What to Eat


Greens
Typically collard greens or cabbage, are similar to money in color and shape. Eating some kind of leafy green is thought to bring prosperity and wealth in the New Year.

Black-eyed Peas
An essential part of “Hoppin’ John,” black-eyed peas represent luck in the upcoming year. Some say this idea dates back to the civil war when the town of Vicksburg, Mississippi ran out of food while under attack. The residents found black-eyed peas, and the peas were thereafter considered lucky.

Pork
Due to it’s high fat content, eating pork is said to ensure happiness. It also symbolizes that you’ll move forward in the New Year because pigs root in a forward motion.

Circular foods
Eating foods that are circular in shape symbolize “coming full circle.” It can also represent coins, and is said to bring prosperity to those who eat them.

Cornbread
Instead of waiting for Rumpelstiltskin, try cornbread. It is thought to bring the glories of gold due to its rich yellow color.

Grapes
A tradition that began in Spain, eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight is said to be a predictor of the next 12 months. A sweet grape means a good month, and a sour grape represents what could be a rocky or bad month.

Noodles
In the Far East, noodles are eaten because people believe them to represent longevity of life. So don’t break the noodles when you cook them, because the longer they are, the better.

What Not to Eat

Lobster
These crustaceans crawl backwards, so by eating them, it could represent setbacks in your upcoming year.

Chicken
In order to find food, chickens scratch the ground in a backwards direction. Some believe that by eating chicken, it can lead to “scratching” for food all year. Some also believe it represents regret or dwelling in the past.

Wings
Wings, or any type of winged fowl, eaten in celebration of New Years is thought to make good luck fly away.

Bon Appétit, and enjoy your New Year!

Saya Lounge
Join Saya and South as we host A Red Carpet New Year’s Eve Party. There will be appetizers, complimentary coat check, televised ball drop, music by DJ Xtreme and more. There will also be a champagne toast at midnight.

The Westin Savannah Harbor
The Westin is featuring several events on New Year’s Eve. A themed party with music and dancing, a six-course meal at Aqua Star and a kid’s party are all part of their fun-filled night, so be sure to check their website for more information.

Leoci’s Trattoria
Don’t feel like cooking? Join Leoci’s for New Year’s Eve Dinner that is nothing short of delicious. The menu includes roasted garlic Georgia prawns, Niman Ranch Pork osso buco and house-made lemon sorbet. A vegetarian menu is available. The dinner is from 5 p.m. to midnight and is $65 a person. Reservations are recommended.

River Boat Cruises
Savannah River Boat Cruises will host three cruises on New Year’s Eve. One is a dinner cruise, and the other two are celebration cruises offering you the chance to ring in 2011 in style! Check out their website for more information.

City Market Outdoor Street Party
No reservations required for this party! Enjoy live music starting at 9 p.m. Open to the public.

American Legion Post 154 New Year’s Party
Enjoy champagne at midnight, a cash bar, live music from  The 8 Tracks and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $20 per person and are available at the post between 5 and 10 p.m., or call Chuck Bolen: 257.0903. Sorry kids, this party’s for ages 21 and up.

New Year’s Bluegrass Festival
The 35th Annual festival will feature The Crowe Brothers, Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, along with many other bluegrass greats. The festival will be held at the Jekyll Island Convention Complex and run from Dec. 30 through Jan. 1.

New Year’s Day Tybee Island Polar Bear Plunge
Join other polar bears on Tybee Island to dive into the New Year! Take a plunge into the icy Atlantic to celebrate 2011 at noon on New Year’s Day.

New Year’s Day Polar Bear 5K
If the plunge is too much for you, then head over to Bluffton for the the 5th Annual Publix Bluffton New Year’s Day Polar Bear 5K! The event will start and finish at Sea Turtle Cinema taking participants down The Buckwalter Parkway unto the Bluffton Parkway through Buckwalter Place and back to finish at Sea Turtle Cinema.

New Year’s Day Brunch Cruise
Relax and recuperate with a brunch cruise on New Year’s day. The 1.5-hour cruise will feature lunch items as well as breakfast items. Check out the website for more information.

Make edible snowmen
Every Southern kid dreams of making a snowman, but unfortunately, we rarely have the ingredients to construct the perfect Frosty. Instead, build a snowman that’s not only fun to make, but yummy to eat.  Kids will have a blast making a marshmallow snowman for roasting, or to be eaten raw. Roast three marshmallows on a skewer until golden, and then insert pretzels for arms and candy for fashion accessories. Another fun edible snowman recipe is the rice crispy snowman. All you need is a cookie cutter, icing, and candies for accessories. Check out this recipe from Kellogg’s Rice Krispies.

