock Rd • Tybee Island, GA

Water Witch is at 2220 Bull Street between Squirrel’s Pizza and 787 By Chazitos.

• food bar drink me pretty •

2019

A reasonably sized food menu has been included to counteract any well poured drinks. Seven offerings, like Ahi Poke and Banana Leaf Pork, sit on the boutique bar’s menu, all of which reflect the vision of the restaurant. “The tahini dip is something I have made for years. Everyone has always been drawn to it and loves it and wants the recipe and tries to make it. I knew that was something I wanted because I thought it would go really well here,” Brigitte says. Upon first seeing it you may think it is created with avocado due to its vibrant green hue. The color comes from all of the extremely fresh ingredients, like parsley and cilantro, that are jammed into the creamy and spicy dip. Just like the tiki drinks, the PuPu Platter is ornately presented on a three-tiered platter. Traditionally a pupu platter is an assortment of American Chinese and Polynesian cuisine, most of which is fried. For Water Witch a heavy serving of fried food was not an option, and they keep their light by offering an assortment of the items listed on the menu. CS

•

savannahbarfood.com

4523 Habersham St. • 912.355.5956

MOVIES THE FILM SCENE

Women In Revolt leads slate of compelling films firefighter who is lost at sea, leaving his young female lover behind to grieve. Most critics seem to agree that the imagery on display in this beautifully crafted film is both beautiful and memorable. In spoken Japanese with English sub-

BY JIM REED

Dawn of Humanity

worth of notable “alternative cinema” events, we’ll start on the Southside on Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus. There, on Feb. 19 at the Armstrong Center Auditorium, the school will show director Raúl O. Paz Pastrana’s brand-new documentary “Border South.” A four-year-long project which allows viewers to follow the same treacherous routes used by migrants who are traveling

IF YOU GO:

“BORDER SOUTH”

6 p.m. Feb. 19 Free The Armstrong Center Auditorium, 13040 Abercorn St. “Ride Your Wave” 7 p.m. Feb. 19 AMC Savannah 11, 1150 Shawnee St. $13.38 fathomevents.com

“MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM”

8 p.m. Feb. 19 The Sentient Bean, 13 E. Park Ave. $7 facebook.com/groups/2519522234807695/

“IDA B. WELLS: A PASSION FOR JUSTICE” 6 p.m. Feb. 20 The Beach Institute, 502 E. Harris St. Free beachinstitute.org

from Southern Mexico in hopes of crossing the U.S. border, and offers a very unique perspective on those journeys which might otherwise go unseen and misunderstood by those of us not in a position to observe it directly for ourselves. Admission to this film is free to the general public, and free parking is available onsite as well, starting at 5 p.m., with a 6 p.m. showtime. That same day, the AMC Savannah 11 presents the just-released Japanese anime comedy “Ride Your Wave.” Visually stunning, while simultaneously heartfelt and emotion-driven, it’s the story of a young

“LITTLE WOMEN”

7 p.m. Feb. 20, 21, 22; 3 p.m. Feb. 21, 22 Tybee Post Theater, 10 Van Horne Ave., Tybee Island $5 - $8 tybeeposttheater.org

“SONIC THE HEDGEHOG”

7 p.m. Feb. 20, 21, 22, 27; 3 p.m. Feb. 23 Mars Theatre, 106 S. Laurel St. Springfield $7 marstheatre.com

“COURTYARD MOVIE NIGHT” 8 p.m. Feb. 21 Foxy Loxy Café, 1919 Bull St. Free Tel. (912) 401-0543

“THE DAWN OF HUMANITY”

3 p.m. Feb. 23 Tybee Post Theater, 10 Van Horne Ave., Tybee Island $10 tybeeposttheater.org

titles. 7 p.m. showtime. A few nights later, on Feb. 23, that same venue presents a one-day-only national rerelease of Steven Spielberg’s 1985 drama “The Color Purple,” starring Danny Glover, Rae Dawn Chong, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and the great Adolph Caesar. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Alice Walker, it’s an intense and gripping coming-of-age tale set in an impoverished African-American community in rural Georgia in the early 1900s. On this, the 35th Anniversary of its release, it will be shown with a short featurette of added commentary by hosts from Turner Classic Movies. Two screenings only, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

CONTINUES ON P. 34

“ANDY WARHOL’S ‘WOMEN IN REVOLT!’”

7 p.m. Feb. 23 LGBT Center, 1515 Bull St. Free Admission and Concessions (voluntary donations appreciated) facebook.com/groups/2296346350647094/

“THE COLOR PURPLE – 35TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT” 1 p.m. & 5 p.m. Feb. 23 AMC Savannah 11, 1150 Shawnee St. $13.38 fathomevents.com

“NIGHTMARE IN BADHAM COUNTY – RARE THEATRICAL CUT” 8 p.m. Feb. 26 The Sentient Bean, 13 E. Park Ave. $8 facebook.com/groups/2519522234807695/

“FREE BURMA RANGERS”

7 p.m. Feb. 24, 25 AMC Savannah 11, 1150 Shawnee St. $13.38 fathomevents.com

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

FIRST OFF, allow me to sincerely thank all the readers of this column who came out this past Sunday night to the Sentient Bean Coffeeshop to attend the debut installment of my new First-Run Film Series. It was a small crowd, but between the admission fees and the raffle tickets we sold before the screening for door prizes, we made just enough money to break even on our operating costs for the night. That means this new series will continue, and once every five or six weeks, the Psychotronic Film Society, Knocked Out Loaded and the good folks at Connect Savannah will work together to present a one-show-only, intimate, exclusive area showing of a critically acclaimed indie or foreign film that has just been released to theaters, but which would otherwise never come to Savannah’s corporate multiplexes. For advance notice of those upcoming selections (and all other PFS-related screenings), please consider joining our Private Facebook Group at facebook. com/groups/2519522234807695/. Much appreciated! Now, looking ahead to the next week’s

THE FILM SCENE

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

The following day, AMC Savannah 11 begins a two-day engagement of the Christian-themed documentary “Free Burma Rangers.” The film profiles former U.S. Special Forces soldier Dave Eubank and his wife Karen, who, for the past 20 years, have chosen to go directly into conflict and war zones for the purpose of proselytizing their faith in hopes of winning converts in the midst of such deadly chaos. Viewer discretion is advised, as this movie contains scenes of both real and re-enacted wartime violence which may disturb some audience members. Showtimes at 7 p.m. on both Feb. 24 and 25. Heading downtown, on Feb. 19 at the Sentient Bean, the aforementioned Psychotronic Film Society continues its weekly Wednesday night screenings of underappreciated if not downright obscure feature films from around the globe with a rare public showing of the landmark 1933 horror gem “Mystery of the Wax Museum.” Directed by the late, great Michael Curtiz (who also made, among other terrific and timeless movies, “Casablanca”), this tale of a creepy sculptor who operates a wax museum in 1920s London stars oldschool scream queen Fay Wray (“King Kong”) and Lionel Atwill (“Son of Frankenstein”), and wound up influencing

countless later horror and thriller movies, including “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” and the 1953 Vincent Price vehicle “House of Wax.” One of the earliest color films ever made, it’s actually the last motion picture to use Technicolor’s original “two-color” process, which was replaced with the much more accurate “three-color” version right around the time of its productionWhile most negatives and prints of this rare color version were lost for decades and assumed gone forever, a lone print turned up in the private vault of Jack L. Warner (of Warner Bros. studios fame), and that rescued print is the original source for this special screening. 8 p.m. showtime. Then, on Feb. 26, the PFS salutes the life and career of the late British filmmaker John Llewellyn Moxey, who directed scores of standout made-for-TV movies, including the amazing, original 1972 pilot film which subsequently launched the cult TV series “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” (the show which would serve as the inspiration for “The X-Files”). In his honor, they’ll show one of his least-known but most revered efforts, the 1976 exploitation flick “Nightmare in Badham Countty.” Boasting an incredible cast that includes Chuck Connors, Tina Louise (Ginger on “Gilligan’s Island”), Robert Reed (the dad

on “The Brady Bunch”) and Dela Reese (who’d later star in TV’s “Touched by an Angel”), it’s a stone gas that’s virtually unknown to this day, save for diehard fans of rough trash cinema. 8 p.m. showtime, with craft beer and organic wine on special during the film, and a full vegetarian and vegan dinner menu. On Feb. 20, a few blocks from the Bean at The Beach Institute, they’ll continue their educational film series with a showing of the hour-long 1989 documentary “Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice,” an in-depth look at the life and times of that early female leader of the American civil rights movement and co-founder of the NAACP. An educator and investigative journalist, Wells emerged as one of the earliest citizens to document the horrors of lynchings and present those findings to the general public, and is viewed as a pioneer in the fight for equality amongst both subjugated blacks and females. This doc was originally aired on the Oscar-nominated PBS-TV series “American Experience,” which was produced for many years by WGBH-TV in Boston, and it was directed by the late William Greaves, winner of the prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award, and the filmmaker responsible for –among other things– the acclaimed 1990 documentary “That’s Black Entertainment.” Admission to this 6 p.m. screening is free. Moving out to Tybee, the historic, restored Tybee Post Theater continues its lengthy engagement of writer-director Greta Gerwig’s new, award-winning adaptation of the classic novel “Little Women,” with screenings at 7 p.m. on Feb. 20 through 22, and 3 p.m. matinees on Feb. 21 and 22. The following day, Feb. 23, the Tybee Post shows yet another in what is a long (and ongoing) list of informative, educational documentaries on nature and science, with a special screening of “The Dawn of Humanity.” This nearly twohour film was initially made for PBS-TV in association with National Geographic and broadcast as part of the esteemed program “Nova” in 2015. It tells the story of a startling archeological discovery in a South African cave, which yielded an unprecedented treasure trove of fossils. The respected paleoanthropologist Lee Rogers Berger is known for provocative claims and controversial views on mankind’s evolution, and he played a key role in this discovery and the extraction and study of these twomillion-year-old fossils. Berger will be on hand in-person at this special screening to introduce the film and answer questions from the audience. 3 p.m. showtime. Heading out to the nearby Effingham Co. city of Springfield, Ga., their historic, restored Mars Theatre continues its

lengthy engagement of the just-released family-oriented reboot of “Sonic The Hedgehog.” Based on the popular videogame, this big-budget mic of live-action and CGI animation stars Jim Carey, and is doing terrific business at the box-office. Showtimes at 7 p.m. on Feb. 20, 21, 22 and 27, with a 3 p.m. matinee on Feb. 23. Over near the Starland District on Feb. 21, Foxy Loxy Café hosts its regular “Courtyard Movie Night,” which takes place on the third Friday of each month, weather permitting. Held in the restaurant’s back courtyard, the films presented are popular mainstream titles, with the exact selections determined in advance by online vote. No admission is charged, but they do ask that you purchase food and/ or drinks while you are there. Be aware: if you’re looking for a quiet and respectful environment to pay close attention to a film, know in advance that the inherent chatter of customers and the ambient noise of this environment may not be to your liking. Showtime is 8 p.m. And last, but certainly not least, on Feb. 23 at the LGBT Center (just a few blocks from Foxy Loxy on Bull St.), The Look Back, Savannah’s only dedicated “Queer Cinema” series (which takes place at 7 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month) returns after a brief intermission to screen Andy Warhol’s 1971 satirical take on the Women’s Liberation Movement, “Women In Revolt!” Produced and partially shot by Warhol but directed by his protégé/associate Paul Morrissey (who also directed Warhol’s “Flesh for Frankenstein,” “Blood for Dracula” and “Bad”), this is a low-budget, camp treat starring a trio of trans women who were acolytes of Warhol and members of his Factory entourage, including Holly Woodlawn and Candy Darling. If those names sound familiar to you, it’s because both were immortalized in the lyrics of Warhol pal (and Velvet Underground frontman) Lou Reed in his later pop hit “Walk on the Wild Side.” As with all installments of The Look Back, admission to this intimate, 35 person-capacity screening is completely free to the general public, as are snacks and soft drinks. Voluntary donations in any dollar amount are always happily accepted (these go towards the cost of putting on the screenings), but are not required. As I am one of the co-curators of this series, I hope to see some of you there! Until next week, see you at the movies, be kind to those around you, and don’t forget to turn off that cell phone. CS Jim Reed directs the Psychotronic Film Society of Savannah.

BY MATT BRUNSON

VISIT OUR WEBSITE ONLINE AT WWW.CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM/ SAVANNAH/MOVIETIMES FOR DAILY MOVIE TIMES AND TRAILERS

VENUES AMC CLASSIC SAVANNAH 10 WWW.AMCTHEATRES.COM

511 STEPHENSON AVE.

AMC CLASSIC SAVANNAH 11 WWW.AMCTHEATRES.COM

1150 SHAWNEE ST.

GTC POOLER CINEMAS GTCMOVIES.COM

425 POOLER PKWY.

ROYAL CINEMAS POOLER ROYALCINEMASPOOLER.COM

5 TOWN CENTER CT.

SENTIENT BEAN

WWW.SENTIENTBEAN.COM

13 E PARK AVE (912) 232-4447

TYBEE POST THEATER TYBEEPOSTTHEATER.ORG

1O VAN HORNE AVE (912) 472-4790

LUCAS THEATRE

LUCASTHEATRE.COM

32 ABERCORN ST. (912) 525-5040

TRUSTEES THEATER

TRUSTEESTHEATER.COM

216 E. BROUGHTON ST. (912) 525-5050

SAVANNAH CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

WWW.SAVANNAHGA.GOV/1538/ SAVANNAH-CULTURAL-ARTSCENTER

201 MONTGOMERY ST. (912) 651-6783

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

OO While some might have preferred a starring vehicle for Deadpool’s Negasonic Teenage Warhead and others may have opted for a mainstream film starring Ron “The Hedgehog” Jeremy, the reality is that viewers have instead been handed Sonic the Hedgehog, a feeble feature based on the Sega video game. In this live-action/CGI hybrid, the SegaSonic Teenage Bedhead — a blue-furred extra-terrestrial hedgehog with the ability to run at an incredible speed — is presented with a slight backstory before he’s propelled to Earth via a ring left over from the set of the Tolkien trilogy. After roughly a decade on our planet, he ends up bonding with small-town sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden, perfectly fine even though he frequently looks like he wants to be somewhere, anywhere, else) while steering clear of the crazed genius Dr. Robotnik (Carrey). The headline story coming out of Sonic the Hedgehog isn’t so much the longawaited big-screen debut of its title critter or even the highly publicized character redesign after viewers shrieked at his quasi-humanoid appearance in the initial trailer. Rather, it’s the return of Carrey, who, after a 15-year reign as a top box office star, has been largely MIA over the past decade. Seeing Carrey back in action made me realize that I didn’t really miss him. His brand of slapstick shtick, always an acquired taste anyway, feels particularly moldy at this point in time, and while his mugging in this picture should amuse the small fry, it will more likely leave adult viewers irritable and impatient. Like too many video-influenced features, this one spent so much time (twice!) on applying the CGI that no imagination was left to power the screenplay. (It remains ironic that the two Wreck-It Ralph flicks, movies about video games, have managed to display far more creativity than movies actually based on video games.) Sonic the Hedgehog is one big sugar rush, devoid of any real content as it zips from one grasping set-piece to the next. To the film’s credit, Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) is actually an engaging character, and, given the plot point of the creature needing to perennially stay out of sight, the film somewhat succeeds in conveying the anguish of a life spent alone. But all of his speed-racer exploits are instantly forgettable, and the sideline grown-up drama (similar to The Photograph, Marsden’s lawman must decide whether to move to another city to further spread his wings or remain put) will bore adult and offspring alike. Not surprisingly, Sonic the Hedgehog ends with a pair of sequences that both

promise a sequel in our near-future. But before that follow-up materializes, it might be best for all involved to pause for air and introspection before simply rushing to create more mediocrity. After all, it’s been rumored that slow and steady wins the race.

