Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

The Station – a dance performance by SCAD, Savannah

by

The SCAD performing arts department will present the world premiere of a light-hearted dance production, “The Station,” conceived, directed and choreographed by SCAD performing arts professor Vincent Brosseau, with set design by Hal Tine and lighting by Robert Mond.

“The Station” will run Saturday, April 3 at 8 p.m., Sunday, April 4 at 3 p.m., and Monday, April 5 at 8 p.m. at Trustees Theater, 216 E. Broughton St., Savannah, Georgia.

This fun-filled romp brings together more than 30 dancers. Act I features a number of characters in various scenes—sisters, lovers, soldiers, businessmen—as they wait at a train station for their train to arrive. Act II brings these characters back to the same train station years later, full of the hope, love or regret from the decisions they made at the station years before.

A graduate of The Juilliard School in New York, Brosseau danced the works of such renowned choreographers as Jose Limon, David Parson, Paul Taylor and Anna Sokolow. His television credits include the PBS special “Live from Lincoln Center” in which he performed in Paul Taylor’s “Cloven Kingdom.” Before coming to SCAD, Brousseau directed the modern dance company Brosseau Danceworks, based in Charlotte, N.C., for six years. At SCAD he has choreographed “Guys and Dolls” and “Carousel,” and created the dance pieces “Silence,” “Ripping Souls” and “The Crossing,” among others.

Admission to “The Station” is $5 for students, seniors and military; and $10 for the general public. Free with valid SCAD ID for the Monday, April 5 performance ONLY.

Tickets are available at the Trustees Theater box office, 216 E. Broughton St., online at www.savannahboxoffice.com, and by phone at 912.525.5050.
The Station - SCAD Performing Arts Dept in Savannah, GA

Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens 2010

by

The city of Savannah is known for its beautiful squares, remarkable architecture and hidden gardens.  Put on your comfortable walking shoes, get out your water bottle, and get ready for Savannah’s Tour of Homes and Gardens. This is one of the absolute best ways to experience some of Savannah’s finest homes and most beautiful gardens. The 75th Annual Tour of Homes and Gardens takes place in Savannah, Georgia, March 25 – 28, 2010.

The self-guided house tours featured a different historic neighborhood each of the four days. Tour participants receive a guide book with a color coded map. Volunteers are at hand to assist you at each tour site. You do this tour at your own pace.

Savannah has the largest urban landmark historic district in the U. S.  In this 2.5 square mile area, there is an astonishingly preserving the  beauty, architecture and history of the old South.  The city of Savannah was founded back in 1733 by General James Edward Oglethorpe whose grid design influenced the city.   To this day there is twenty-one oak-canopied squares giving Savannah its unique character.

Walking Tour tickets will be priced at $40 per person, per day with six to nine sites on Tour each day. Click here to buy tickets.

Please call 912-234-8054 with questions.

Download the brochure for the event here!

Episode with Joe

by

I’m always on the lookout for fun things to do on the coast from South Carolina, Georgia to Northeast Florida. Every week I’ll show my findings to you – sometimes you’ll agree, and sometimes I’m sure you’ll disagree with my choice.

If so, make sure to let me know – and don’t hesitate to submit your suggestions for things we should showcase in one of our upcoming episodes – send me an email to joe@coastalcompanion.com.

I’d also appreciate your comments below! Thanks!

Savannah Music Festival Opens

by

Immediately following of the country’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the 2010 Savannah Music Festival opens on Thursday, March 18,2010, with a performance with Chinese pianist Lang Lang and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, along with Mike Marshall’s Big Trio premiering the newly-commissioned “Suite Savannah” on a co-bill with new favorites of western swing, The Belleville Outfit.

Bassekou Kouyate
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba

Unique co-bills and original productions are staged in intimate venues throughout Savannah, Georgia, during the festival which continues through April 3rd. This is one of Savannah’s most popular festivals.

Some of the highlights in this year’s festival is violinist Daniel Hope’s Sensations chamber music series (this year featuring newcomers Mark O’Connor, Jeffrey Kahane, Gabriela Montero and Gautier Capuçon), the Savannah Jazz Party series with Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Roberts, Henry Butler, Gerald Clayton, Dick Hyman and others, Bill Frisell’s Trio playing two nights alongside Malian powerhouse Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, the Del McCoury Band, Nicole Cabell, Wilco, Kristina Train, Yefim Bronfman, She & Him (featuring M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel), Ruthie Foster, Renaud Garcia-Fons, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, and the debut of the all-new Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band with The Wood Brothers opening.

Below is a video of an “unplugged” performance with Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba on a roof top in Timbuktu

For a complete schedule or to order tickets visit www.savannahmusicfestival.org or call 912-525-5050.

Also, visit the latest episode of Tripping with Joe to find out what Joe has to say about the event.

St Patrick’s Day Celebration in Savannah 2010

by

The city of Savannah is known for its rich history and for its many festival. This time of year festival season is in full swing. Savannah hosts the largest St. Patrick’s Day party in the South over several days, with a St Patrick’s Day parade, green fountain and lots of beer on this Irish party day. This is one of the most popular events in Savannah, it is said that 400,000 people will show up to celebrate Irish heritage.

Go Green!
Start your celebration early and head to Forsyth Park at lunchtime on Friday March 12, 2010.  Watch the water turn green at noon.
This event is sure to be a hit with the younger crowd. With the nice, warm weather we’re having, it might be a perfect time for a picnic in the park.

Tara Feis, an Irish Festival
Then on Saturday, we’ll go all out with a genuine Irish Festival, Tara Feis taking place on  Saturday March 13. This is a festival celebrating Irish culture with lots of fun for the whole family from food, to music and dance and much more. The festival is held in Emmet Park. The event is free and open to the public, this year’s event features the Cathie Ryan Band. Tara Feis festival takes place in Emmet Park from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. For more information call 912.651.6417 or http://www.savannahga.gov/arts.

Then there is of course the River Street celebration in the historic downtown district on March 16-17, 2010. This is the main waterfront location for all Paddy Day partygoers coming to town.

The 2010 St. Patrick’s Festival on Historic River Street takes place along the waterfront, includes the following area: River Street from East Broad Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Festivities in this area include games, food, beverages, and live entertainment. The event itself is free, but partygoers must purchase a wristband ($5) to consume alcoholic beverages on the plaza and inside River Street businesses on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wristbands will be sold at kiosks on the plaza, and at businesses on River Street. Already on Tuesday, the party starts with the I-95 Battle of the Bands.

For more details about St Patrick’s Day on Riverstreet, visit www.riverstreetsavannah.com

The City Market also hosts an Irish celebration on March 16-17.

St Patrick’s Day Parade
Don’t miss the parade itself. This year it’s the 186th time for the St. Patrick’s Day parade, so this is one of the oldest in the United States. The parade features bands and marching groups from across the country. Savannah St Patrick’s Day parade starts at 10:15 a.m. (Here is the map of the parade route)

For more information visit www.SavannahStPatricksDay.com

The city will double in size for St Patrick’s Day – so plan to come early and stay late. For more information about St Patrick’s Day and places to stay, contact Savannah CVB at 1-877-SAVANNAH
St Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah, Georgia