Play Dirty Santa
Suggest that everyone bring a wrapped gift, and sit back and enjoy the fun.To play, just number slips of paper in accordance with the number of gifts. After the numbers are assigned, gift recipient number one picks a gift. After that, recipient two can choose to steal the gift from number one or pick their own. This continues for all the players until all the gifts are gone, or stolen.

Go see Christmas light displays
Some of the best, and most interesting, light displays can be found in the South, ranging from blow-up Santa’s to classic manger scenes. It’s a great way to get out of the house, and depending on the size of your family and vehicle, it’s also a great way to get closer to loved ones.

Cook a non-traditional Christmas dinner
Instead of cooking the traditional ham, turkey and stuffing, try something new. Host a Christmas breakfast with homemade omelettes, waffles, mimosas, sausage, pancakes…the list goes on.

Of course, you can always start your own tradition, or continue the favorites from years past. But no matter what you do on Christmas, be sure to enjoy friends, family and fellowship, as well as the true meaning of Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Christmas with the Philharmonic: December 17 & 18, 8 p.m.
Enjoy sounds of the season including excerpts fro Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Handel’s Messiah Christmas favorites, sing-along carols and much more. Performances are being held at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and tickets can be purchased online or by calling 912.525.5050 (*Please do not call the Cathedral).

Hilton Head Hospital Jingle Jingle Run: December 18, 9 a.m.
The 19th Annual Run will take place on and around the Hilton Head Regional Medical Center Campus and Main Street. The race features all standard male and female running divisions. The first 400 participants will receive an event t-shirt, jingle bells and a candy cane.

Breakfast with Santa in Port Wentworth: December 18, 10 a.m.
Kids can have breakfast with Santa and share last minute gift requests while enjoying Chick-fil-A biscuits, milk and juice. Cost is $5 and is limited to the first 30 people. The breakfast will take place at P.B. Edwards, Jr. Gym, and you can call 912.966.7428 for more information.

Santa at Savannah Harley-Davidson: December 18, 2-5 p.m.
If you miss Santa in Port Wentworth, you can also find him at Savannah Harley-Davidson. There will be pictures with Santa, face painting, arts and crafts, refreshments, pet adoption and free gift-wrapping. Visit savannahhd.com for more information.

Jingle Bell Run 8K: December 18, 4 p.m.
Come dressed as your favorite Santa Claus, elf, reindeer or candy cane and win a prize. Runners must race in the costume and finish the race. After the race, stick around for a chili cook off! For more information, contact Missi Blakey at admin@rccsav.org.

Holiday Escape at Aqua Star: December 18
Take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle and relax at Aqua Star while your kids are entertained next door in the Christmas Kids party room. Kids will enjoy a complimentary dinner buffet, arts, crafts, movies and more. Reservations are strongly recommended, so call 912.201.2085 for more information.

Scrooge: December 19, 3 p.m.
Wrap up the weekend before Christmas with this classic tale presented by Kids on Stage at the Savannah Children’s Theatre. Tickets are available online or at the box office.

Living in an 84-square-foot, 1990 Chevy bus is not ideal for most people, but for Bob Votruba, it is more than enough. He has made this bus his home, along with his Boston Terrier, Bogart, and is as happy as he can be traveling the country to promote his brainchild, One Million Acts of Kindness. Through in-classroom programs, college campus visits, public events and more, he has spread his message to thousands of people.His inspiration came after Sept. 11, as he thought about his children. He started “Sow Only Seeds of Love,” which started out with simple campaign stickers. The trend caught on, especially with young people, and after the shootings at Virginia Tech in 2007, he decided to start a 10-year journey to promote One Million Acts of Kindness. Here’s what Votruba had to say:

One Million Acts of Kindness is a goal for individuals to perform one million acts of kindness in their life.

Young people are The Kindness Generation. Although it’s near impossible to complete one million acts of kindness in one’s lifetime because the math just doesn’t add up, just having the mindset of kindness is a great goal to strive for.

Fifty Acts of Kindness per day for 55 years equals One Million Acts of Kindness.

Ten thousand kindness certificates have been downloaded from our website. One teacher even printed 700 copies from her download. It’s there to take a pledge to have a constant mindset of kindness toward others.

I’ve visited 49 firehouses in Manhattan, New York. My 40^th visit was at a firehouse near ground zero. I was going to circle around and pay my respects when a security guard opened the gates and let me drive down to ground zero. It was a powerful experience.

February 14-20, 2011 is One Million Acts of Kindness Week, and the goal is to get 2,000 groups to participate.

I bought the bus two years ago on Craig’s List. I left my lifestyle as a homebuilder and sold all of my belongings, and have lived on the bus for 18 months now.