THE PHOTOGRAPH

OO Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield as bona fide romantic leads — who knew? Rae, best known as a comedian, and Stanfield, most recognizable for quirky roles in offbeat projects like Get Out and Sorry to Bother You, fall in love in The Photograph, and chances are audiences will fall in love with their relaxed and natural chemistry. It’s just a shame their romance is trapped in a movie as staid as this one. Written and directed by Stella Meghie, The Photograph is one of those films that follows two storylines over two different periods. The prominent one is set in the present, as journalist Michael Block (Stanfield) leaves New York to cover a story in Louisiana (it has something to do with post-Katrina hardships and/or man-made environmental disasters; like most things in this film, it’s rather vague). While interviewing fisherman Isaac Jefferson (Rob Morgan), Michael notices the striking photos on display in his home and learns that they were taken by Christina Eames, Isaac’s old flame and a prominent photographer who has since passed away. This leads to the secondary tale about how the young Christina (Chante Adams) had to choose between staying in her stifling hometown and marrying Isaac

(played as a younger man by Y’lan Noel) or heading to NYC to try her luck as a professional picture taker. The modern-day story continues with Michael returning to New York and looking up Christina’s daughter, museum curator Mae Morton (Rae). Instant sparks are struck, and the two tentatively test the waters of a relationship. But there are distractions, with Michael considering a career move to London and Mae constantly losing herself in a letter written to her by her deceased mother. The Photograph hails from an original screenplay penned by Meghie, but it might as well have been based on a Nicholas Sparks novel. While not as sudsy as many Sparks screen adaptations, it proves to be just as drowsy. A leisurely pace in a love story can allow the romance to simmer before sliding into sizzling sensuality, but the lethargic pace here only emphasizes the utter predictability of both tales being told. The lack of dramatic urgency is palpable, and the one attempt at providing any sort of twist is so obvious that it will lead to shrugs rather than shock. The performances can’t be faulted, starting with Adams as the torn young woman and Morgan as the tender old man. And while their relationship as presented by Meghie remains rather sketchy, Rae and Stanfield do enough to convince us that their characters really are falling for each other. As for the rest of The Photograph, it proves to be woefully underdeveloped.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

FILM SCREENSHOTS

CONTINUES ON P. 36 35

SCREENSHOTS

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN)

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

OO In tackling the iconic role of The Joker in 2016’s Suicide Squad, poor Jared Leto was so thoroughly rejected by the world-atlarge that it’s no wonder a solo Joker movie was subsequently made with another actor installed in the part. Margot Robbie, on the other hand, had no such worry. As her character of Harley Quinn was easily the audience fave to emerge from that cinematic train wreck, her slot in any further projects was secured. And thus we find Robbie (who, incidentally, picked up two Oscar nominations for other roles between then and now) headlining Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). In the DC Extended Universe, it doesn’t hold a candle to 2017’s Wonder Woman, still the only movie from this flubbed franchise that’s truly worth a damn. But when compared to the other DCEU entries, projects like Man of Steel, Justice League and, yes, Suicide Squad, it’s practically a godsend. It’s also too much of a good thing — scratch that; too much of an OK thing. The film begins with an animated sequence that details the early years of one Harleen Quinzel, from her days as an abandoned kid to her career as a psychiatrist at Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum to her twisted relationship with The Joker. The film proper begins with Harley reeling after her breakup with The Clown Prince of Crime, as she throws herself into booze, bar fights, and blowing up the chemical factory that she and her insane ex considered their romantic spot. Told in that schizophrenic flashback / flash-forward style meant to suggest that we’re in the hands of “hip” filmmakers (see also The Gentlemen), Birds of Prey finds Harley and her helpful voice-over narration repeatedly rewinding the story to outline important details. But the main thrust is that a ruthless kingpin, Roman Sionis aka Black Mask (Ewan McGregor), is after a priceless diamond that was once owned by a Mafioso who was slaughtered alongside the rest of his family. There was one survivor — a small child — and she of course grows up to become one of this film’s heroines, an assemblage that includes the sonicpowered songstress Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), the mysterious, crossbowwielding Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and the relentless cop Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez, and how nice it is to again see her in a sizable role in a major film). There’s also young Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco), an ace pickpocket currently in possession of the stone that Sionis 36 seeks.

The Photograph

Birds of Prey isn’t influenced by any DC flick as much as it swipes its blueprints from one of the Marvel crop. That would, of course, be Deadpool, as this new film shares that one’s R rating, copious amounts of bloodletting, and snarky attitude. But for all its nihilism and cynicism, Deadpool never felt particularly meanspirited; this one, on the other hand, feels it’s important to show that Sionis is not just evil but reallllly evil by ordering his henchman (Chris Messina) to slice the skin off a little girl’s face before murdering her. The brutalization of women throughout Birds of Prey is meant to elevate the anticipated catharsis once these misogynistic men receive their deserved comeuppances, but no amount of justice or just deserts can alleviate some of the discomfort triggered by select earlier scenes. More to the point, whereas Deadpool wore its dark humor like a perfectly tailored suit, the similar beats in Birds of Prey prove to be ill-fitting, like someone with a size 14 foot trying to cram it into a size 10 shoe. The film is self-satisfied to an absurd degree, given the number of gags that fall flat. The material is frequently forced rather than form-fitting, with the whimsy (a stuffed beaver as one of Harley’s pets?) often curdling like expired milk. Still, the film’s galloping pace helps camouflage many of its flaws, and its bubblegum-colored visuals are appropriate and imaginative. As Harley Quinn, Robbie mugs more than acts, but this approach works just fine for her character. As for the rest of the players, there isn’t a single bad performance in the picture. Best of all might be Winstead, playing a particularly bad-ass Huntress. She has a quizzical look on her face for much of the picture — suggestive of Martin Scorsese trying to understand a Marvel movie — and her demeanor makes her stand apart from the others. Huntress is efficient but also a bit awkward, as if she’s someone who doesn’t fall into this hero act as naturally as the others. Robbie might be the marquee attraction in Birds of Prey, but it’s Winstead who emerges as the cat’s meow.

THE GENTLEMEN

OOO Sure, we love to see people take chances or expand their horizons, but cinematically speaking, it’s sometimes good for filmmakers to stay in their own lanes. While some directors have no problem jumping from genre to genre (e.g. Howard Hawks, Michael Curtiz, Steven Spielberg), others do best when they primarily stick to what they know. As one example, does anyone aside from seasoned film buffs remember Mr. & Mrs. Smith? (That’s the 1941 romantic comedy with Carole Lombard and Robert Montgomery, not the 2005 action flick starring Brad and Angeline.) It’s pretty forgettable and not the sort of movie we would expect from Alfred Hitchcock, who immediately went back to making his classic thrillers. Then there’s Guy Ritchie, who’s bestknown for his patented brand of films featuring tough guys, criminal enterprises, and snazzy dialogue that moves so fast, even Speedy Gonzalez and The Road Runner would be hard-pressed to keep up. After making his mark with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch — and only revisiting that milieu on a couple of occasions — it’s been sad watching Ritchie flounder. Aside from the surprisingly engaging The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (which at least shares some DNA with his trademark), he’s been lost at sea with such efforts as Swept Away (made while he was still married to the film’s star, Madonna), those hyperactive Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr., this past summer’s live-action Aladdin (strictly a gun-for-hire project), and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (dunno what anybody was thinking with that one). With The Gentlemen, Ritchie has finally returned to his own corner of the jungle. Sharing scripting duties with Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies, the helmer has finally made a movie that recaptures the energy and eccentricity of his earliest pictures. Matthew McConaughey headlines as Mickey Pearson, an American who runs the largest drug empire in England.

Mickey only deals in marijuana and looks down on deadlier drugs such as heroin — he notes that this stance makes him feel good about himself, and it also makes him more likable when compared to other filmic drug lords (i.e. he’s as sweet as Santa when contrasted with, say, Al Pacino’s Tony Montana in Brian De Palma’s Scarface). But Mickey has decided that now is the right time to retire and enjoy the quiet life with his wife Rosalind (Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery), who not only knows about her husband’s line of work but actively helps him in running the operation. Once word gets out that Mickey is planning to quit, various figures hope to either buy his enterprise or take it outright from him — prominent among this crop is a ruthless mid-level gangster known as Dry Eye (Henry Golding, planets removed from his nice-guy turns in Crazy Rich Asians and Last Christmas). Squarely on Mickey’s side is his righthand man Raymond (Charlies Hunnam); squarely against him is sleazy tabloid editor Big Dave (Eddie Marsan). And seemingly playing both ends against the middle is Fletcher (Hugh Grant), a seedy private eye who was hired by Big Dave to help take down Mickey but instead offers all his findings to Raymond for a high price. Since this is Guy Richie in Default Mode, expect lots of explosive violence, codes of conduct among some of the criminals, and various double-crosses, triple-crosses and, heck, maybe even quadruple-crosses. The attendant twists probably make the movie seem more intelligent than it actually is, and Ritchie can’t help but include some moments that smack of “gay panic” and others that depend on wordplay that’s beneath him (a Chinese character is named Phuc, so there are a few tiresome exchanges about how to properly pronounce his name; har har). But any ill-advised tactics are quickly subjugated by Ritchie’s ability to not only write colorful characters but to tap the best possible talent to fill these roles. No one misses a beat in this film — that includes Grant, whose flamboyant turn is in marked contrast to the image of him playing only timid, stammering men. McConaughey is in his element as a cocksure leader, and the loving relationship between Mickey and Rosalind is a nice contrast to the usual pairings in which the brutish gangster treats his significant other as dirt. Even Hunnam, generally as bland as tap water, excels in his role as Mickey’s loyal and competent first lieutenant. CS

HAPPENINGS IS CONNECT SAVANNAH’S LISTING OF COMMUNITY EVENTS, CLASSES AND GROUPS. VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM TO SUBMIT A LISTING. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR CUT LISTINGS DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS.

ACTIVISM & POLITICS

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATIONS & GLOBAL SHIFTS IN WORKFORCE SKILLS Today, and increasingly in the future, the rate, scope, velocity, and depth of changes are and will continue to be unprecedented. This presentation explores the “Future of Work” and its implications with a focus on the role of advanced digital technologies. Presented by the Savannah Council on World Affairs. Free for SCWA members, $10 for non-members Thu., Feb. 20, 8 p.m. Skidaway Island Presbyterian Church, 50 Diamond Causeway. DRINKING LIBERALLY Every first and third Thursdays, 7:00 p.m. A gathering of Liberals for an informal discussion of politics, the economy, sports, entertainment, and the world around us. Free to attend. Food and beverages available for purchase. third Thursday of every month. (912) 341-7427. livingliberally. org/drinking/chapters/GA/savannah. Tondee’s Tavern, 7 E. Bay Street. SAVANNAH AREA YOUNG REPUBLICANS Get involved. Meetings are the last Tuesday of every month (except for December) at 7:00pm. Contact number: (912) 657-9623 912-604-0797. chairman@sayr.org. sayr.org. SAVANNAH CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY REGULAR MEETING Join a nonpartisan group that has genuine concern about how climate change is affecting Savannah (and the world) and is researching how the people of Savannah can help mitigate or even reverse some of the worst consequences of climate change. fourth Monday of every month, 7-8 p.m. facebook.com/events/174811263853917/. Two Tides Brewing Company, 12 West 41st St. UNMERGE MY UNIVERSITY FREE: UN-MERGE MY UNIVERSITY vehicle stickers. Greater Savannah and Statesboro areas. Visit www.unmergemyuniversity.com for details. ongoing. VICTORIAN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS The VNA represents all residing, working or otherwise involved in the Victorian District and meets every second Tuesday of each month to the exception of the month of August. Meetings are held at The Mansion on Forsyth Park. Social starts at 5:30 p.m. and meetings start at 6 p.m. There is no fee to attend our meetings. For anyone using the Valet Parking at The Mansion, there is a $5. fee. MEMBERSHIP YEARLY FEES are: Individual $25. - Household (2 people) $40. - Business $50. and Students $10. Free ongoing, 6-7 p.m. vnasavannahga2013@ gmail.com. mansiononforsythpark.com. Mansion on Forsyth Park, 700 Drayton St.

AUDITIONS AND CALLS FOR ENTRIES

AUDITIONS FOR ARMSTRONG YOUTH ORCHESTRA Auditions for our spring session will be held January 9, 2019. Students who played

In Conversation with SCAD deFINE ART Honoree Marilyn Minter

Join SCAD deFINE ART 2020 honoree Marilyn Minter as she shares her unconventional process and speaks to her experience of navigating the art world as a radical woman artist. Minter is a prolific figure who eschewed the boundaries of art, commerce, and desire across five decades. Throughout her career, Minter has fused aesthetic rigor with instinct and impulse, creating bold, experimental artwork. WED., FEB. 19, 6 P.M. SCADMOA.ORG/. SCAD MUSEUM OF ART, 601 TURNER BLVD. in the Fall 2018 session, and who plan to remain in the same ensemble, do not need to re-audition in January. The January auditions are for new students, or students wishing to move to a different ensemble. Choose your instrument from the list on their website - https://ayosavannah.org/ auditions/ -to see the audition requirements for applicable ensembles. Then, contact them via email at ayosavannah2004@gmail. com to reserve an audition date and time, or with any questions you may have. ongoing. Armstrong Campus, Georgia Southern University, 11935 Abercorn St. CALL FOR 2D ARTIST The Savannah Art Association is now looking for a 2-D artist partner for the gallery to start asap. Art such as jewelry or small pottery or ceramics needs to fit in a tall glass case. For details, contact Cathy Sizer at 912-547-2855 or c.sizer@gmail.com. ongoing. CALL FOR EARLY 19TH CENTURY DANCERS/REGENCY DANCING The Davenport House has a social dance program which meets most Wednesdays at 5 p.m. The Museum is looking for new participants in this free community activity. For information contact info@davenporthousemuseum. org or call 912-236-8097. ongoing. davenporthousemuseum.org. Davenport House, 324 East State St. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR 2020 LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM Leadership Southeast Georgia, a leadership development program for professionals in a 10-county coastal region, is calling for nominations for the class of 2020. The program fosters relationships among

leaders in the region and offers professional development related to critical leadership skills and issues such as conflict resolution, self-awareness, communication and strategic thinking. For more information, visit http://www.lsega.com/home.html. ongoing. CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE DRIVE THRU ART BOX AT GREEN TRUCK PUB The Drive Thru Art Box is ideal for showing mounted prints of 2-dimensional work, wheat pasted prints, site specific installations, and any other artistic medium that can hold up to direct sunlight and a non climate-controlled environment. Pegboard and hooks allows for flexibility of display options, and LED lighting ensures the work is visible for late night crowds. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. ongoing. greentruckpub.com. Green Truck Pub, 2430 Habersham St. CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR EARTH DAY 2020 FESTIVAL The year 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of Savannah’s festival and the 50th anniversary of the Earth Day Festival worldwide! This year, we are reaching out to the youth in our community to add their voices to the global youth-led environmental movement happening right now. We want to learn about the creative and innovative ways youth are addressing current/future environmental challenges that are impacting/will likely impact their local and global communities and their vision for the future. We will be gathering and featuring the work of these youth through a student showcase and competition based on the festival’s theme: “Our Earth, Our Future.” Students in grades 9th-12th can submit work (either individually

or as a team) that illustrates the theme: “Our Earth, Our Future” in one of the following categories: Eco-Art: take on the challenge of creating a piece of art, either 2D or 3D, using any medium or combination of media. EcoSTEM: take on the challenge of creating a STEM project. Projects can tackle current or future environmental problems/challenges and should address possible solutions. Eco-Action: take on the challenge of creating a community action project. Projects need to tackle at least one local environmental issue and solution. Through March 20. earthdaysavannah.org. SINGERS NEEDED (PAID ONGOING POSITIONS) : AUDITIONING NOW Singers: St. John’s Church in Savannah (Episcopal) has multiple openings for paid choral singers in the soprano, tenor, and bass-baritone sections. Rate is by call, competitive to the region and commensurate with skills and experience. Rehearsals Wednesdays 7-9pm (SeptMay) and rehearsal/service Sundays 10- noon(approx), year round. Additional calls for Evensong rehearsals and services (Sept-May). Sight reading and/or excellent musicianship is needed; learning parts prior to rehearsal is required for staff singers. For audition times or questions, please contact sbranyon@stjohnssav.org or text 912-5724326. No prepared material is required to audition. Positions open until filled. ongoing. St John’s Episcopal Church, 325 Bull St. on Madison Square.

