Modern Art and Stuff

Before we moved to Savannah, we knew pitiably little about the city. I don’t think we expected the romantically Southern vision of genteel ladies and well-heeled gentlemen, drawling their speech and speaking wistfully of the Confederacy. But streets dominated by pink-haired girls and hipsters with ironic mustaches? We weren’t expecting that at all! In other words: we had no idea about the existence of SCAD.

We were shocked during our first week here. Art students are everywhere, almost eclipsing the number of tourists. And definitely eclipsing the “Southern Belle” contingent. The hipster ratio has got to be as high in Savannah as in Williamsburg, NY. Yesterday I saw five kids with green hair, I swear to God.

SCAD was only established in 1978, so is a relatively new entity in Savannah. But, man, has it made its presence felt. The college has been instrumental in the purchase and restoration of innumerable buildings, doing more than its share to help re-beautify the city. With a sky-high tuition, and strong student population of over 10,000, SCAD is using its deep pockets for good, rather than evil.

The college turns out some great talent, too, as a peek in at the SCAD Shop on Bull Street will confirm. We went recently, and found so much innovative artwork… it could have been a museum, and honestly put the Jepson Center to shame.

SCAD boasts a strong foreign population; its student body represents over 100 countries, and there are branches in France and Hong Kong. All in all, we came to appreciate the influence that this influx of artistic (and mostly rich) youth has had on the city. Cool eateries, a hopping nightlife and a hip, urban vibe in a historic, conservative region. None of that would be possible without it.

shopSCAD Website
Location on our Savannah Map

- For 91 Days in Oviedo, Spain

Read our book on Savannah here

Alright, we did it. The show was too expensive and rather bad, as we suspected it would be. Still, we couldn’t leave Savannah without seeing the Lady Chablis at least once.

She was the highlight of Saturday night’s two-hour long drag show at Club One. The Lady, who makes her home in Columbia SC, waltzed onto the stage after five other drag queens of varying quality had performed. One of them didn’t know any of the lyrics to the song she was lip-syncing, and that song was Aretha’s Think! Which everyone knows! But whatever: the crowd (middle-aged, white, Mid-Western) was there only to see Miss You-Know-Who.

And Chablis didn’t disappoint. Her act was short, but fun. She looks great; lithe and elegant, and her sassy, dirty banter was hilarious and mildly shocking. She’s a true character, and it’s obvious why John Berendt wanted her in his novel, and Clint Eastwood wanted her in his film.

But let’s cut to the chase. All you really want to know is: would I hit that? The answer is: Yes. Yes, I would totally hit that.

ACH! I’m just joking! Of course I wouldn’t.*

Her Official Website
Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography of the Grand Empress of Savannah
Location on our Savannah Map

Guide to Starting and Running a Thrift Store

Our guide during our recent day trip to Bluffton, South Carolina was Nancy, who owns and operates a store of miscellaneous eccentricities named … Eggs N Tricities. A large shop packed to the gills with weird, fun stuff, Juergen’s shutter finger was itching like crazy. Nancy also allowed us into her home, which was very similar in feel to her shop, and we got some great shots there, too.

If you’re in Bluffton, make sure and stop by her shop! Regardless of your tastes or interests, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something you’ll like.

Eggs N Tricities
71 Calhoun St.
Bluffton, SC
843 757 3446
Location on our map

A look inside her house:

- Our Favorite City in Spain