Extreme makeover in savannah (best cities, food, best)

[gentlearts]

So, FYI, we parked and got the very efficient shuttle to the build, and really enjoyed the lovely neighborhood and the goings on. It really is an incredible undertaking.
Then we saw the Art Show at the museum, also awesome, and had lunch at City Market. I'm sure that's all too touristy for you all, but we had a super fun time.

[Padgett2]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

So, FYI, we parked and got the very efficient shuttle to the build, and really enjoyed the lovely neighborhood and the goings on. It really is an incredible undertaking.
Then we saw the Art Show at the museum, also awesome, and had lunch at City Market. I'm sure that's all too touristy for you all, but we had a super fun time.

You have to understand one thing. WE HAVE LIVED HERE FOR AGES.
We are part of that lovely neighborhood. We visit our friends who live there. Some of us even live in more lovely areas. We have seen the Art Shows and eaten at the City Market. That's part of our lives. And it was better when there were fewer tourists.

You'll see in a few years what I mean when you become more familiar with Savannah. The west side of Chatham County is not the same as Savannah.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but when people move to this area and consider the downtown section of Savannah to be all that it is, well, it sort of gets under my skin. We seem to have had a lot of it lately. We have had too many "developments" that have gone down the toilet lately because someone had the idea that the tourist industry was a wonderful way to get rich. It isn't.

[Newsboy]

You can take a SHUTTLE to the BUILD SITE and stand and WATCH those BOZOS construct a HOUSE?!

AYE!

For what it's worth, I've never EVER even been compelled to stop and "gawk" at a movie or TV shoot ... or even a commercial shoot for that matter. All in a day, big deal. But that's just me. I'm not easily impressed. There's a very good reason why the city ABSOLUTELY FORBID the placement of a permanent bench or marker on the spot where "Forrest Gump" was filmed. AND THIS IS IT!

NOW: To whoever said, "People want to visit Savannah and then ask what there is to do...?" I've got a really nice reply but it's not appropriate for this site.

[Newsboy]

Saw on the 11 PM news tonight that SCAD students are involved in a competition to come up with the winning design for the interior of the house. So that's a good thing.

[ellie]

I'd say that the art show at the Telfair is exactly one of the better things in our community. It feeds the local economy and helps to support people who are striving to go beyond the mundane, even if it is for a limited audience.

And Newsboy, long, long ago I sheepishly stood around and spent a morning watching them shoot a scene for a major film here. I was satisfied with what I saw and didn't see and have no desire to do that kind of thing again.

[Padgett2]

Yes, Ellie.....the Telfair and the Jepson play an important part in Savannah. It must have been about 70 years ago when I first went. I loved it! All those huge pictures and the statures! My children were lucky enough to be taken there on school field trips, one son even took art lessons one summer. And now, my grandchildren get to see it. Wonderful!

We had the priviledge of singing in a group that did a concert in the Rotunda a couple of times. You would not believe the sound! Fantastic.

[gentlearts]

OMG. So, I'm just too ignorant to realize that these things I enjoy doing are REALLY boring to locals. I'll just go sit in my house and ***** instead.

[Padgett2]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

OMG. So, I'm just too ignorant to realize that these things I enjoy doing are REALLY boring to locals. I'll just go sit in my house and ***** instead.

oh now, that's not it at all. We don't find things like that boring, we enjoy Savannah, what it looks like, the lovely homes, and all it has to offer too. We just don't want it to get more touristy. That sort of thing can get out of hand and the whole thing would go down hill fast.

The St. Patricks Day is a good example of too much of a good thing. It's begining to be more and more like a drunk festival. Lots of money in catering to them, but it sure costs a lot to clean up all the puke and trash on River Street afterwards. Is it a Good Thing? There's a lot of local discussion about that.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by Padgett2

oh now, that's not it at all. We don't find things like that boring, we enjoy Savannah, what it looks like, the lovely homes, and all it has to offer too. We just don't want it to get more touristy. That sort of thing can get out of hand and the whole thing would go down hill fast.

May I clarify, Padgett2, to say we don't mind more tourists -- we mind that the things which BROUGHT the tourists here in the first place get swept to the wayside by cheesy TOURISTY attractions that cheapen and take away from the real reason people come here -- the history, the beauty, the food, the arts, the weather?

I think that's the rub -- there are MANY MANY unique and delightful things that draw millions of tourists to this city every year. But "Extreme Makeover" or some blockbuster movie that just happened to be filmed here SHOULD NOT be the main attraction.

Neither should a greasy, cheesy overpriced "Southern" buffet served up by a foul-mouthed "lady" and her sons, yet thousands of people get bused in here every year to eat that garbage, get right back on those buses and leave without ever fully discovering or appreciating what else is here.

GET IT?

[ellie]

We need better tourists. That's all.