Start your weekend off with a celebration of fierce fashion that also helps raise diabetes awareness.

Mark your planners for Friday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. to attend this year’s Zombie Fashion Show at Savannah Station. This spooky event will feature fashions from Red Clover, Bleu Belle Boutique and Savannah Arts Academy Junk2Funk, along with beauty and hair styled by B-Street Salon and The Powder Room.

One of downtown’s most iconic buildings reemerges as the premiere address for modern living in the historic district! Drayton Tower’s grand opening—complete with food, drinks and music—will be from 5-8 pm this Thursday at 102 E. Liberty Street.

The votes are in! We are thrilled to introduce the winners of South’s first annual Greatest Moms contest. These six moms have conquered it all—from surviving babyhood with multiples to thriving in the face of adversity.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

10 A.M.—Savannah Theatre and The Telfair Academy Guild explain the magic of sitting with a design lecture on chairs by Peter M. Kenny, Ruth Bigelow Wriston Curator of American Decorative Arts and Administrator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Wing. “The Lure of New York Design: Duncan Phyfe, Mary Telfair and his Southern Clientele” will begin at 10 a.m. with trolley transportation between the Telfair and the theatre. Tickets are $40 for the lecture and $75 for the lecture and following luncheon.

5 P.M.— Hungry? Dip into the American Legion Post 184 at 5 p.m. for chopped barbeque, coleslaw, baked beans, a roll, drink and dessert for only $7. Stick around for karaoke afterwards and connect with your inner rock star.

5 P.M.— Enjoy the first Friday of April by the water with Historic River Street’s First Friday on the River. Businesses and restaurants will offer family-oriented events and activities before the evening ends with fireworks over the Savannah River at 9 p.m.

5 P.M.— For only $5 you can help support the American Cancer Society, the M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center and the Island Recreation Scholarship Fund all while grabbing some delicious lowcountry food at the Sixth Annual Hilton Head Island Seafood Fest. Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. the Westin-Hilton Head will showcase over twelve local restaurants, hold a silent auction as well as an “Iron Chef” style competition, and will highlight work by local artists.

6 P.M.— Take a walk south of Forsyth between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and experience live music and art receptions with the First Friday Art March. Twelve local restaurants, galleries and shops in Savannah’s up-and-coming arts community, Starland District, will participate.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2013

8 A.M.—If you can handle the mess, sign up for FCA Endurance’s Big Nasty Mud Run X3. The 4.1-mile run offers challenges for two and four-person teams, but prepared to get dirty if you want to win! The non-profit event offers tickets for $55 or $75 for teams of two. The first wave of the race starts at 8 a.m., with waves happening about every 10 minutes until 12:10.

2 P.M.—Snag a seat in Moon River’s new beer garden for $10 and enjoy swamp boogie from New Orleans jazz-turned-southern rock group Swamp Cabbage—you’ll even get a free beer with purchase of a ticket. The Ogeechee Riverkeeper Rivers Rock Kick-off is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. All proceeds will go to the Ogeechee Riverkeeper, which strives to protect Savannah’s neighboring wetlands.

8 P.M.—You might have seen her on VH1 or MTV, but Tamika “Georgia Me” Harper is coming to Muse Arts Warehouse at 8 p.m. Special local guests Promyse Simone Grace, Hope Flows and Basik Lee! will be in attendance to jam. Soul Lounge of Savannah is sponsoring the event and tickets are only $15.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2013

7 P.M.—Johnny Mercer Theatre promises big laughs with comedian Bill Maher, a 26-time Emmy nominee. Maher is currently the host of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” but also has a background as a political commentator, author, and actor.

Savannah, we are special. But we already knew that, right? Well, the masterminds behind the Andaz lifestyle boutique hotel line thought the Hostess City was pretty special, too: They selected Savannah as one of only nine current locations in the world that an Andaz hotel can call home. And we’re in really great company. There’s only an Andaz in Napa, Shanghai, Amsterdam, Liverpool, San Diego, West Hollywood and 5th Avenue as well as Wall Street locations in New York. Immediate future locations include Sanya Sunny Bay China, Delhi, Maui and Costa Rica.

Break out your most mysterious mask at this year’s benefit for Savannah’s Rape Crisis Center.