I painted the entire hood of my bus yellow in honor of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, the little girl who started a lemonade stand at the age of four to give the money to cancer research.

I’m just a guy alone trying to do as much as I can. I never went to college, so now I’m going to all of them.

Bob and Bogart will be in town through the weekend, and will be making a stop at the Trevor’s Treasures 5K on Sunday at Jenkins High School. Be sure to find the One Million Acts of Kindness Bus around town to learn more, or, visit the website for more information and updates, to donate or to purchase stickers.

Skatefest 2010: December 10, 4 p.m.

Break the ice to your weekend by attending the first session of Skatefest 2010! It runs through January 2 at various times, so be sure to check out the website for more information.

City Market Holiday Open House: December 10, 6-9 p.m.

Enjoy Christmas caroloers, visit with Father Christmas and sample holiday treats while you view the display of holiday decorations including hundreds of lights and over 500 luminaria in the courtyard.

Wright Square Holiday Open House: December 10, 5-9 p.m.

Experience store discounts, a tour through the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, listen to carolers in the square and enjoy special music by the Lutheran Church of the Ascension during the Square’s open house in celebration of the Holiday Tour of Homes.

Dunham Farms Festival of Lights: December 11, 3:30-9:30 p.m.

It’s your last chance to check out this spectacular display of lights at Dunham Farms. Don’t miss the hayride, guided tours, model railroad displays, Christmas Carols, live music, food and Christmas light displays. Tickets are required for some events and can be purchased on the website, at the event or by calling 912.880.4500.

Christmas for Kids Celebration: December 11, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Bring the family to City Market for all kinds of activities! From cookie decorating to a petting zoo, there are all kinds of activities in between that the entire family will enjoy. Of course Santa will be there in the Cinderella carriage for photos.

Trevor’s Treasures 5K: December 12, 8 a.m.

Take part in the 5K that helps Trevor and his family in his fight against cancer. All proceeds go towards helping pay the mounting medical bills.

Enjoy your holiday weekend as the countdown to Christmas continues!

Photo by Hilde Vanstraelen

Having been influenced by Mother Nature and all her glory since childhood, Kevin has always enjoyed being around animals, an appreciation that ultimately led to his current title, Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). Recently adorned with the title of Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Trainer, he’s making quite the impact in the Coastal Empire.

I’m one of three male Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Trainers. The only other two males reside in New Jersey and Rome, Italy.

I started training to meet the criteria for the Certification Council of Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT) by volunteering at places like Animal Resort & Spa, LLC. and Salt Creek Kennels, LLC. (In order to be eligible to sit for the CCPDT exam, one must complete 225 verifiable hours of actual training.)

I’ve watched Victoria Stilwell’s television show, It’s Me or the Dog, since 2008, and meeting her at a conference in Louisville, KY really inspired me to look at her program.

As a candidate of her program, I was evaluated by Victoria after being invited to an Atlanta Humane Society to spend the day working with dogs there. I had to get a stray, fearful dog to bond with me and earn the dog’s trust. The dog had obviously been abused, and seemingly by a male, but I earned the dog’s trust and Victoria was very impressed by that ability.

I’ve created a library of dog types and scenarios from Victoria’s show (It’s Me or the Dog). I take notes that inspire me when helping clients.

I’m a teacher and a student of positive reinforcement dog training because I’m constantly looking for ways to continue my education, as well as teach others.

The benefit of positive training is that dogs aren’t being abused. The methods are very humane and I’m teaching dog owners positive ways to have trusting relationships with their pets.

When people have pet behavior problems, the first source is a veterinarian. Most veterinarians are trained medically, not in behavior, and they’ll probably prescribe a drug which can be a good thing, but it isn’t always necessary. What I’m doing is helping educate veterinarians by working with a certified pet trainer to help modify the behavior, and ultimately reduce or eliminate drugs completely.

“It’s me or the dog” is the mentality most people have, which can lead to pets being abandoned, put in shelters or euthanized. If I can get in there and help prevent that from happening, I can save lives.

To find out more information about Kevin’s practice, contact him at kevin@caninetherapycenter.com, or call 912.661.3027.

For more information about Victoria Stilwell, visit her website at positively.com.

Photo compliments of Kevin Ray

Holiday Walk: Downtown Design District
December 2, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Featuring: 30 shops including Arcanum, One Fish Two Fish and Gallery 440, plus a holiday party with drinks, music and snacks.