BENEFITS

CHEFS AND CHOCOLATES Help Urban Hope’s signature fundraising event celebrate 10 years by wearing your favorite gold attire. Fri., Feb. 21, 7 p.m. Kehoe Iron Works, 660 East Broughton Street. CMI SISTERHOOD TRIVIA NIGHT $20-$30 Sat., Feb. 22, 6:45 p.m. mickveisrael.org/. Congregation Mickve Israel, 20 East Gordon Street.

CLASSES, CAMPS & WORKSHOPS

BACHATA AND SALSA DANCE CLASSES New 4 week dance series, designed for absolute beginners to learn the fundamentals of Bachata or Salsa for social dancing! Bachata and salsa are fun dances from the Dominican Republic that can be found in cities all over the world, and is a great way to meet other people and enjoy amazing music. No partner or dance experience needed, just come and have fun! Special discount if you decide to do the salsa and bachata series together! RSVP via facebook or email. $40 for 4 classes, $70 for both bachata and salsa series ongoing. stephaniehmetzger@gmail.com. facebook. com/events/239285403377870/. BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS & AVOIDING INTERNET SCAMS (50+) Stay connected with family and friends online by learning basic computer skills!

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

Happenings

COMPILED BY RACHAEL FLORA happenings@connectsavannah.com

CONTINUES ON P. 38 37

HAPPENINGS

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

Along with some common terms and keyboard commands, you’ll learn a whole host of other vital skills. This introductory class will teach you how to: get connected to the Internet, avoid becoming a victim of online fraud and scams, login to, send and receive your emails, save, retrieve, delete, download, copy, search and rename files, understand browsers and protect yourself from ransomware, install virus protection and so much more! Registration Ends February 18! $99.00 Fridays, 9-11 a.m. 9124785551. ce-registrations@ georgiasouthern.edu. academics. georgiasouthern.edu/ce/programs/ computerskills/. The Armstrong Center, 13040 Abercorn St. BASIC SELF DEFENSE Essential self-defense for adults. $30/ month Tuesdays, Thursdays, 6 p.m. fit912savannah.com. fit912savannah.com. Fit912 Savannah, 428 Bull Street. BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU CLASSES Monday/Wednesday- Competition 5:30pm and Fundamentals at 7:00pm Tuesday/ Thursday- Fundamentals at Noon and Fundamentals at 5:30pm Friday- Private Lessons by appointment Saturday- Open Mat at 10:30am ongoing. Serg Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, 401 Mall Blvd. CERAMICS OPEN STUDIO Practice skills learned in current or previous ceramics classes with the guidance of our skilled instructors while you create. Participants will select the days and times suitable to their schedule after registration. Various times. $60 Through Feb. 19. Savannah Cultural Arts Center, 201 Montgomery St. COCKTAIL CLASSES Congress Street Up hosts Cocktail Classes every Monday and Tuesday night at 6pm. Learn how to shake and stir like a pro. Learn all about the fancy tools we use and their fascinating history. Impress your friends and make your co-workers envious. $40 Mondays, Tuesdays, 6 p.m. 912.220.1249. kblack@historictours.com. facebook.com/ pg/CongressStreetUp/about/?ref=page_ internal. americanprohibitionmuseum.com. Congress Street Up, 220 W. Congress St. CONTEMPORARY DANCE FUSION CLASS AT THE STUDIO IN THUNDERBOLT Join a classically trained dance teacher for a fun and challenging dance class. Focus on technique, choreography, and whatever else you would like to do! Opportunity to learn aerial hammock moves as well. Every Sunday from 6-7pm $20. To reserve a space call/text 912-483-2109 or email ktoyogasurf@gmail.com ongoing. COUNTRY TWO STEP GROUP CLASS Join us every week to learn how to dance to the classics and modern day songs of country music. All levels welcomebeginners to advanced. Each week will progress from the previous. First week is the top of the month and runs for 4 weeks. Sign up today! $40 for 4 weeks Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. 612-470-6683. salondebaile.dance@ gmail.com. salondebailedancestudio.com. Salon de Baile Dance & Fitness Studio, 301 US Hwy 80 SE. CREATIVITY COACHING Do you have a creative idea but don’t know 38 where to start? Is it time to move forward

Oglethorpe Mall Carnival

Experience the sights, sounds and aromas of the electrifying midway with rides and games for all ages, favorite fair food and circus thrill shows including high-wire artists and The Globe of Death motorcycle act. Unlimited ride wristbands are $30 on site or online in advance for $20, 2 for $35 or a Family 4 Pack for $60. After 5 pm Feb. 20, online wristbands are $25 or 4 for $85. On Sundays, buy 1 $30 wristband and get 1 free with Military ID. See website for ride ticket prices and coupon savings on rides and food. CALL 866-666-3247. $2 ADMISSION (INCLUDES CIRCUS SHOWS). RIDE COST VARIES. THU., FEB. 20, 5-10 P.M., FRI., FEB. 21, 5-11 P.M., SAT., FEB. 22, 11 A.M.-11 P.M., SUN., FEB. 23, 11 A.M.-9 P.M., MON., FEB. 24, 5-10 P.M. AND TUE., FEB. 25, 5-10 P.M. 866-666-3247. DREAMLANDAMUSEMENTS.COM OGLETHORPE MALL, 7804 ABERCORN EXT.

with your project? Work with your very own creativity coach and learn how to blast through blocks, plan your time, and enjoy the richness of a creative life. You’re Invited To A Free Masterclass: 5 Steps to Turning Your Talents and Expertise Into A Successful Online Coaching Business (even if you have no idea how to get started!) See website for more info at www.laurenl.com/creativity_ coaching/ or contact Creativity@LaurenL. com ongoing. Online, ---. DRAWING LIKE THE MASTERS Learn the basics of sketching and drawing with an introduction to the three main techniques for observational drawing. $60 Mondays, 5:30 p.m. Savannah Cultural Arts Center, 201 Montgomery St. DROP-IN CERAMICS Drop into our ceramics studios for some fun, clay-based activities with our visual arts instructor. Free Thu., Feb. 20, 9:30 a.m. Drop into our ceramics studios for some fun, clay-based activities with our visual arts instructor. Free Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. Savannah Cultural Arts Center, 201 Montgomery St. DUI PREVENTION GROUP Offers victim impact panels for intoxicated drivers, DUI, offenders, and anyone seeking knowledge about the dangers of driving while impaired. A must see for teen drivers. Sign in time begins 6:00-6:20 p.m. Panel

starts promptly at 6:30 p.m. and ends at approximately 8:00 P.M. Fee is $40.00 money orders or certified bank checks only payable to DUI Prevention Group. Meets monthly, check the website. $40/session (912) 691-4905. info@duipreventiongroup. org. GRATITUESDAY PROGRAM WITH LIZ MASSEY Join Liz Massey on the last Tuesday of each month for creative practices to cultivate the attitude of gratitude for health and well-being. In the group, we’ll trade ideas as we study the ten key components of well-being from the Greater Good Science Center at Berkeley University. Meetings: February - November Last Tuesday of each month* 12:00 - 1:30 PM Sandfly Studio *Except November’s meeting will be the second-to-last Tuesday, November 17th. $130 by February 11th | $150 after February 11th Tue., Feb. 25, 12-1:30 p.m. 912-3492756. programs@savannahpoweryoga. com. savannahpoweryoga.com/workshops. savannahpoweryoga.com. Savannah Power Yoga, 7360 Skidaway Road Unit J-3. GUIDED JEWELRY OPEN STUDIO Work on your own original projects with guidance from an experienced jeweler. Each week, the instructor will provide short demonstrations based on the interests and challenges of the class. The remaining

session can be used to work on your own projects. Please note, there is no class on March 17. Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Savannah Cultural Arts Center, 201 Montgomery St. HYPNOSIS AND GUIDED IMAGERY Hypnosis, Guided Imagery, Mindfulness, Eft, will create neural pathways in the brain Because our brains are neuroplastic it has a positive effect and helps you to recover from anxiety, stress, trauma, and PTSD, It’s great for weight loss and to stop smoking. Kind and compassionate care. 25 years experience. Call 912-927-3432. Website: www. Savannahypnosis.com. Facebook: Alpha Institute. ongoing. JEWELER’S GUIDED OPEN STUDIO Use our space to practice your skills and knock out your personal pieces. Tuition includes access to the studio with support from Christina or one of her assistants. Students are responsible for their own materials. Prerequisite of Jewelry I or similar instruction from another studio. $30 Fridays, 6 p.m. 912-289-8337. christina@ dreamcatstudio.com. dreamcatstudio.com. dreamcat studio, Hover Creek RD. LEARN SWAHILI AT THE BEACH INSTITUTE It is estimated that over 150 million people globally speak Swahili, the Bantu language that’s fast becoming the common language of the African continent, where more than 1500 languages and dialects are spoken. The Beach Institute is proud to offer Swahili lessons to everyone. Whether you are seeking basic conversational skills or total fluency, Swahili is easy and fun to learn, regardless of your age. Join us on February 24, at 6:30 pm for more information and a free introductory lesson. Free Mon., Feb. 24, 6-8 p.m. 9123358868. engage@ beachinstitute.org. Beach Institute, 502 E. Harris St. MADRID, BARCELONA, BILBAO: NATIONALISM AND REGIONALISM IN CONTEMPORARY SPAIN SCDS Upper School Spanish instructor Michelle Dumais will explore the historical roots of the tensions between Spanish regionalism and nationalism and discuss the various political, artistic, economic and cultural manifestations of these dueling identities. Part of the new Faculty Explorations lecture series, this event is free and open to the public. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required at www.savcds. org/facultyexplorations. This lecture entitled “Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao: Nationalism and Regionalism in Contemporary Spain” will be delivered in the Lewis 226 Room at Savannah Country Day School. Free Wed., Feb. 19, 7 p.m. 9129258800. rhodes@ savcds.org. savcds.org/news--events/ faculty-explorations. savcds.org. Savannah Country Day School, 824 Stillwood Dr. MODERN/AFRICAN FUSION DANCE Learn Pan-African, modern, jazz, ballet, and hip hop dance styles in this energizing dance class. $60 Through Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m. Savannah Cultural Arts Center, 201 Montgomery St. MUSIC LESSONS AND CLASSES: ALL INSTRUMENTS, ALL AGES Portman’s Music Academy offers private lessons on piano, guitar (electric, acoustic,

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

classical), mandolin, ukulele, banjo, bass guitar, drums, percussion, voice, clarinet, saxophone (alto and tenor), oboe, flute, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, DJ, Pro Logic, Composition, Ear Training, violin, viola, and cello. Group classes for beginner piano and guitar. Music Adventures for ages 5 to 7. ongoing. 912354-1500. portmansmusic.com. Portman’s Music Superstore, 7650 Abercorn St. PERSONAL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT Enter a time of personal, creative development with Christina’s guidance. This mentorship option is wonderful when you need to break out of old patterns or to heal through a life event. Together we set out on a path of discovery aligning artistic techniques and materials that are best suited for your expressive style and experience. The workshop includes 3 sessions that average 1 -2 hours and individualized support throughout the development period. 350.00 ongoing. 912289-8337. christina@dreamcatstudio.com. dreamcatstudio.com. dreamcat studio, Hover Creek RD. POWER SELF DEFENSE Join us for fun and fitness in the heart of downtown Savannah. Fit912Savannah offers fun, safe, friendly classes in yoga, self defense, dance, and fitness, with more classes coming soon! Have a question, want to register? Contact us at nfo@ fit912savannah.com! Located in the lower level of the United Way Building, 428 Bull Street, Savannah, GA (Enter via the red doors on East Wayne Street) Tuesdays, Thursdays, 7 p.m. fit912savannah.com. fit912savannah. com. Fit912 Savannah, 428 Bull Street. SALSA DANCING Learn everything from the basic steps to intricate moves and leave with the confidence to dance outside of the classroom. $120 individuals, $200 couples Mondays, 7-8:30 p.m. Savannah Cultural Arts Center, 201 Montgomery St. SPANISH PREP FOR TRAVELERS (50+) Travelling abroad? Don’t forget to pack your language skills! This course provides immersive practice on the listening and speaking skills you’ll need to get the most out of your adventure. Topics covered will include navigating marketplaces and restaurants, obtaining directions, room accommodations and much more! This class will meet on Fridays. The registration deadline is February 4, 2020. Contact hours: 12 $125 Fridays, 9-11 a.m. 912-4785551. ce-registrations@georgiasouthern. edu. academics.georgiasouthern.edu/ce/ programs/spanishprep/. The Armstrong Center, 13040 Abercorn St. STONE SETTING Create two stone setting pieces using basic metal fabrication, finishing, and stone setting practices. $45 Thursdays, 6 p.m. Savannah Cultural Arts Center, 201 Montgomery St. SURFING AND UKULELE LESSONS Surfing & Ukulele Lessons and surf camps. Tybee Surf Lessons, Tybee Island/ Savannah. Email or call Turner for more info 808-385-5364. TybeeSurfLessons.com. ongoing. Tybee Island, Tybee Island. TAI CHI The tai chi classes are open to the first

25 participants 60 years of age or older. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. 912-877-0056. Senior Citizens, Inc. Liberty County Neighborhood Center, 800 Tupelo Trail. TRACING OUR ROOTS PART 2 Free Sat., Feb. 22, 11 a.m. savannahafricanartmusuem.org/volunteer. Savannah African Art Museum, 201 E. 37th Street. YOGA Stretch and exhale your way to mindfulness in this relaxing yoga class for all skill levels. Please bring your own mat. $5 Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. Savannah Cultural Arts Center, 201 Montgomery St. ZONA ROSA WRITING WORKSHOP Become the writer you were meant to be: Join Zona Rosa, the internationally acclaimed, monthly Savannah-based writing workshops founded and led by awardwinning author Rosemary Daniell. Over 180 Zona Rosans have become published authors. For information, contact Rosemary at info@myzonarosa.com. Also ask about the week-long, intensive Sixteenth Annual Zona Rosa Writing and Living Retreat,Tybee Island, July 22-29, 2017. ongoing. No physical address given, none.