On April 13, 2013 this year’s UnMaskerade Ball will be held at the Hoskins Center at Memorial Medical Center. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., this event invites guests to dress in their best black-tie attire and accessorize with a mask. A ticket to this event allows guests to peruse silent auction items, participate in a live auction, enjoy a wonderful dinner and laugh out loud with an act by comedian Roz McCoy. All proceeds will benefit the Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire.

Tickets for this event are $100 per guest, or $700 per table of eight guests. To purchase tickets, please call 912.233.3000.

—Anastasia Netzinger

With Savannah St. Patty’s in the rear view, the lion has long since retired to its cage and the lamb has been roaming free for a while. At least, it feels that way—the months of drear seem a near distant memory and we’ve long since ushered in the delectable Savannah springtime weather, a magical season in a magical place. If you’ve had your fair share of romantic spring night strolls and favorite daytime outdoor, sitting spots, South is here to help you add a bit more excitement to your life. Don’t start taking the year’s loveliness and bloom for granted. You might need something more active—no, more adventurous to do.

Today at Jersey Mike’s Subs 100 percent of every purchase at every location goes toward a donation that will be made to the Ronald McDonald Foundation. Known for their fresh sliced subs and ingredients, Jersey Mike’s has paired with 86 local charities, Ronald McDonald being just one, for a month of giving. Last year’s Month of Giving raised almost $858,000 for 74 charities—this year the goal is even higher. All of Savannah, Georgia’s locations will be giving their proceeds from today to the Ronald McDonald Foundation. Other cities have been given other local charities to donate today’s funds to in hopes of reaching that higher goal.

Last Thursday night, I had the pleasure of attending An Evening of Artistry that was put on by The Kessler Collection’s Savannah properties. I was treated to a tour of The Mansion, a dinner at 700 Drayton and some live music at Rocks on the Roof.

As I am new to town, this was all very exciting, but I would fully recommend checking out these locations to not only tourists but also locals. The Mansion is worth stopping in whether you are staying the night or not, simply to see the inspirational art and architecture. Every piece was selected for specific reasons by the owner of The Kessler Collection, and some were even found at flea markets in Paris. If you can swing it, ask for a tour from one of the staff so that you can learn all the fun facts about the place. Take the carpeting in the ballroom, for example—it was produced by the same company that made the carpeting for the Titanic.

After the tour, we had a quick mixology lesson by the bartender of Casimir’s Lounge. My favorite? The red, white and blue drink that celebrates the Mansion’s 125th anniversary and tastes like candy. Next, we went over to 700 Drayton for a few courses that were served alongside and paired with various pieces of art. This easy idea is perfect for you to do at home—choose a few pieces of art that can be paired with a few dishes, such as a picture of a volcano paired with a molten chocolate lava cake for dessert.

Once dinner was over, I was sufficiently stuffed full of delicious food, but we still had one more stop—drinks at Rocks on the Roof. This swanky bar has one of the best views of the river in town and is a relaxing place to sit outside once the weather stays consistently warm. What really made Rocks on the Roof special was the live music by Mike Korbar and the easy feeling of being with friends in a cool atmosphere.

Photography courtesy of The Kessler Collection

Explore your creative side while giving to a vital cause on March 26 at Leoci’s Trattoria from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m for The Taste of Art. Leoci’s has teamed up with the DREAM Project Foundation to help raise funds to end human trafficking.

Leoci’s and the DREAM Project Foundation are pairing together to feature a tasteful selection of hors d’eovres, wine and beer. The event will feature a special tasting from Yaupon Tea and Avondale Apiary honey, as well. The Accomplices will perform live and guests are encouraged to bid on their favorite artworks in the silent auction. It will showcase local Savannah artist, as well as pieces from artists living in the DREAM House in Sangkhlaburi, Thailand. A few of the local artists featured include Sam Bryer, Juliana Peloso and Elizabeth Winnel.

The DREAM Project Foundation is a non-profit organization helping to end human trafficking through developing a supportive community and receiving aid from the people. Human trafficking is a global concern working its way into local communities. The DREAM Project Foundation supports and houses over 30 stateless children along the Thai-Burmese border. These children have nowhere else to go and DREAM House keeps these children safe and gives them education and care to grow and lead a life free of fear from having no food, family or from the possibility of being trafficked.

Purchase tickets on eventbrite.com for $45 a person or $80 for two. Tickets can be bought at the door for $50 a person the day of the event. Leoci’s Trattoria, 606 Abercorn Street

—Liz Sheffield