Form’s Grand Opening: Form
December 3, 6 p.m.
Featuring: Live music from guitarist James Smith, gourmet spreads by Chef Chris Russell and Claude Auerbach and a wine tasting.
To RSVP, call 912.236.7642

Festival of Lights and Music: Dunham Farms (Midway, Georgia)
December 4 & 11, 3:30-9:30 p.m.
Featuring: Hayride, guided tours, model railroad displays, Christmas Carols, live music, food and Christmas light displays.
Tickets are required for some events and can be purchased on the website, at the event or by calling 912.880.4500.

Tybee Shop and Stroll Treasure Hunt: Tybee Island
December 4, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Featuring: Tybee Christmas Parade, book signing with Janice Shay, hourly drawing, Doyle’s Fresh Christmas Trees, and Santa, the Grinch, and the Whos’ from Whoville.
The treasure hunt maps, tallys and rules are available at Seaside Sisters.

Savannah Toy Run: Armstrong Atlantic State University
December 4, 9 a.m.
Featuring: Motorcycle ride to the Wingmen Clubhouse, food from Papa’s Bar-B-Que, door prizes and live music.
Bring a $10 donation and/or an unwrapped toy of equal or greater value. Santa will give the toys to children at the Magdalene House.

Savannah River Bridge Run: Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
December 4, 6:30 a.m.
Featuring: A race 196 feet above the Savannah River over a 1.4 mile span at a 5.5% grade.
For more information, please visit www.SavannahRiverBridgeRun.com

Tree of Light Community Memorial Gathering: Forsyth Park Bandshell
December 5, 5 p.m.
Featuring: A ceremony to honor and remember loved ones and music by the Savannah Children’s Choir.

Out with the old and in with the new. Lava 24 Hour Fitness on Broughton Street has officially opened for business. Being the third gym in the past year to occupy the building, they’re equipped with a whole new approach to keeping Savannah’s downtown dwellers fit and healthy. South got the inside scoop on why you should sign up now:


5. New Ownership and Management: With successful past managerial experience and tons of specialty training, General Manager Tia Casady has both the business and fitness sides of running a gym down to a science. “Fitness is my life,” she says. Successful ventures in Columbia, Mo. and Hilton Head, S.C., make her a prime candidate for success.

4. Meticulous organization: Casady says she’s obsessive about keeping business affairs in order and keeping her members happy. While most gyms are happy with non-attendance by members, Tia strives to keep members in the gym and in shape.

3. New cardio equipment and new classes: While continuing with the popular TRX, yoga, pilates and aerobic classes, she’s also adding spinning and Johnny G Krankcycle (think spinning for your arms) training.

2. Expanded hours: In the near future, Lava will be able to provide a 24-hour fitness facility. Currently, they are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. to 5p.m. on Sunday.

And the Number 1 Reason to Give this Gym a Shot … $29 a month makes this a killer membership deal: The number one reason to sign up is the membership rates, which start as low as $29. Holiday deals include good deals on personal training rates and corporate deals. Spinning and Johnny G Krankcycle are examples of a-la-carte options, so members do not have to pay for options they don’t use.

Chatham County employee Pat Monahan has been working out at the gym through all the ownership changes and says he definitely sees the benefit of offering the area a reliable gym at an affordable rate. “You figure there’s a good market for corporate memberships because there are 1,500 public employees in a four-block radius,” he says. “It’s got the right price for the downtown market and you can’t beat the convenience.”

Lava 24 Hour Fitness, 1 E. Broughton Street

For more information: tiacasady@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 30, wraps up the Operation: Phone Home event, so be sure to stop by The Coastal Bank’s Johnson Square location (18 West Bryan Street) from 11AM to 1PM to purchase a $5 phone card. The first 100 people to purchase phone cards at this location will receive complimentary Chick-fil-a sandwiches and bottled water.  Donations of $50 or more will place you into a drawing to win free Chick-fil-a for an entire year! You can also purchase phone cards at any of the six Costal Bank locations or online at phonehomesav.com any time until November 30.

Operation: Phone Home isn’t the only way to be a lifeline to those in need this holiday. By attending the First Annual Southeast Georgia Pink Heals Firefighter Ball at the Hunter Club in Hunter Army Airfield, you can help out the Southeast Georgia Pink Heals Chapter. The chapter correlates with the Guardians of the Ribbon Southeast Chapter, a group that is dedicated to supporting women in their fight against cancer and inspire men to get involved. They are known for the PINK Fire Truck they drive around the country to help raise awareness.

The Pink Heals Firefighter Ball will be held December 10 at 6:00 p.m. and last until midnight.  Tickets are $25 per person or $35 per couple, and proceeds support the Southeast Georgia Pink Heals Chapter. For more information contact Shane Shifflett at firefightershifflett@yahoo.com.

So whether it’s giving a chance for soldiers to contact their loved ones over the holidays, or helping raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness, the chance to give during the holiday season is the best gift of all.