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

2020 GEORGIA HISTORY FESTIVAL’S GEORGIA DAY PARADE As part of the annual commemoration of the founding of the Georgia colony of February 12, 1733 by James Edward Oglethorpe, a tradition dating back to the earliest years of the colony’s founding, we invite you to join us as students, musicians, local dignitaries, and costumed historical figures march through Savannah’s historic squares during this beloved annual event. The parade runs along Bull Street, beginning on the north end of Forsyth Park and ending in front of City Hall Free Fri., Feb. 21, 10:45 a.m. 912-651-2125. pmeagher@georgiahistory. com. georgiahistory.com/events/2020georgia-day-parade/. Downtown Savannah, downtown. ABENI CULTURAL ARTS DANCE CLASSES Classses for multiple ages in performance dance and adult fitness dance. African, modern, ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, gospel. Held at Abeni. For more info visit https://www.abeniculturalarts.com or call 912-272-2797. ongoing. abeniculturalarts@ gmail.com. abeniculturalarts.com. BUCCANEER REGION SCCA Local chapter of the Sports Car Club of America, hosting monthly solo/autocross driving events in the Savannah area. Anyone with a safe car, insurance and a valid driver’s license is eligible to participate. See website. ongoing. buccaneerregion.org. CHATHAM SAILING CLUB Friday evening social event at the clubhouse. Meet Members and their families who all enjoy water based activities but whose prime interest is sailing. This BYOB event is free and all are welcome, but Membership is encouraged after several visits once interest is gauged!! We look forward to meeting you. Fridays, 7-10 p.m. cdixon604@aol.com. Young’s Marina, 218 Wilmington Island Rd. COASTAL BEAD SOCIETY

Our mission is to further the art of beading and bead education within our membership and our communities. Visit website for more info regarding the next Bead-In Class or the next CBS Meeting! ongoing. coastalbeadsociety. com/coastalbeadsociety-com. cgc. georgiasouthern.edu/. Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm Street. FIBER GUILD OF THE SAVANNAHS A club focusing on weaving, spinning, basket making, knitting, crocheting, quilting, beading, rug hooking, and other fiber arts. Meets at Oatland Island Wildlife Center (in the 2nd floor studio), first Saturday of the month (Sept.-June) 10:15am - 1pm. Visit website for more updates! ongoing. fiberguildsav.com. Fiber Guild of the Savannahs, 711 Sandtown Road GA. HOSTESS CITY TOASTMASTERS CLUB Toastmasters International is an organization which gives its members the opportunity to develop and improve their public speaking abilities through local club meetings, seminars, and contests. Regardless of your level of comfort with public speaking, you will find a club that is interested in helping you improve your speaking abilities. Free Tuesdays, 6:15-7:15 p.m. hostesscity.toastmastersclubs.org. bullstreetlabs.com. Bull Street Labs, 2222 Bull St. PHILO CAFE We are a free form informal discussion group meeting to discuss a different topic every Monday night at 7:30 upstairs at Foxy Loxy Cafe on Bull St. across the street from the Main Library. The public is welcome and there is no charge. Topics can be found ahead of time on our Facebook page. ongoing. 904-440-8475. foxyloxycafe.com. Foxy Loxy Cafe, 1919 Bull St. PROOFREADER’S WHISKEY CLUB Membership includes the first whiskey drink free, free monthly private whiskey tastings from various brands, 15% off the member’s bill for the year, and a personalized book card including a list of 75 whiskeys in each chapter in the DeSoto library. Library series meetings will be the last Thursday of every month and include one free guest pass per member for the year. They will pick a book from the Edgar’s P&P library to hold their personalized book card which will be used to keep track of their progress on the whiskey list. $50 ongoing. eventbrite. com/e/proofreaders-whiskey-clubtickets-42943991635. proofsavannah.com. Edgar’s Proof and Provision, 15 E. Liberty St. SAVANNAH HOME COOKERY CLUB This is a group for home cooks and bakers to expand, explore, and inspire our skills. Come join us in sharing our culinary adventures. This is a place where we can exchange resources, ideas, and our tastes for food adventure and bring it all home. Meets the second Saturday of every month from 1-3pm. Free ongoing. SavHomeCookeryClub@gmail.com. friendshipcoffeecompany.com/index.html. Friendship Coffee Company, 205 Johnny Mercer Blvd, Ste I. SAVANNAH SACRED HARP SINGERS Savannah Sacred Harp Singers welcome you to join our monthly community singing on the second Saturday of the month from

2-4pm at Ferguson Avenue Baptist Church. Sacred Harp is an American tradition of singing hymns in four part harmony. No particular religious affiliation is required or endorsed. All are welcome. No experience necessary. ongoing. Ferguson Avenue Baptist Church, 10050 Ferguson Ave. SCAD DAILY TOURS SCAD offers tours in Savannah, Atlanta and Hong Kong for prospective students and their families. Tours are available daily, excluding Sundays, in Savannah, Atlanta, and Hong Kong. Tours allow prospective students an opportunity to view classrooms and administrative buildings, galleries, residence halls and dining facilities and see where our students live, learn and prepare for professional careers. Free MondaysSaturdays. scad.edu/admission/visit-scad/ daily-tours. scad.edu/. Savannah College of Art and Design, PO Box 2072. STITCH AND BITCH Slow down and nurture your creative spirit in a constructive, casual atmosphere. Bring a project or enjoy one of our kits curated to focus on the dedicated process of craft: embroidery, knitting, needlework, or any of the fiber arts. All ages are welcome! Cheeseboard + wine deals to be had. Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m. foxyloxycafe.com. Foxy Loxy Cafe, 1919 Bull St. WAVING GIRLS SMOCKING GUILD The Waving Girls Chapter of the Smocking Arts Guild of America the fourth Monday of the month at the Coastal Center for Developmental Services, Eisenhower and Seawright Drs. in Savannah, at 6:30 pm. Visitors are welcome. Refreshments will be served. Each month the chapter presents a program related to smocking or fine sewing. along with a “show and share” opportunity to see members creations. More information contact l.elkin@comcast.net. Free fourth Monday of every month, 6:30 p.m. 912-658-4271. l.elkin@comcast.net. Coastal Center for Developmental Services, 1249 Eisenhower Drive.

CONCERTS

AMERICAN TRADITIONS VOCAL COMPETITION FINALS Fri., Feb. 21, 8 p.m. Savannah Cultural Arts Center, 201 Montgomery St. CHAMBER CONCERT SPRING 2020 An evening of small ensembles featuring Georgia Southern students. The proceeds will benefit future scholarships. $6 Tue., Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. (912) 344-2801. armstrongboxoffice@georgiasouthern.edu. georgiasouthern.edu/armstrongtickets. Fine Arts Auditorium, Armstrong Campus, Georgia Southern University, 11935 Abercorn St. CINEPHILE DU JOURE The Blue Heron Chamber Ensemble goes to the movies to bring you Chamber works by film composers. Flutist Jeana Melilli, pianist Ben Warsaw and friends will perform Copland’s Duo for flute and piano (featuring music from “The Heiress”), as well as works of Miklos Rozsa, Nino Rota, Ennio Morricone and others. These eclectic but rarely performed pieces will be interspersed with songs from your favorite movies like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Moon

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

HAPPENINGS

CONTINUES ON P. 40 39

HAPPENINGS

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

River” and more! $25 Sun., Feb. 23, 5-7 p.m. 912-232-6002. info@savannahphilharmonic. org. savannahphilharmonic.org. Ascension Lutheran Church, 120 Bull St. DE ARTISTRY OF GULLAH GEECHEE BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAM Earn more about Black History Month on Jekyll Island through this interactive cultural program, to include: *A histo-musical presentation by Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation *Gullah Geechee traditional handmade quilts by Gullah Geechee traditions keeper, Carolee Holmes Brown *Paintings by Gullah Geechee artist, Quadré Stuckey They will each share the cultural inspiration of their artistry, and Queen Quet will do a book and CD signing of her many Gullah Geechee publications including her brand new novels. $20 ages 13 and up, $14 ages 5-12, Free ages 4 and under Sat., Feb. 22, 12-3 p.m. 912.635.2368. info@jekyllisland.com. jekyllisland.com/ event/de-artistry-of-gullah-geechee/. jekyllislandconventioncenter.com/. Jekyll Island Convention Center, 75 Beach View Drive North. GARRISON SWEETHEART DANCE Calling all sweethearts, c’mon and boogie!!ð’* $6.24 Fri., Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m. Savannah Station, 601 Cohen St. THE LOVE AND SOUL EXPERIENCE Kimberly Gunn Music Presents The Love and Soul Experience every third Friday of the month beginning May 17th. There will be music, poetry, comedy, creative arts, and networking. Kimberly Gunn Music and friends will provide musical entertainment. An event for ages 18 and up. $10 Admission $12 VIP third Friday of every month, 7:30 p.m. (912) 224-6084 or (912) 224-4461. kimberlygunn.com. The Eden Room, 1105 Stiles Avenue. SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL IPA RELEASE FEATURING ROOSEVELT COLLIER & JONTAVIUS WILLIS Savannah Music Festival and Southbound Brewing Co. will celebrate the release of this season’s Wailin’ IPA with a concert featuring pedal steel guitarist Roosevelt Collier and bluesman Jontavious Willis. This sixth annual festival beer release party continues a collaboration between Savannah Music Festival and Southbound Brewing Company that is fueled by a shared love of live music. In addition to pints and flights of all available Southbound brews, Chazito’s food truck will also be on-site with its full menu of Latin cuisine. $20 in advance / $25 door Fri., Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m. 912234-3378. info@savannahmusicfestival. org. savannahmusicfestival.org/event/ annual-festival-ipa-release-featuringroosevelt-collier-and-jontavious-willis/. southboundbrewingco.com. Southbound Brewing Company, 107 East Lathrop Ave. SIP, SAVOR & SLÁINTE: AN IRISH INSPIRED CABARET American Traditions Finalist and local favorite Roger Moss hosts Sip, Savor and Sláinte, a Celtic twist on his popular cabaret series. Joined by an original member of Celtic women, Chloë Agnew. This internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter and actress from Dublin, Ireland will make this cabaret night unforgettable. $50-100 40 Sun., Feb. 23, 6 p.m. 912.415.9000. tonia.

dees@perrylanehotel.com. facebook.com/ events/596870547560406/. Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah, 256 East Perry Street.

EVENTS

2020 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND LUNCHEON $25 Thu., Feb. 20, 11 a.m. The Golf Club at Indigo Run, 101 Berwick Drive. 40 ACRES AND A MULE TOUR This is the story of Savannah and its significant role of promoting slavery throughout the South and it’s the story of the triumph over slavery through faith, culminating in a historic meeting in which the aspirations of 4 million African-Americans became distilled in a single phrase: “40 acres and a mule.” You will visit six of Savannah’s most historic squares as you learn the truth about crucial events that took place in the city between 1733 and 1865 that shaped the life and times of Savannah for years to come. Private tours only. $40 ongoing. 912-6594383. rumpel@40acresandamule.org. 40acresandamule.org. 5TH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY TEA $20 Sat., Feb. 22, 4 p.m. $20 Sat., Feb. 22, 4 p.m. Christ’s Community Church, 1805 W Gwinnett St. ARTS OB WE PEOPLE: WINTER EXHIBITION AND SALE Free Sun., Feb. 23, 10 a.m. artleaguehhi.org. Art League of Hilton Head, 14 Shelter Cove Lane. ARTS ON WATERS BLOCK PARTY The City of Savannah will unveil new art installations in the Waters Avenue Shopping Center at a community block party. This is the second set of exhibits created through the City’s Arts on Waters program, celebrating the revitalization of the Waters Avenue corridor. Local artists Jerome Meadows, Gonzalo Hernandez, John Wyatt, Brian Woods, Rob Hessler and Becca Cook created the latest exhibitions in this series. In addition to the art installations, the block party will feature music from DJ Jay-Rome, arts and crafts, food trucks, community services booths and more. Sat., Feb. 22, 4 p.m. Waters Avenue Shopping Plaza Community Room, 2005 Waters Ave. BEACH INSTITUTE FILM SERIES: IDA B. WELLS & HER GREAT PASSION FOR JUSTICE Free Thu., Feb. 20, 6 p.m. The Beach Institute African-American Cultural Center, 502 East Harris Street. THE BLACK VOTE: FROM EMANCIPATION THROUGH JIM CROW In a short span after the Civil War, African American males moved from slavery to citizenship to the vote. Jim Crow opposition got in the way. Presented by Julie de Chantal, professor of history, Georgia Southern University, and part of the League of Women Voters of Coastal Georgia’s Voting Rights Speaker Series. $15 Mon., Feb. 24, 5 & 5:30 p.m. lwvcga.org. Skidaway Island Presbyterian Church, 50 Diamond Causeway. BOOK SIGNING WITH COLLEEN OAKLEY Acclaimed author Colleen Oakley delivers a heart-wrenching and unforgettable love story about a woman who must choose

between the man she loves and the man fate has chosen for her, in a novel that reminds us that the best life is one led by the heart. Free Wed., Feb. 19, noon. eshaverbooks.com/. E Shaver Booksellers, 326 Bull St. COMIC AND TOY SHOW AT KELLER’S FLEA MARKET Free Sat., Feb. 22, 8 a.m. Keller’s Flea Market, 5901 Ogeechee Road. COMMUNITY ACT Free Sat., Feb. 22, 10 a.m. Class 101 Savannah, 7702 Waters Avenue. DIY COMIX & ZINES CLASS WITH DAME DARCY (AGES 8+) $5-$15 Sun., Feb. 23, 2 p.m. Neighborhood Comics, 1205 Bull St. THE EXCHANGE CLUB OF SAVANNAH In a rut? The Exchange Club of Savannah welcomes men and women like you to support, serve and encourage the best teachers, students, firefighters, crime fighters, leaders and organizations in our community. Check us out at savannahexchange.org or find us on Facebook. Mondays, noon. 912-441-6559. ddewitt30@yahoo.com. Savannahexchange. org. Exchange Club of Savannah, Carey Hilliard’s Abercorn across from Lowe’s. FAIRYTALE BALL COOKIE PARTY $20 Sat., Feb. 22, noon. Richmond Hill, 9701 ford Ave. FEBRUARY GIRL SCOUT TROOP EXPERIENCE $13 Thu., Feb. 20, 8:45 a.m. juliettegordonlowbirthplace. org/. $13 Mon., Feb. 24, 8:45 a.m. juliettegordonlowbirthplace. org/. $13 Tue., Feb. 25, 8:45 a.m. juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org/. Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, 10 East Oglethorpe Ave. FREE TAX ASSISTANCE Free tax preparation assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Volunteers from the AARP Foundation, in partnership with the IRS, will assist with State & Federal tax returns. Please bring all documentation and forms needed to complete your return. Registration is required in person for each day. Early arrival is strongly recommended. MondaysThursdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. liveoakpl.org. Bull Street Library, 2002 Bull St. Free tax preparation assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Volunteers from the AARP Foundation, in partnership with the IRS, will assist with State & Federal tax returns. Please bring all documentation and forms needed to complete your return. Registration is required in person for each day. Early arrival is strongly recommended. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Southwest Chatham Library, 14097 Abercorn St. Free tax preparation assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Volunteers from the AARP Foundation, in partnership with the IRS, will assist with State & Federal tax returns. Please bring all documentation and forms needed to complete your return. Registration is required in person for each day. Early arrival is strongly recommended. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Hinesville Library, 236 West Memorial Dr. Free tax preparation assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Volunteers

from the AARP Foundation, in partnership with the IRS, will assist with State & Federal tax returns. Please bring all documentation and forms needed to complete your return. Registration is required in person for each day. Early arrival is strongly recommended. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Springfield Library, 810 Highway 119 South. HISTORICAL WALKING TOURS WITH SAVANNAH TOURS AND TALES True tales of the Irish Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans of Savannah’s past. Join KT O’Brien, a native Savannahian, for a leisurely stroll through the serene squares of Savannah. Frequent stops for seats and refreshments available. Reservations required for tours daily at 10:30am and 8:00pm 2hours $30. Private tours upon request. ongoing. savannahtoursandtales@gmail.com. IN CONVERSATION WITH SCAD DEFINE ART HONOREE MARILYN MINTER Join SCAD deFINE ART 2020 honoree Marilyn Minter as she shares her unconventional process and speaks to her experience of navigating the art world as a radical woman artist. Minter is a prolific figure who eschewed the boundaries of art, commerce, and desire across five decades. Throughout her career, Minter has fused aesthetic rigor with instinct and impulse, creating bold, experimental artwork. Wed., Feb. 19, 6 p.m. scadmoa.org/. SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd. ISLAND TREASURES Jekyll Island hand-picks artists from across the country to create one-of-a-kind glass floats the Island Treasures event. The glass floats are part of a hide-and-seek style game played on Jekyll Island every day throughout January and February. Each day, volunteers hide floats around the island for lucky guests to find and exchange for dazzling handcrafted glass globes. Each float is marked with a special tag and instructions for treasure finders to register their Island Treasures at the Jekyll Island Guest Information Center and receive their one-of-a-kind glass globe with a certificate of authenticity and artist biography. FREE (Island entry fee required) MondaysSundays. 912.635.3636. info@jekyllisland. com. jekyllisland.com/signatureevents/ island-treasures/. Jekyll Island, 901 Downing Musgrove Parkway. LAUREL GROVE SOUTH CEMETERY WALKING TOURS In celebration of Black History Month, the City of Savannah Cemeteries Division, in partnership with the Massie Heritage Center, will be conducting historic walking tours of Laurel Grove South Cemetery on Saturdays throughout February. Join us as we visit the final resting place of some of Savannah’s most influential African-American citizens. Each tour is limited to 30 people and they need to register by calling 912-651-6843 or emailing jbrannen01@savannahga.gov. Saturdays, noon. jbrannen01@savannahga. gov. Laurel Grove South Cemetery, 2101 Kollock St. LET’S ROAM’S SAVANNAH GHOST HUNT Things haven’t always been peachy in Georgia. On this ghoulish Savannah ghost tour, explore the horrific past of the city’s best landmarks and meet the

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

ghosts who haunt the streets to this day. What treasure can be found in the Pirates’ House? What’s that chill in Madison Square? Find out on this ghost tour of Savannah. 11 Through Dec. 31, 2021. support@letsroam.com. letsroam. com/ghost_tours/Ghost_Savannah_ Scavenger_Hunt?utm_source=partner&utm_ medium=connectsavghost. Savannah, Savannah. LIVE MUSIC Live music featuring local Savannah Legends in an ever changing rotation. All musicians are inspired by the Prohibition Era with a Modern Twist! Enjoy it with a craft cocktail from the Best Bar Staff in Savannah. Thursdays, 9-11 p.m. americanprohibitionmuseum.com. Congress Street Up, 220 W. Congress St. NIGHTLY SPIRITS GHOST TOUR Explore haunted bars, haunted buildings, and Savannah’s oldest area, all while having time to enjoy some tasty beverages along the way. Step back in time to the 1700’s to explore the parts of Savannah that most only dare to talk about. You’ll hear tales about the dead that haven’t quite moved on, visit some of the most haunted places in the city and get to know the spirits that haunt the locals…and the places that the locals haunt. $20 Fridays, Saturdays, 8:30 p.m. nightlyspirits.com/savannah-ghosttours/. savannahtaphouse.com. Savannah Taphouse, 125 E. Broughton St. THE ORIGINAL MIDNIGHT TOUR One of the spookiest tours in town. Learn

about the untold stories of some of the most haunted locations here in Savannah Georgia. Guaranteed to give you a few goose bumps and an unexplained need for a night light. 33.00 ongoing. 1-866-666-3323. 6thsenseworld.com. 6th Sense Savannah Tours, 404 Abercorn Street. POTABLE GOLD: SAVANNAH’S MADEIRA TRADITION Experience the historic atmosphere of the Davenport House while learning about a unique and flavorful wine. Patrons are oriented to the long and rich tradition of Madeira (wine) as it relates to the history of Savannah and then they will participate in a Madeira party. See the historic house at dusk including spaces usually off-limits to museum guests. The performance requires that guests be able to walk up and down stairs and maneuver in the candlelit rooms. $22 Fri., Feb. 21, 5:30 p.m. and Sat., Feb. 22, 5:30 p.m. 9122368097. jcredle@davenporthousemuseum.org. davenporthousemuseum.org/programs/. davenporthousemuseum.org. Davenport House, 324 East State St. PRETTY GLITZY PARTIES POP UP SPA $35 Sat., Feb. 22, 3 p.m. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Savannah - Midtown, 11325 Abercorn Street. PUBSTAR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TRIVIA Free Wed., Feb. 19. coachs.net. Coach’s Corner, 3016 E. Victory Dr. RECLAIMING OUR INDIGENOUS POWER.

“DECADE IN REVIEW, PART 5” --FUN STUFF FROM 2018 & 2019

CONTINUES ON P. 42

ACROSS

1 Lip enhancer 6 Go through flour 10 Pale 13 Blue ___ (butterfly species) 15 ___ Shamrock McFlurry (McDonald’s debut of 2020) 16 Ingested 17 Company that launched Falcon Heavy in 2018 18 Game that generated more digital revenue in 2018 than any game in history, per the Hollywood Reporter 20 “Nashville” director Robert 22 Word before eye or twin 23 “The ___ Squad” 26 Air traffic org. 27 Like some soft coats 29 Blue, in Barcelona 31 “So the theory goes ...” 34 Host who retired from “Inside the Actors Studio” in 2018 36 On the nose 39 What goes around? 40 “That’s mildly funny,” online 41 Aquiline bird 43 “King Kong” and “Citizen Kane” studio 44 Song that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a record 19 weeks in 2019 47 Detroit-born fashion designer 48 Crossword puzzle, without the clues 49 Part of some pirate costumes

52 Fighting a bug, perhaps 54 Indefinite quantity 55 “___ y Ahora” (Univision newsmagazine) 56 Amy’s “Parks and Recreation” role 59 It held up a banana in Maurizio Cattelan’s 2019 artwork “Comedian” 62 ESPN personality who retired in 2019 after being with the network since its inception in 1979 66 Little ___ (protagonist of Punch-Out!!) 67 Omen 68 Make angry 69 2001 Will Smith role (or a princely 2019 role opposite Will Smith) 70 Oil of ___ 71 “Well, you’re not looking ___ yourself ...”

DOWN

1 Sports execs, for short 2 Cut off, as branches 3 Pop singer and “The Masked Singer” (U.K.) panelist Rita 4 Animal advocacy org. 5 Knickknack perch 6 Den furniture 7 Monopoly token replaced by a cat in 2013 8 Two-___ (buy one, get one deal) 9 “Paw Patrol” watcher 10 Forfeit voluntarily 11 Lofty storage area 12 Hockey Hall of Famer Cam

14 Jamaican stew ingredient 19 It may be pressing 21 Broadway hit based on a Roald Dahl book 23 Senior’s focus 24 Jason Bateman Netflix drama3 25 Flying Disney character 27 ___ Schwarz (toy store that reopened in 2018) 28 Bedding purchase 30 Luau wear 32 Parking units 33 Gateway Arch site 35 Thing in a ring 36 Ancient Greek market 37 Type of M&Ms renamed “Milk Chocolate” 38 Partner of Abe, Thomas, and George 42 Buenos Aires loc. 45 Highly volatile fuel, for short 46 Words repeated after “Whatever” in a Doris Day song 47 Landed 49 “Top Chef” host Lakshmi 50 = 51 Big name in bags 53 Pride participants? 56 Org. for Madelene Sagström and Park Hee-Young 57 “___, meeny, miney, mo” 58 Spain’s longest river 60 Chinese menu name 61 Be off 63 ___-di-dah 64 Anton ___ (“Ratatouille” restaurant critic) 65 Nevertheless

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

HAPPENINGS

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

THE VISIONARY HUMAN RIGHTS WISDOM OF MALCOLM X, FANNIE LOU HAMER AND JOHN COLTRANE: LESSONS ON ESCAPE, REBELLION AND FREEDOM!! Join us in a night of film, participatory music, and lively discussion featuring the Drumfolk Shout + Music Society! Facilitated by Dr. David Pleasant. Hosted by Dr. Simona Perry and Laura Shadley. Before corporate slogans and brand name tropes, John Coltrane, Fannie Lou Hamer and Malcolm X explored ideals of brotherhood and sisterhood for a genuine good. It was a good not as a means of getting, giving or paying back or forward—but an ethos of Human community, genuine equality and love: A Love Supreme. Colonialism, oligarchy and the Confederacy need not be central themes of Savannah 00.00 Thu., Feb. 20, 7-9 p.m. 6462071843. nowgriot1@aol. com. The Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle, 1802 Abercorn. RICHARD GRANT PRESENTS “GOOD VIBRATIONS” Free Fri., Feb. 21, 10 a.m. Society of Bluffton Artists, 6 Church Street. SAVANNAH PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS MEETUP Come and have drinks and share personal injury case stories with other lawyers in Savannah. We are professional network of legal professionals comprised of attorneys, law students, legal professional staff, recruiters and legal industry and technology. This meetup is designed to provide live networking opportunities and support for legal professional in Savannah. We started this event to connect legal professionals and we host this event monthly. Our events are both productive and social allowing members to meet, network, build business referrals, and grow their legal careers. FREE Fri., Feb. 21, 9 a.m.-noon. 404-885-1983. lanlhalexanda@gmail.com. attorneykennugent.com/. Savannah Station, 601 Cohen St. SAVANNAH SCAVENGER HUNT: HISTORIC SAVANNAH ADVENTURE Georgia’s great east coast city has centuries of history at every turn. On this fun-filled Savannah scavenger hunt, we make a loop around downtown in search of storied buildings, great green spaces and Savannah River views. Where do pirates hang their hat? How does Chippewa Square link the city’s founder to Forrest Gump? Find out on this scavenger hunt of Savannah. 11 Through Dec. 31, 2021, 8 a.m. support@letsroam.com. letsroam. com/scavenger_hunt/historic_savannah_ scavenger_hunt?utm_source=partner&utm_ medium=connectsav. Savannah, Savannah. SCAD DAILY TOURS SCAD offers tours in Savannah, Atlanta and Hong Kong for prospective students and their families. Tours are available daily, excluding Sundays, and allow prospective students an opportunity to view classrooms and administrative buildings, galleries, residence halls and dining facilities and see where our students live, learn and prepare for professional careers. For more information please visit, https://www. scad.edu/admission/visit-scad/daily42 tours. ongoing. SCAD Student Center, 120

Montgomery St. SHIRE OF FORTH CASTLE FIGHTER PRACTICE Local chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism meets Saturdays at Forsyth Park (south end) for fighter practice and general hanging out. For those interested in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. ongoing. savannahsca.org. STAR WARS ROLEPLAYING GAME Free Mon., Feb. 24, 2 p.m. Jacob Grant Community Center, 185 Ball Park Rd. TAROT READINGS WITH LEEANN RITCH Gain insight and potential outcomes into the past, present, future or evaluate influences surrounding you, an event, or both with a tarot card reading by LeeAnn Ritch. $25 for 15 minutes Sat., Feb. 22, noon. savannahyoga.com. Ordinary Magic, 1323 Bull Street. TWO HOUR WALKING GHOST TOUR Chilling stories & eerie properties that paved the road to this fascinating title. Pre-colonial ghost history, all the way up to the 21st century. The most complete picture of all of the human psychical and paranormal events that put Savannah on the map as the ghostly city of greatness. Presented by America’s Most Haunted City Tour. ongoing, 9 p.m. 6thsenseworld.com/. V FOR VICTORIA PARTY Join us for a night of Victorian fun and surprises to benefit the Victorian Neighborhood Association. We will be celebrating the birthday of Queen Victoria in the year 1884 (when our house was built). No better place than historic Savannah for a Victorian period party. Sat., Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m. 121 E. Gwinnett St., 121 E. Gwinnett St.

FESTIVALS

OGLETHORPE MALL CARNIVAL Experience the sights, sounds and aromas of the electrifying midway with rides and games for all ages, favorite fair food and circus thrill shows including high-wire artists and The Globe of Death motorcycle act. Unlimited ride wristbands are $30 on site or online in advance for $20, 2 for $35 or a Family 4 Pack for $60. After 5 pm Feb. 20, online wristbands are $25 or 4 for $85. On Sundays, buy 1 $30 wristband and get 1 free with Military ID. See website for ride ticket prices and coupon savings on rides and food. Call 866-666-3247. $2 admission (includes circus shows). Ride cost varies. Thu., Feb. 20, 5-10 p.m., Fri., Feb. 21, 5-11 p.m., Sat., Feb. 22, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun., Feb. 23, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Mon., Feb. 24, 5-10 p.m. and Tue., Feb. 25, 5-10 p.m. 866-666-3247. dreamlandamusements. com/upcoming-events-amusementcarnival/#savannah. oglethorpemall.com/. Oglethorpe Mall, 7804 Abercorn Ext. TYBEE ISLAND MARDI GRAS PARADE The event will encompass the traditions of Mardi Gras, an event with origins dating back to the ancient Romans and carried on today in cities such as Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana. Mardi Gras is held on the last day before the start of Lent. Sat., Feb. 22, noon. 17th Street Inn, 12 17th St.

FITNESS

6:00 A.M. CLASSES STARTING IN OCTOBER

6:00 a.m. Yoga & Barre classes beginning in October at Savannah Yoga Barre. Karma Classes are only $8 drop-in! Tues/Thurs: All Levels Yoga Flow with Rob begins 10/8. Wednesdays: Barre with Terry begins 10/16. Get up early to workout before going to work! Savannah Yoga Barre, 2132 E. Victory Dr. $8 Tuesdays-Thursdays, 6-7 a.m. 912-200-4809. bebalanced@syb.life. savannahyogabarre.com. Savannah Yoga Barre, 2132 E Victory Drive. ADULT ADVANCED JIU-JITSU CLASSES $125 monthly membership MondaysThursdays, 7 p.m. 912-346-0917. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Savannah, 1110 E. Derenne Ave. ADULT FUNDAMENTAL JIU JITSU CLASSES $125 monthly membership MondaysThursdays, 6 p.m. 912-346-0917. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Savannah, 1110 E. Derenne Ave. AERIAL YOGA CLASSES Increase flexibility and strength using aerial yoga, a relatively new approach to a traditional yoga practice. We use a silk fabric called a ‘hammock’ to support the weight of our bodies, helping us achieve various postures with more depth, ease and excitement. Every Saturday. Class size limited. Required to register online ahead of time. $25 Saturdays, 12:30-1:45 p.m. 954.682.5694. elyse.thestudio@yahoo.com. thestudiosav.net/schedule.html. AFRO-CARIBBEAN DANCE Let the excitement begin as Mahogany takes you to the best staycation each and every Tuesday night to the Islands through movement and rhythm. This class will focus on the cultural movement of Afro-Caribbean dance. Get ready for hip winding and arms in the air as we explore our bodies’ rhythm through Caribbean and reggae music. $10 Tuesdays, 6:45-7:45 p.m. 912-233-1951. wbsymcagardener@westbroadstreetymca. org. westbroadstreetymca.org. YMCA-West Broad St, 1110 May St. AIKIDO CLASSES Aikido is a traditional Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba, ‘O Sensei’ or (‘Great Teacher’). On a purely physical level it is an art involving throws and joint locks that are derived from Jujitsu and Kenjutsu (open hand and weapon based techniques). Beyond the self defense aspects of the art its true goal is to challenge its practitioners to discover their best selves. $50/month for JEA Members, $70/month for NonMembers, or $80/8-class punch card Tuesdays, Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m. 912-6040958, 912-346-2650. AikiNorm@aol.com, AikidoBilly@hotmail.com. CoastalAikido. com. savannahjea.org. Jewish Educational Alliance, 5111 Abercorn St. BALLET BODY TONING Ballet Body Toning is a ballet inspired workout designed to improve balance, flexibility, and use body resistance to strengthen core, legs & booty. This workout is low impact and scorches major calories and teaches you basic ballet! Call to make a reservation before class. This is a semiprivate class so space is limited! $10.00 Wednesdays, Sundays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. 732.232.3349. FitnessFoodWine@gmail. com. BALLROOM FIT Always wanted to learn how to ballroom

dance? Don’t have a partner? Want to get in shape and have fun in the process? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this program is for you! Learn how to ballroom dance and get a great workout in the process. We use all styles of music that are modern or traditional. Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing, Jive, Samba, Paso Doble, Foxtrot, Waltz, Hustle, and more! Check out our schedule for more details. 4 classes for $40, 10 classes for $80, UNLIMITED for $120 Sundays, 5-6 p.m., Mondays, 6-7 p.m., Tuesdays, 12:30-1 p.m., Wednesdays, 12:30-1 & 6-7 p.m. and Thursdays, 12:30-1 p.m. 612.470.6683. salondebaile.dance@ gmail.com. salondebailedancestudio.com. Salon de Baile Dance & Fitness Studio, 301 US Hwy 80 SE. BEGINNING POLE FITNESS Pole fitness is a fun and flirty way to get in shape! Taught by Pole Dance America National Professional Champion Sabrina Madsen, you’ll learn the basics of pole dance in a safe and welcoming environment. Gain strength, balance and confidence. Beginner Classes are open to all shapes and sizes and are for ladies only (men welcome at our Intermediate Class). $25 for drop-in or $100 for a package of 5 classes Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m. 801.673.6737. info@firstcityfitness.com. firstcityfitness. com/pole-fitnessparties.html. First City Fitness, 2127 1/2 Victory Dr. CORE AND MORE WITH MADISON A 60 minute class of Pilates structured exercises designed to target your deepest core muscles. Along with balance training, this class will help to instill a variety of ways to incorporate the core for stabilization and strength training. Mondays, 6 p.m. fitnessonbroughton.com. Fitness on Broughton, 1 E. Broughton St. EXERCISE CLASS Stretches, strengthening and general feel good moves. ongoing. 912-667-0487. Functional Bodies, 821 E. 66th St. FIT4MOM SAVANNAH STROLLER STRIDES A group of moms that meet with strollers and workout at Savannah Mall, Daffin Park and on occasion Hull Park. Also offer HIIT Classes to other Moms who have any age children. The HIIT program is a kid free program. 1 hour long stroller based workout with kiddos. Moms- Pre and Post Natal, and kids of stroller age. Savannah Mall (M,W,F). Daffin Park (T,Th), Hull Park (Sat) ongoing. ashleyyoungblood@fit4mom.com. savannah.fit4mom.com. Daffin Park, 1198 Washington Ave. GENTLE YOGA - $8 Our Gentle Yoga is a great place to begin yoga and learn how to let go of the stress and tension in the body and mind while increasing your flexibility and focus. Calm your body, calm your mind and end with a deeply relaxing shavasana. Everyone welcome. Practiced with relaxing music. $8 Sundays, 5-6 p.m. and Wednesdays, 7:158:15 p.m. info@thehubsav.com. The HUB Savannah, 4505 Habersham St. GET EXCITED AND MOVE This program is designed to combat the effects of Parkinson disease for Savannah/ Chatham-area people and their caregiver. The activities are designed to enhance and

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

improve muscular strength, and endurance, coordination, agility, flexibility, speed work, and voice command. Visit the website for more info. Mondays-Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. & 6-7 p.m. and TuesdaysThursdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. 912-663-5833. getexcitedandmove.com. Anderson-Cohen Weightlifting Center, 7230 Varnedoe Drive. HILO CARDIO WITH EMMA A mash up of cardio and strength exercises that will wake up your entire body! This morning class will boost your mood and metabolism, improve your posture, and strengthen your muscles to prepare you for the day ahead. Tuesdays, 7 a.m. fitnessonbroughton.com. Fitness on Broughton, 1 E. Broughton St. HISTORICAL FENCING Learn and practice historical longsword fencing as depicted in 14th and 15th century fencing manuscripts. No experience or equipment necessary. We’ve got plenty of loaner gear for you to borrow. Just wear athletic clothing and close toed shoes. Men will need to wear a cup if they intend to participate in drills. Feel free to come sit in on class. $45 monthly for non-YMCA members $35 for YMCA members Mondays, Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m. and Fridays, 6-8 p.m. ssg.sav@gmail.com. ssgsavannah. com. YMCA (Habersham Branch), 6400 Habersham St. HOMESCHOOL KIDS JIU-JITSU CLASSES Ages 5-12 $125 monthly membership Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 1 p.m. 912346-0917. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Savannah, 1110 E. Derenne Ave. INSANITY! WITH SHAWN This isn’t your ordinary cardio-conditioning class. This thrilling workout provides the support and group motivation to challenge you to work toward your highest potential and unleash your inner athlete, no matter where you’re starting from. Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. Fitness on Broughton, 1 E. Broughton St. ISRAELI KRAV MAGA SELF-DEFENSE CLASSES A system of self-defense techniques based on several martial arts. The official fighting system of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Class sessions and intensive workshops scheduled throughout the year and held at CustomFit Center. Visit savannahkravmaga on facebook for more info. 912-224-2085. ongoing. 912-224-2085. facebook.com/ savannahkravmaga. customfitcenter.com. CustomFit Center, 101-A West Park Ave. JIU JITSU/MMA CLASSES Classes everyday. Free woman’s class every Wednesday at 5:30. Other classes 6:30 to 8:30 for everyone else Monday thru Thursday. Kid classes 4:30 to 5:30 Monday thru Thursday. Visit constantexpansion.net for more information. ongoing. Constant Expansion, 302 W. Victory Dr., unit B. KICKBOX CONDITIONING WITH JOZE This class teaches you all the fundamentals needed to dig deep into your inner warrior and exploit all the skills needed to unlock your hidden potential. Focusing on the fundamentals of cardiovascular strength, balance and basic combat skills, you will have the confidence to seize the day! Mondays, 7 a.m. fitnessonbroughton.com.

Yoga Flow - $10 drop-in

All levels practice designed to ignite your core, strengthen your body, and energize your day. Learn to move fluidly with your breath. All levels welcome-from beginner to experienced yogi--move through challenges to find your personal change in this dynamic flow. Practiced to light music. $10 SATURDAYS, 9:30-10:30 A.M., MONDAYS, 6-7 A.M., TUESDAYS, 6-7 P.M., THURSDAYS, 4:30-5:30 P.M. AND FRIDAYS, 9:30-10:30 A.M. 9123568280. INFO@THEHUBSAV.COM. THE HUB SAVANNAH, 4505 HABERSHAM ST.

Fitness on Broughton, 1 E. Broughton St. KIDS JIU-JITSU CLASSES Ages 5-8 $125 monthly membership Mondays-Fridays, 4 p.m. 912-346-0917. Ages 9-12 $125 monthly membership Mondays-Fridays, 5 p.m. 912-346-0917. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Savannah, 1110 E. Derenne Ave. LINE DANCE Line dance class teaches basic instructions, coordination, and dance combinations, to the rhythm of different styles of music. Line Dancing is exercise for the body & mind, and is a fun way to dance socially without a partner. Dancing styles covered in this class include Country Western, Swing, Salsa, Tango, Cha Cha, Waltz & more. $10 Wednesdays, 6-7:45 p.m. 912-233-1951. wbsymcagardener@westbroadstreetymca. org. westbroadstreetymca.org. YMCA-West Broad St, 1110 May St. LUNCH CRUNCH WITH MADISON High Intensity Interval Training on Step Boxes for a maximum fat blasting workout to help build the Cardiorespiratory System & increase endurance. Perfect for those looking to get a great workout in a short amount of time. Mondays, Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m. fitnessonbroughton.com. Fitness on Broughton, 1 E. Broughton St. PILATES CLASS Skidaway Island United Methodist Church (SIUMC) offers, to church and non-church members alike, basic Mat Pilates classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:1510:15 a.m., for only $5.00-$6.25 per class, depending on the number of classes taken per month. Classes focus on improving

core strength, posture, flexibility and muscle tone. Participants must be able to lie down and stand up from a floor mat. Class instructor is Elena Bennett, a certified exercise instructor with 25 years of teaching experience. For more information, visit: www.siumc.org/nurture or call 912-5988460. ongoing. siumc.org/. Skidaway United Methodist Church, 54 Diamond Causeway. POWER YOGA This is an hour of stretching your mind and body to become one, and a reset in the middle of the work week. Come experience the endless possibilities as you take yourself to the next level with Mahogany. $10 Wednesdays, 8-9 a.m. 912-233-1951. wbsymcagardener@westbroadstreetymca. org. westbroadstreetymca.org. YMCA-West Broad St, 1110 May St. PRANA YOGA Prana Yoga is a practice that integrates breathing techniques and chakra sounds into the yoga. Come experience a deep sense of grounding, learn to be present, and develop your center, passion, strength, compassion, creativity, intuition, and light. $10 Mondays, 6:45-8 p.m. 912-233-1951. wbsymcagardener@westbroadstreetymca. org. westbroadstreetymca.org. YMCA-West Broad St, 1110 May St. SELF DEFENSE WITH LOU Not only will you learn to defend yourself with simple moves, but also get a serious sweat sesh in! Bring your own boxing gloves or purchase some from the front desk at a discounted rate. Thursdays, Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. fitnessonbroughton.com. Fitness on Broughton, 1 E. Broughton St.

SHIMMY CHIC Shimmy Chic Fitness is an energetic, fun dance workout based on the ancient art of belly dance- with a modern twist. The class provides calorie-burning and muscle-toning moves, along with increased flexibility, grace, and sense of self. No dance experience necessary. Shimmy Chic provides fun & repetitive routines suitable for all fitness levels. Please wear comfortable workout clothes and sneakers (you do not have to show your stomach). Open to all ages and fitness levels. $10 Thursdays, 5:45-6:45 p.m. 912-233-1951. wbsymcagardener@westbroadstreetymca. org. westbroadstreetymca.org. YMCA-West Broad St, 1110 May St. TRXTRAINING WITH SHAWN TRX is a type of training that uses gravity and your own body weight to build strength, power, balance, coordination, flexibility, core and joint stability, all while preventing injuries, and increasing bone density. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 5:30 p.m. fitnessonbroughton.com. Fitness on Broughton, 1 E. Broughton St. VINYASA YOGA In this vinyasa yoga class you will experience dynamic movements while linking breath, building heat, and endurance. This class is open to all levels. We will explore each pose with special attention to alignment. This class will be the perfect way to start your week and stay energized. $10 Mondays, 8-9 a.m. 912-233-1951. wbsymcagardener@westbroadstreetymca. org. westbroadstreetymca.org. YMCA-West Broad St, 1110 May St. WEIGHTED WORKOUT A 45 minute, total body workout that includes a 5 minute warm-up and a 5 minute cool-down/stretch. We will use dumbbells and steps to perform compound functional movements to maximize workout time. $10 Tuesdays, 8-9 a.m. 912-233-1951. wbsymcagardener@westbroadstreetymca. org. westbroadstreetymca.org. YMCA-West Broad St, 1110 May St. YOGA FLOW - $10 DROP-IN All levels practice designed to ignite your core, strengthen your body, and energize your day. Learn to move fluidly with your breath. All levels welcome-from beginner to experienced yogi--move through challenges to find your personal change in this dynamic flow. Practiced to light music. $10 Saturdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Mondays, 6-7 a.m., Tuesdays, 6-7 p.m., Thursdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. and Fridays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. 9123568280. info@thehubsav.com. The HUB Savannah, 4505 Habersham St. YOGA FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS Free for cancer patients and survivors. The classes help with flexibility and balance while also providing relaxation. Located at FitnessOne, on the third floor of the Memorial Outpatient and Wellness Center. Tuesdays, 5:45 p.m. and Thursdays, 12:20 p.m. 912-350-4030. memorialhealth.com/. Memorial Health University Medical Center, 4700 Waters Ave. YOGA, BARRE, PILATES MAT CLASSES Join our experienced and knowledgeable teachers for a variety of classes at

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

HAPPENINGS

CONTINUES ON P. 44 43

HAPPENINGS

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Savannah Yoga Barre. No matter what your fitness/wellness goals or level, we have something for you. Open 7 days a week. New to the studio? 3 Weeks Unlimited class pass $30. Membership options to suit your schedule and budget. We want to welcome you to our studio family and help you on your way to living comfortably in your own skin. Visit our website for full class schedule or call for more info. $$ ongoing. 9122004809. info@SavannahYogaBarre. com. SavannahYogaBarre.com. Savannah Yoga Barre, 2132 E Victory Drive. YOGA, PILATES, AND SPIN Flow, Yin Yasa, Sculpt, Pilates, Spin, and the only studio in Savannah with the original Hot Yoga. Introductory Special: $49 for 30 days of unlimited classes. Visit thehubsav.com to see our awesome lineup of teachers and classes. $49 ongoing. 912.356.8280. info@ thehubsav.com. thehubsavannah.com. The HUB Savannah, 4505 Habersham St. YOGA@THELIBRARY The All Levels class meets from 10:30-11:30 and the Chair Yoga class meets from 12:001:00. Tuesdays. Southwest Chatham Library, 14097 Abercorn St. ZUMBA Zumba Fitness is a dance fitness class for everybody and every body! With easy to follow moves, Zumba focuses on a wide variety of Latin and International rhythms. This hour long class is guaranteed to make you sweat. It’s not a workout, it’s a party. $10 Tuesdays, 5:45-6:45 p.m. 912-233-1951. wbsymcagardener@westbroadstreetymca. org. westbroadstreetymca.org. YMCA-West Broad St, 1110 May St. ZUMBA FITNESS Isn’t lifting weights and running on the treadmill boring? Come join Sheena’s Zumba Fitness class and have fun while burning calories! The class regularly has 75+ participants that know that Sheena is the best Zumba instructor in Savannah! So show up early and see you soon! Free with YMCA membership Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. 912-354-6223. facebook. com/ZumbaFitnesswithSheena/. YMCA (Habersham Branch), 6400 Habersham St. ZUMBA FITNESS (R) WITH APRIL Mondays at 5:30pm, Thursdays at 6:30pm. Nonstop Fitness in Sandfly, 8511 Ferguson Ave. $5 for nonmenbers. call for info. ongoing. 912-349-4902.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

FOOD & DRINK EVENTS

BOOZY BRUNCH AT THE GROVE $40 Feb. 22, noon. The Grove Savannah, 301 West Congress Street. GIRL SCOUT COOKIES AT TWO TIDES Head to the taproom on Saturday, February 22nd for your Girl Scout Cookie fix and to support a local troop. Their full line-up of cookies will be available for purchase from 4pm-6pm. Feb. 22, 4 p.m. Two Tides Brewing Company, 12 West 41st St. SATURDAY SPRITZES We are pairing up with Lillet to bring you Saturday Spritzes. Join us as we roll out our new Lillet cart where you can build your own Spritz! Choose between Lillet Blanc or Rose`and head to the cart where you will find a variety of fresh fruits, garnishes, and spices. Get creative and don’t forget to tag us with your handiwork! 10 a.m.-3 p.m.. (912) 559-8400. andrea.locorini@ sagerestaurantgroup.com. facebook.com/ events/500678067302318/. Emporium Kitchen & Wine Market, 254 E Perry Street Savannah. SAVANNAH INTERNATIONAL FOOD AND WINE TASTING $30 Feb. 22, 3 p.m. Savannah Hellenic Center, 14 West Anderson Street. TIPSY TALES SAVANNAH PUB CRAWL $25 Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. Jen’s & Friends, 34 Bull St. BLOODY MARY BAR We are joining forces with Savannah Vodka to bring you Emporium’s Bloody Mary Cart! Spice up your day with a trip to the cart and create your own masterpiece with a variety of hot sauces & garnishes. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.. (912) 559-8400. andrea.locorini@ sagerestaurantgroup.com. facebook.com/ events/551603858899919/. Emporium Kitchen & Wine Market, 254 E Perry Street Savannah. TRACE YOUR HERITAGE BLACK HISTORY MONTH COCKTAIL COMPETITION 6 talented bartenders of African heritage will compete in the 1st Annual Trace Your Heritage Black History Month Cocktail Competition. Sponsored by Buffalo Trace and Wheatley Vodka. Free to the public. Free Feb. 24, 1-3 p.m.. 7706588696. loni.lewis@ natdistco.com. thealidahotel.com. The Alida Hotel, 412 Williamson Street.

Ongoing

$10 PITCHER THURSDAYS It’s Thursday. You’ve almost made it to the weekend, but you need a beer. Swing by with your friends for $10 pitcher night! business. facebook.com/events/771292539893213/. southboundbrewingco.com. Southbound Brewing Company, 107 East Lathrop Ave. 201 OYSTER MONDAY Each and every Monday til we run out of oysters. Enjoy Fresh Oysters for $1 (each) along with $5 Champagne, Blue Point Toasted Lager beer or our Ice-cold draft Beers. This will be the “Shucker’s Choice” with steamed and raw options. ALL YOU CAN EAT MUSSELS EVERY TUESDAY We are pleased to announce the return of All You Can Eat Mussels. This monumental mussel meal will be available every Tuesday from 5pm-9pm starting on Tuesday, January 7th. Every bowl of mussels comes with

baby green salad, bottomless pommes frites, & warm bread. Don’t forget about the 6 different flavors of mussels that can be enjoyed: Meunière, Bacon Blue Cheese, Pesto, Red Curry, Provençal, and Vegetable Cream. Enjoy it all for $24 a person! *No sharing or substitutions* *Holidays are excluded* 5-9 p.m.. 912721-0595. info@39ruedejeansav.com. holycityhospitality.com/39-rue-de-jeansavannah/. 39 Rue de Jean, 605 W Oglethorpe Ave. BETHESDA FARM AND GARDENS STAND Featuring in season, organic (not certified) veggies, herbs and flowers. All proceeds go directly to funding tuition expenses for Bethesda Academy students. For specialty orders, contact Merrin at merrin.slocombe@ bethesdaacademy.org. merrin.slocombe@ bethesdaacademy.org. bethesdaacademy. org. Bethesda Academy, 9250 Ferguson Ave. BLOODY MARY BAR We are joining forces with Savannah Vodka to bring you Emporium’s Bloody Mary Cart! Spice up your day with a trip to the cart and create your own masterpiece with a variety of hot sauces & garnishes. (912) 559-8400. andrea.locorini@sagerestaurantgroup.com. facebook.com/events/551603858899919/. Emporium Kitchen & Wine Market, 254 E Perry Street Savannah. BOOZY BRUNCH AT THE GROVE $40 The Grove Savannah, 301 West Congress Street. FARM TRUCK 912 Forsyth Farmers’ Market Farm Truck 912 offers fresh produce 7 days a week in neighborhoods all around Savannah. Check out the web sitefor the schedule of 13 stops and support local farmers and nutrition education programming. ongoing. forsythfarmersmarket.com/farmtruck912. FORSYTH FARMERS MARKET Local and regional produce, honey, meat, dairy, pasta, baked goods and other delights. Rain or shine. Free to attend. Items for sale. 912-484-0279. forsythfarmersmarket.com. Forsyth Park, Drayton St. & East Park Ave. GIRL SCOUT COOKIES AT TWO TIDES Head to the taproom on Saturday, February 22nd for your Girl Scout Cookie fix and to support a local troop. Their full line-up of cookies will be available for purchase from 4pm-6pm. Two Tides Brewing Company, 12 West 41st St. PRESS PLAY BOOMBOX BRUNCH Brunch is served from 11 am – 3 pm. Jason B. James Live vinyl DJ spinning classic soul, R&B, indie, rock, pop, and everything in between begins at noon. foxyloxycafe.com. Foxy Loxy Cafe, 1919 Bull St. SATURDAY SPRITZES We are pairing up with Lillet to bring you Saturday Spritzes. Join us as we roll out our new Lillet cart where you can build your own Spritz! Choose between Lillet Blanc or Rose`and head to the cart where you will find a variety of fresh fruits, garnishes, and spices. Get creative and don’t forget to tag us with your handiwork! (912) 559-8400. andrea.locorini@sagerestaurantgroup.com. facebook.com/events/500678067302318/. Emporium Kitchen & Wine Market, 254 E Perry Street Savannah. SAVANNAH INTERNATIONAL FOOD AND

WINE TASTING $30 Savannah Hellenic Center, 14 West Anderson Street. SUNDAY SUPPER CLUB ecome part of a Savannah tradition. Join us at our festive community table with new friends and old to share in a night of food, libations and southern hospitality. Each Sunday you will experience unique thoughtfully created dishes paired with meticulously selected wines to complement each delicious course. $55 for four-course meal and wine pairings paccisavannah.com. Pacci Italian Kitchen + Bar, 601 E Bay St. TIPSY TALES SAVANNAH PUB CRAWL $25 Jen’s & Friends, 34 Bull St. TRACE YOUR HERITAGE BLACK HISTORY MONTH COCKTAIL COMPETITION 6 talented bartenders of African heritage will compete in the 1st Annual Trace Your Heritage Black History Month Cocktail Competition. Sponsored by Buffalo Trace and Wheatley Vodka. Free to the public. Free 7706588696. loni.lewis@natdistco.com. thealidahotel.com. The Alida Hotel, 412 Williamson Street. WEEKLY CASK & FOOD PAIRING Each Wednesday, we create a special cask and pair it with a complimentary dish. Follow us on Facebook for more information! moonriverbrewing.com/. Moon River Brewing Co., 21 West Bay St. WINE SAMPLING Sample the variety of wines Lucky’s Market has to offer.

HEALTH

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS St. Joseph’s/Candler’s SmartSenior offers blood pressure screenings on every Monday from 10 AM to Noon in the SmartSenior office, #8 Medical Arts on 836 E. 65th Street. No appointment is necessary; the screenings are free and open to the public. For more information, call (912) 352-4405. ongoing. St. Joseph’s/Candler Medical Arts Building, 836 E. 65th St. COASTAL HEALTH DISTRICT FREE HIV TESTING Wed., Feb. 19. savstate.edu/. Savannah State University, 3219 College St. FREE CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP Are you gradually feeling more alone as friends and family don’t seem to get what you are going through as the unpaid caregiver of a loved one with dementia, serious illness or disability? Our drop-in and non-disease specific Caregiver Support Group meets twice a month to provide a safe place to connect with others who truly understand. Second Tuesday of each month from 10 – 11 a.m. and/or the fourth Monday of each month from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the Edel Caregiver Institute, 6000 Business Center Drive off Chatham Parkway. 912.629.1331. ongoing. Edel Caregiver Institute, 6000 Business Center Drive. FREE RESTORATIVE YOGA FOR CAREGIVERS Are you the unpaid caregiver for a loved one with dementia, serious illness or disability? Schedule some relaxation time just for you! Our free restorative yoga and deep relaxation classes use bolsters and blankets to support the body and quiet the mind.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Dress comfortably and join us at the Edel Caregiver Institute, 6000 Business Center Drive off Chatham Parkway. 912.629.1331. ongoing. Edel Caregiver Institute, 6000 Business Center Drive. MINDFUL FLOW $15 Sat., Feb. 22, 9:30 a.m. Hygge, 600 East Broughton Street. NATIVE AMERICAN ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Georgia’s only Native American Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Meets every Thursday at 2 pm at 517 East Broad Street, Savannah. Court papers will be signed. Open to all. You do not have to be Native American to attend Free ongoing, 2-3 p.m. 912-712-3314.

Islandmedicinewoman@gmail.com. East Broad Native American Group, 517 East Broad Street. NEW MOON RITUAL + SOUNDBATH $35 Fri., Feb. 21, 7:15 p.m. Hygge, 600 East Broughton Street.

KID’S HAPPENINGS

CHILDREN & TWEEN/TEEN PAINTED HEIRLOOM PORTRAITS These heirloom painted portraits are Renaissance in style with rich tones and neutral expressions, yet at the same time they invoke a modern touch. They showcase the beauty of your child and will give you an absolutely timeless heirloom

that your child can one day display in their home and hand down to their children as well. ongoing. 912-266-6100. candy@ candacehiresphotography.com. Candace Hires Photography, 1508 Newcastle St. HOW FAR? STORYTIME AND BOOK SIGNING Natalie Broulette will be reading & signing copies of her new book “How Far?” Storytime will start at 4:30pm with a related art activity to follow. “How Far?” is the story of a brave young girl who has adventures around the world: exploring forests, flying with flamingos, seeing a show in the big city, visiting landmarks, museums, bakeries and gardens, all the way back to her mother’s

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Do you feel ready to change your mind about an idea or belief or theory that has been losing its usefulness? Would you consider changing your relationship with a once-powerful influence that is becoming less crucial to your life-long goals? Is it possible you have outgrown one of your heroes or teachers? Do you wonder if maybe it’s time for you to put less faith in a certain sacred cow or overvalued idol? According to my analysis of your astrological omens, you’ll benefit from meditating on these questions during the coming weeks.

19th-century British society. The phrase “Vanity Fair” had been previously used, though with different meanings, in the Bible’s book of Ecclesiastes, as well as in works by John Bunyan and St. Augustine. Thackeray was lying in bed near sleep one night when the idea flew into his head to use it for his own story. He was so thrilled, he leaped up and ran around his room chanting “Vanity Fair! Vanity Fair!” I’m foreseeing at least one epiphany like this for you in the coming weeks, Cancerian. What area of your life needs a burst of delicious inspiration?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

When she was alive more than 2,500 years ago, the Greek poet Sappho was so famous for her lyrical creations that people referred to her as “The Poetess” and the “Tenth Muse.” (In Greek mythology, there were nine muses, all goddesses.) She was a prolific writer who produced over 10,000 lines of verse, and even today she remains one of the world’s most celebrated poets. I propose that we make her your inspirational role model for the coming months. In my view, you’re poised to generate a wealth of enduring beauty in your own chosen sphere. Proposed experiment: Regard your daily life as an art project.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Have you ever dropped out of the daily grind for a few hours or even a few days so as to compose a master plan for your life? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to give yourself that necessary luxury. According to my analysis, you’re entering a phase when you’ll generate good fortune for yourself if you think deep thoughts about how to create your future. What would you like the story of your life to be on March 1, 2025? How about March 1, 2030? And March 1, 2035? I encourage you to consult your soul’s code and formulate an inspired, invigorating blueprint for the coming years. Write it down!

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

Cancerian novelist William Makepeace Thackeray (1819–1875) is famous for *Vanity Fair*, a satirical panorama of

Who loves you best, Leo? Which of your allies and loved ones come closest to seeing you and appreciating you for who you really are? Of all the people in your life, which have done most to help you become the soulful star you want to be? Are there gem-like characters on the peripheries of your world that you would like to draw nearer? Are there energy drains that you’ve allowed to play too prominent a role? I hope you’ll meditate on questions like these in the coming weeks. You’re in a phase when you can access a wealth of useful insights and revelations about how to skillfully manage your relationships. It’s also a good time to reward and nurture those allies who have given you so much.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Doom and gloom dominate the forecasts made by many prophets. They experience perverse glee in predicting, for example, that all the rain forests and rivers will be owned by greedy corporations by 2050, or that extraterrestrial invaders who resemble crocodiles will take control of the U.S. government “for the good of the American people,” or that climate change will eventually render chocolate and bananas obsolete. That’s not how I operate. I deplore the idea that it’s only the nasty prognostications that are interesting. In that spirit, I make the following forecasts: The number of homeless Virgos will decrease dramatically in the near future, as will the number of dreamhome-less Virgos. In fact, I expect you folks will ex-

arms. Sat., Feb. 22, 4 p.m. Henny Penny Art Space & Cafe, 1514 Bull St. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Join us for dinner and VBS! Our theme this year is “Athens: Holy Land Adventure Paul’s Dangerous Journey to Share the Truth”. Imagine leaving a life of privilege and power to face angry mobs, painful imprisonment, and chain-breaking earthquakes - all to spread the life-changing truth of God’s love. Learn the jaw-dropping story of the Apostle Paul straight from Paul himself. We will visit the Marketplace shops, share in Paul’s adventures, play arena games

CONTINUES ON P. 46

BY ROB BREZSNY

beautyandtruth@freewillastrology.com

perience extra amounts of domestic bliss in the coming months. You may feel more at home in the world than ever before.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

I don’t require everyone I learn from to be an impeccable saint. If I vowed to draw inspiration only from those people who flawlessly embody every one of my ethical principles, there’d be no one to be inspired by. Even one of my greatest heroes, Martin Luther King Jr., cheated on his wife and plagiarized parts of his doctoral dissertation. Where do you stand on this issue, Libra? I bet you will soon be tested. How much imperfection is acceptable to you?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Scorpio comedian John Cleese co-founded the troupe Monty Python more than fifty years ago, and he has been generating imaginative humor ever since. I suggest we call on his counsel as you enter the most creative phase of your astrological cycle. “This is the extraordinary thing about creativity,” he says. “If you just keep your mind resting against the subject in a friendly but persistent way, sooner or later you will get a reward from your unconscious.” Here’s another one of Cleese’s insights that will serve you well: “The most creative people have learned to tolerate the slight discomfort of indecision for much longer, and so, just because they put in more pondering time, their solutions are more creative.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Sagittarian philosopher Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677) developed a vigorous and expansive vision. That’s why he became a leading intellectual influence in the era known as the Enlightenment. But because of his inventive, sometimes controversial ideas, he was shunned by his fellow Jews and had his books listed on the Catholic Church’s Index of Forbidden Books. Understandably, he sometimes felt isolated. To compensate, he spent lots of time alone taking wide-ranging journeys in his imagination. Even if you have all the friends and social stimulation you need, I

hope you will follow his lead in the coming weeks—by taking wide-ranging journeys in your imagination. It’s time to roam and ramble in inner realms.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

“Absolute reason expired at eleven o’clock last night,” one character tells another in Henrik Ibsen’s play *Peer Gynt*. I’m happy to report that a different development is on the verge of occurring for you, Capricorn. In recent days, there may have been less than an ideal amount of reason and logic circulating in your world. But that situation will soon change. The imminent outbreak of good sense, rigorous sanity, and practical wisdom will be quite tonic. Take advantage of this upcoming grace period. Initiate bold actions that are well-grounded in objective rather than subjective truth.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Renowned Aquarian composer Franz Schubert (1797–1828) created more than 700 compositions, some of which are still played by modern musicians. Many of his works were written on and for the piano—and yet he was so poor that he never owned a piano. If there has been a similar situation in your life, Aquarius—a lack of some crucial tool or support due to financial issues—I see the coming weeks as being an excellent time to set in motion the plans that will enable you to overcome and cure that problem.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

In 1908, British playwright W. Somerset Maugham reached the height of success. Four of his plays were being performed concurrently in four different London theaters. If you were ever in your life going to achieve anything near this level of overflowing popularity or attention, I suspect it would be this year. And if that’s a development you would enjoy and thrive on, I think the coming weeks will be an excellent time to set your intention and take audacious measures.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

HAPPENINGS

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

and so much more! This VBS is for the WHOLE family. Registration is going on now! free Mondays-Fridays, 5-7:30 p.m. 912-925-4839. trinityoffice@bellsouth.net. trinitylutheransavannah.org. Trinity Lutheran Church, 12391 Mercy Blvd.

LGBT

FIRST CITY NETWORK Georgia’s oldest LGBT organization (founded in 1985) is a local non-profit community service organization whose mission is to share resources of health care, counseling, education, advocacy and mutual support in the Coastal Empire. Members and guests enjoy many special events throughout the year, including First Saturday Socials held the first Saturday of each month at 7pm. Mondays. 912-236-CITY. firstcitynetwork. org. GAY AA MEETING True Colors Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, a gay and lesbian AA meeting that welcomes all alcoholics, meets Thursdays and Sundays, 7:30pm, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 311 E. Harris, 2nd floor. New location effective 11/2012. ongoing. THE LOOK BACK: AN ON-GOING SERIES OF QUEER CINEMA The Look Back aims to provide a resource for queer cinema in Savannah by engaging the local community with queer theory and representation on an international level through the exhibition of queerrelated moving image works from the past and present. As we learn that not all representation is revolution and look forward to a world of queer futurity, The Look Back posits itself in between the recognition and acknowledgement of how far we’ve come, and how far we have yet to go. Free, donations accepted to the Savannah LGBT center Last Sunday of every month, 7 p.m. thelookbacksav@gmail.com. Savannah LGBT Center, 1515 Bull St. SAVANNAH PRIDE, INC. Organizes the annual Savannah Pride Festival and helps promote the well-being of the LGBTQI community in the South. Mission: unity through diversity and social awareness. Second Tuesday/month. PO Box 6044, Savannah, GA 31414. 501c nonprofit. ongoing. info@savannahpride.com. savannahpride.com.

LITERARY EVENTS

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

HISTORICAL WRITERS GUILD The HWG will endeavor to offer a variety of programs for both published and unpublished writers to promote historical fiction and creative non-fiction. All compatible and cross-genre works to historical writing are welcome. HWG is also open to hobbyist writers to enjoy a relaxed and fun environment. Visit website for more info. Annual dues $20 fourth Monday of every month, 7-9 p.m. 713-907-8627. hwg. rh@comcast.net. google.com/search?client =safari&rls=en&q=Historical+Writers+Guild+ sav+ga&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8. Richmond Hill Museum, 11460 Ford Ave. LET’S ROAM SAVANNAH SCAVENGER HUNT Searching for an exciting outdoor activity 46 in Savannah? The hunt is over! Download

the Let’s Roam scavenger hunt app and start exploring today! Tourist, local, or new to town, this is a lively small group activity that anyone can enjoy. Lace up your walking shoes and get ready to experience Savannah like you never have before. Snap pics, race against the clock, and put your navigation skills to the test as you roam through Savannah discovering different destinations along the way, Historic Savannah Adventure has it all! Through Dec. 31, 1 a.m.-11:45 p.m. 833-202-7626. support@letsroam. com. letsroam.com/scavenger_hunt/ historic_savannah_scavenger_hunt?utm_ source=partner&utm_medium=mwrtvxmr. LetsRoam!, 10 East Oglethorpe Avenue.

NATURE AND ENVIRONMENT

DOLPHIN PROJECT Dolphin Project’s Education Outreach Program is available to speak at schools, clubs, organizations. A powerpoint presentation with sound and video about estuarine dolphins and their environment. Age/grade appropriate programs and handouts. See website for info. ongoing. thedolphinproject.org. GREENDRINKS SAVANNAH GreenDrinks Savannah is a social networking group initiated by local non-profits and businesses to engage community members in an informal setting. Everyone is welcome to attend and meet people interested in a more Sustainable and Greener Savannah. Check the “GreenDrinks Savannah” facebook page. Free to attend. Cash bar. third Wednesday of every month, 5:30 p.m. Lone Wolf Lounge, 2429 Lincoln St. JEKYLL ISLAND RANGER WALKS Jekyll Island is home to more than a thousand acres of maritime forest, 10 miles of shoreline, and marshes filled with many wonders. Learn more about the island’s natural resources from Jekyll’s own park ranger during these unique eco-experiences. Ranger Walk programming is updated seasonally, so please visit frequently to learn more about the latest offering. Reservations are required and must be made 30 minutes prior to the tour start. $8.35 Saturdays, Sundays, 10-11 a.m. & 3-4 p.m. 912.635.3636. remerson@jekyllisland.com. jekyllisland.com/activities/ranger-walks/. The Old Infirmary, 101 Old Plantation Road. NATURALIST 101: PUTTING RECYCLING RUMORS TO REST Want to help with local waste reduction and recycling efforts? Join us in putting preconceived notions to rest and learn how you can recycle smarter. Chatham County’s Resource Conservation Education Center’s Coordinator Anne Robinson will educate us on all stages of the recycling process from collections to product manufacturing. The purpose will be to help residents understand the state of current recycling markets, both statewide and globally, and how these factors have a direct effect on what happens to all the materials you put in your local recycling bin. Thu., Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m. Chatham County Resource Conservation & Recycling Education Center, 1321 Eisenhower Drive.

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE A two-mile Native Animal Nature Trail winds through maritime forest, freshwater wetland, salt marsh habitats, featuring live native animal exhibits. Open daily, 10am-4pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years. Call or see website for info. ongoing. 912395-1500. oatlandisland.org. oatlandisland. org/. Oatland Island Wildlife Center, 711 Sandtown Rd. WILDERNESS SOUTHEAST A variety of programs each month including guided trips with naturalists. Canoe trips, hikes. Mission: develop appreciation, understanding, stewardship, and enjoyment of the natural world. Call or see website for info. ongoing. 912-236-8115. wildernesssoutheast.org.

PETS & ANIMALS

DOG DAY CARE AND BOARDING IN POOLER Pooler’s only dog day care and boarding facility! Clean, climate controlled, fun for your dogs! www.dogleypets.com. Register your dog today so they don’t have to sit home bored while you are at work. Beautiful luxury suites for overnight boarding Staff is fully trained in all aspects of pet care. Tours available! Varies ongoing, noon. 912-4140071. info@dogleypets.com. dogleypets. com. Dogley Station, 128 Pipemakers Cirle. LOW COST PET CLINIC TailsSpin and Dr. Stanley Lester, DVM, host low-cost pet vaccine clinics for students, military and seniors the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. 5pm-6pm. Vaccinations: $12, ($2 is donated to Savannah pet rescue agencies). See website for info. ongoing. tailsspin.com. tailsspin. com. TailsSpin Pet Supplies Store, 4501 Habersham St., Habersham Village. MIMOSAS FOR MEOWS AND CAFFEINE FOR CANINES A kid friendly event with painting activities, photo booth sets, a raffle and of course dogs and cats. For the adult we will provide Mimosas, coffee other beverages, and brunch food. Come out and support Savannah’s Humane Society’s mission to better the lives of pets and people at Cedar House Gallery. We will have dogs and cats on-site for our fun photo booth sets, painting with pups and of course, all are available for adoption. Money raised during this kid friendly event will go to the Humane Society. Sat., Feb. 22, 11 a.m. Cedar House Gallery, 122 E. 36th St. ST. ALMO’S Savannah True Animal Lovers Meeting Others. Informal dog walks on Sundays, 5pm (weather permitting). Meet at Canine Palace. Call for info. ongoing. 912-234-3336. caninepalacesavannah.com. Canine Palace Inc, 618 Abercorn St.

RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL

GRATITUDE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARES Gather with others to share gratitude. Everyone welcome. Park next to Bull Street Library. Wednesdays, 12-12:30 p.m. 917-676-4280. facebook.com/ savannahgratitude. liveoakpl.org. Bull Street Library, 2002 Bull St. GUIDED SILENT PRAYER Acoustical songs, 30 minutes of guided

silent prayer, and minutes to receive prayer or remain in silence. Wednesdays, 6:45-8:00pm at Vineyard Church, 615 Montgomery St. See website for info. ongoing. vineyardsavannah.org. PRAYER & HEALING SCHOOL Prayer & Healing School weekly - Beginning Oct 3, 2019 Thursday Friday & Saturday. For those in need of healing in their spirit, soul, emotions, & body or a miracle from God. We teach what God says about your problems & what’s causing it!. Then act on the Word from Mark 15: 17: These signs shall follow them that believe in my name, they shall cast out devils, speak with new tongues.... they will lay hands on the sick & they will get well! Come out & get God’s power for your life!! There is no charge - if you like you may donate. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2-4 p.m. 912-228-2634. pearlerivers@yahoo.com. Heavenly Books and Gifts, 77D W. Fairmont Ave. SAVANNAH FRIENDS MEETING (QUAKERS) Un-programmed worship. 11am Sundays, Joy Cottage behind Wesley Oak United Methodist Church. Call or email for info. All are welcome. ongoing. 636-233-1772. savannahquakers@gmail.com. Wesley Oak United Methodist Church, 3124 East Victory Drive. SAVANNAH REIKI SHARE During shares, participants take turns giving and receiving universal life force energy via Reiki and other healing modalities. Present at the shares are usually no less than 2 Reiki Masters. Come share with us on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month at the Sweet Water Spa in downtown Savannah. Sign up at Savannah Reiki Share or Reiki by Appointment on Facebook. Free ongoing, 7 p.m. and third Thursday of every month, 7 p.m. 440-371-5209. Sweet Water Spa, 148 Abercorn Street. SERVICE OF COMPLINE Enter the stillness of another age. Gregorian Chant sung by candlelight at 9:00-9:30 p.m. every Sunday night by the Complne Choir of Christ Church Anglican. Come, say good nigh to God. All are welcome. ongoing. Christ Church Anglican, 37th and Bull. TAPESTRY CHURCH A church for all people! We don’t care what you are wearing, just that you are here. From the moment you walk in until the moment you leave, Tapestry is committed to delivering a creative, challenging, straight forward, and honest message about the role of biblical principles in your life. Come experience an environment that helps you connect with God and discover his incredible purpose for your life. Join us every Sunday morning 10AM at the Habersham YMCA. Sundays, 10 a.m. tapestrysavannah. com. YMCA (Habersham Branch), 6400 Habersham St. THEOLOGY ON TAP Meets on the third Monday, 8:30pm-10:30pm. Like the Facebook page: Theology on Tap Downtown Savannah. ongoing. distillerysavannah.com. The Distillery, 416 W. Liberty St.

Announcements

For Your Information

WINDSOR HALL WEDDING PACKAGE ALL INCLUSIVE Up to 150 guests. Includes: Event Space, Catering, Decorations, DJ, Photography. $4085. windsorrentalhall.com 912-658-0240.

Yard Sales Estate Sale

shot in the dark mysteries JOIN US LIVE! Reserve your place at the Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island for a three-day 1920s Gatsby-themed Murder Mystery getaway where you’ll take on a suspect role, crack codes, gather treasures and then come together for a true investigation to find the killer. Limited to just 20 people, this adventure includes your accommodations in the mansion, all meals,dock to mansion transfers and the murder mystery experience. $856.60 per person for entire weekend. Call 912-485-2299 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Action pact formerly CONCERTED SERVICES, INC. is now the service provider for The Weatherization Program that previously was administered by EOA Savannah. Applications are being accepted to weatherize the homes of Low-Income Families living in Chatham County. For more information, please contact Teresa Lewis @ 912-285-6085

is seeking servers, bartenders, and prep cooks for upcoming private events and banquets. $10-$12/hr. based on experience. Work on your time and choose your own schedule. Interviews take place Tue-Fri 10am-3pm. Call 912-352-2288

Real Estate

BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED 3BR/2BA Mobile. Home in Rural Richmond Hill. Includes Water, Pest Control, Lawn Care. $950mo/$950deposit with contract/REFERENCES. 912-6903386. Caroline Drive Apartment. 2 Bedroom/1 Bath. QUIET BUILDING New paint. Separate dining room and kitchen. All electric. $850/month, $850/deposit. 912655-4303

Land/Lots For Sale

Fabulous Thunderbolt Harbor Condo. Garfield 124 Acres 2/3-Bedroom. All Electric. Washer/ Dryer Connections. Bookcases/ Other farm and Furnished. timber tracts available www. Fireplaces/Kitchen Boat Slip. Intracoastal Wateray. wasdenrealty.com 2-Car Garage/Pool. NO PETS. Call Alan @ $2100month. Wasden Realty, Inc. 706Call 912- 661-4814 ESTATE TAG SALE!! 406 East 49th Street (Ardsley Park) Savannah, GA Friday, 2/21, 10 AM-2 PM Saturday 2/22, 10 AM-2PM Entire Contents: This lovely home is filled with high-end, quality furniture, antiques and nice decorative items. This will be an On-The-Site-TagSale. Prices Negotiable Dealers Welcome! Please come prepared to pack and load your Treasures! More information and pic @ www.estatesale.com (#1821) and “Like Us” on Facebook for automatic updates and upcoming sales. Thank you for your interest and we hope to see you there! Ann Lemley for Old Savannah Estates, Antiques & Auction Co. (912) 231-9466 Office or (912) 398-4435 Cell

Jobs Help Wanted

Happy Ads

Professional Child Care Center in Savannah hiring full-time NBCC, INC. THRIFT STORE child care instructors. State 25% OFF SALE approved facility, therefore all HURRY! EVERY SATURDAY state requirements must be IN FEBRUARY! 9am to 4pm met. Compensation based on $1200-$1600/ 11202 White Bluff Rd. qualifications monthly. Serious inquiries only. 912-658-0240 Call 912-441-2198

Thousands of People If You’re Reading This, Are Looking At This Space. So Are Thousands Make Them Of Potential Customers. Your Customers! Call 912-721-4350 and Place your Classified Ad Today!

Southern Elegance Staffing, Inc.

ADS RECEIVED BY 5PM FRIDAY WILL APPEAR IN THE WEDNESDAY ISSUE OF THE NEXT WEEK.

Call 912-721-4350 and Place your Classified Ad Today!

831-0441

For Rent

FURNISHED EFFICIENCY APT. Utilities included. No Pets. No Smoking. $800 per month, $200 deposit. Call:912-236-1952 House For Rent. 339 Riverview Dr. Spacious 3br/1.5BA LR, DR, Eatin-kitchen, Appliances included. Central Heat/Air. Total electric. NO Pets. $1000/mo, $1000/Deposit. Tel:912-441-5468

1231 EAST 42nd STREET. 2BR/1BA, C/H&A, CUTE Bungalow. Total Electric. $900 mo. PLUS $900 Deposit. NO PETS. CALL 912-6593550. 2008 Hudson Street. 3BR/1 BA, House for Rent. LR, DR, KitchenAppliances included. Washer/ Dryer Connection. Total Electric. NO PETS. $850/mo., $850/ deposit. Call 912-659-4056 3BR/1BA. Freshly painted. New A/C. Quiet Residential Bloomingdale. NO PETS. Verifiable Income. Big Yard. Shown by Appointment. 912-210-0144.

SPECIAL! SPECIAL! SPECIAL! 11515 WHITE BLUFF RD. 1BR/1BA, all electric, equipped kitchen, W/D connection. Convenient to Armstrong College. $800/ mo.-$500/deposit. $50 Non- Refundable Application Fee DAVIS RENTALS 310 E. MONTGOMERY X-RDS 912-354-4011 912-656-5372

EssEntial information News, music, art & eveNts…

Classes,Clubs, Workshops, Volunteer opportunities, eVents

eveNts caleNdar music aNd live eNtertaiNmeNt listiNgs Photo galleries Blogs video curreNt & archive stories coNtests

ConneCtSavannah.Com

40 Chatham Street. 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath apartment. Stove, Refrigerator. Central Heat/Air. $650 month/$650 security deposit. No Pets. 912-398-0404

Happenings

TATUMVILLE 352 Sherman Avenue 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bath $800/ month Call 912-961-7151 Room for Rent BLOOMINGDALE Room for Rent Clean, quiet near I-95 & I-16. Completely furnished includes cable, washer dryer, Central heat/air. NO Pets Call 912-963-7956 Rooms Available. Large BR Furnished WIFI/Cable/ Washer/Dryer. NO Drugs/ Violence - $170/WK, $100/ deposit. Single occupancy. Christian Home. Must have ID/Check stubs. Available:912-483-2266, Mr. Williams

WEEKLY ROOM RENTAL $189.99 DAILY SPECIALS $34.99 Offering spacious, fully equipped rooms w/breakfast included. Cable, internet, refrigerator, microwave, all utilities, On-site laundry, housekeeping service. EconoLodge, 3 Gateway Blvd. South, Savannah. Contact Front Desk (912) 925-2770 (All Rates + Tax) *Must mention Pennysaver*

Roommate Wanted ROOM FOR RENT: Mature renter preferred. All utilities and cable included. Proof of income required. $150-170 weekly+ deposit; Call: 912-659-3550 ROOMMATE WANTED: Very Clean Home. All Utilities, Cable, Wifi, Fitness Gym. On busline. NEWLY FURNISHED w/shared or private bath. $145-$200/week or $550$650 month. 912-414-4380 SHARED LIVING. Fully Furnished Apartments. Ages 40 and better. $170 weekly. No deposit. Utilities included. 912-844-5995

SAVANNAH’S HOUSE OF GRACE- SENIOR LIVING AT ITS BEST. Ages 50 and BETTER. Shared community living for full functioning seniors. Nice comfortable living, affordable rates. Shared kitchen and bathroom. Bedrooms with central heating/air/cable. Private bedrooms, fully furnished. ALSO: Community housing w/private bath. Different rates apply. Income must be verifiable. Accept government vouchers. Starting at $600. 912-844-5995. VARIOUS LOCATIONS! Rooms for rent. Furnished, w/utilities, C/H&A/cable. $170-$220/week. Income Source/ID required. 912695-9481

Submit Your Event Online and Place Your ad Online www.ConneCtSavannah.Com

Happenings

Browse online for... Activism & Politics Benefits clAsses workshoPs cluBs orgAnizAtions DAnce events heAlth fitness

Happenings Classes,Clubs, Workshops, Volunteer opportunities, eVents

ConneCtSavannah.Com

Looking For Something?

You Can Find It Our Website! www.connectsavannah.com

Pets & AnimAls religious & sPirituAl theAtre sPorts suPPort grouPs volunteers

ConneCtSavannah.Com

CONNECT SAVANNAH | FEB 19 - 25, 2020

EXCHANGE

BUY. SELL. CONNECT.

CALL 238-2040 BUSINESS RATES |PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD ONLINE FOR FREE AT CONNECTSAVANNAHEXCHANGE.COM

The Best Deck in Town

! s u t i s i Come V

Mondays:

Wednesday:

Savannah Nights

Ladies Night Out

$4 Two Tides, Service & Southbound drafts

$3 Rosé and $4 Trulys!

Tequila Tuesday

Thursdays:

savannah bourbon & vodka half price glasses of wine El jimador & Herradura shot and drink specials $4 corona and Corona light

Locals only

$3 Rosé all Day

125 West River Street On top of the cotton sail hotel

$4 Two Tides, Service & Southbound drafts

friday, saturday and sunday

www.topdeckbar.com

Ghost Coast Specials

sparkling and still

MON - TH 1:30 PM TO 12 AM FRI AND SAT 12:30 PM TO 1 AM SUNDAY 1:30 PM TO 11 PM