Homes

What is your favorite place to shop for home decor?

Winner: Home Goods

Who is your favorite architect?

Winner: Greenline Architecture

Who is your favorite builder?

Winner: JT Turner

What is your favorite building product supplier?

Winner: Guerry Lumber Company

What’s your favorite furniture store?

Winner: 24e

What is your favorite custom furniture manufacturer?

Winner: Black Dog Studio, Inc.

What is your favorite antique shop?

Winner: Jere’s Antiques

Who is your favorite interior designer?

Winner: DC4 Designs

What is your favorite lighting company?

Winner: Circa Lighting

What is your favorite home improvement company?

Winner: Savannah Kitchen & Bath

What is your favorite landscaping company?

Winner: Savannah Hardscapes

What is your favorite flooring company?

Winner: Culver Rug Company

What is your favorite home theater provider?

Winner: Audio Visual Warehouse

What is your favorite home security provider?

Winner: ADT Savannah Home Security System

What is your favorite home appliance provider?

Winner: Livingood’s

What is your favorite pool installation and maintenance company?

Winner: Pride Pool, Spas, & Leisure

Spas and Salons

What is your favorite spa?

Winner: Savannah Day Spa

What is your favorite salon?

Winner: 40 Volume

What is your favorite medical spa?

Winner: Glow Medical Spa

What is your favorite Plastic Surgeon Office?

Winner: Finger & Associates Plastic Surgery Center

Who is your favorite cosmetic dentist?

Winner: Brad Durham, DMD

Among the myriad of popular music styles that have emerged over the past century, only a handful claim to have inspired-or at least to have come to represent-an entire way of life. Blues, jazz, rockabilly, and punk immediately come to mind as niche genres that boat loyal die-hard fans worldwide, but immerse global popularity of reggae dwarfs them all. From it’s humble beginnings in late-60’s Jamaica as laid-back dance fodder to it’s current status as the preeminent form of grooveoriented protest music, reggae is, simply put, one of the most beloved forms of music in existence today.

The basis of reggae’s appeal is its insistent, mesmerizing rhythmic foundation. Essentially a hybrid of America soul, R & B and traditional African and Caribbean folk, it’s been closely aligned with the Rastafari ideological movement since the late superstar songwriter (Rasta icon) Bob Marley used his own brand of “roots reggae” to spread that universal message of human rights and equality. Marley also promoted the overriding philosophy that all people should strive to attain “irrie,” a sense of well-being and harmony oneself one’s surroundings.

Yet along the way, reggae has diversified and grown. Offshoots such as dancehall, dub, reggaeton and reggae fusion now update the genre, incorporating outside elements forum other forms of pop music. As one of the hottest rising acts on the modern U.S. reggae scene, Savannah’s own Passafire continues that forward evolution. Over the past seven years, they’ve striven to create a unique sound by infusing reggae with their own alternative rock and psychedelic-tinged, trip-hop sensibilities. Known as much for their devoted work ethic and keen business senese as for their knakc of crafting memorable crowd pleasing tune, the group- made up of singing guitarist Ted Bowne, singing keyboardist Adam Willis, drummer Nick Kubley and his brother, singing bassist Will Kubley- is currently riding a growing wave of success.

In fact, their latest full-length release, Everyone on Everynight (when it dropped last September) was iTunes’ No.1 top-selling reggae album in its first week of sales. As if that weren’t enough of an achievement, it also debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Reggae Chart. No small feat for a group that got its start playing small bars and restaurants in Savannah to a handful of friends and college classmates.

To read more about Passifire check out South Magazine’s August/September Issue!

Sandy Springs Festival

WHEN: September 25 – September 26 WHERE: Atlanta, Georgia THE LOWDOWN: This two-day festival includes a wide array of happenings including an artist’s market, a business and civic expo, a car show, entertainment for teens, the Doug Kessler Lightning 10K/5K (which kicks off the festival on Saturday at 7:30 a.m.), a food court, heritage crafters demonstrating 19^th century traditional activities, and a silent auction. New to the festival this year are the following activities: Me and My BFF Photo Contest, Interactive Game Zone, Georgia Grown Market, and an Antiques and Collectibles Market.

INSIDER’S TIP: Cooper – Atlanta Transportation Services will provide a free shuttle service to the festival from Century Springs West parking lot, located at the intersection of Hammond Drive and Lake Forest Drive. MORE INFO: 404.851.9111, sandyspringsfestival.com

Savannah Jazz Festival

WHEN: September 19 – September 26 WHERE: Savannah, Georgia THE LOWDOWN: A must for lovers of both jazz and blues. Visitors and locals can experience live performances by local and regional musicians outdoors in beautiful Forsyth Park and a variety of other venues around Savannah. This festival boasts the best in international, national, regional and local jazz talent. Since its inception in 1983, the Savannah Jazz Festival has been held every year and has featured some of the best artists in the world including Lionel Hampton, Ahmad Jamal, Clark Terry, Carmen McCray, Nancy Wilson, Maynard Ferguson and numerous others. INSIDER’S TIP: Sponsored by the City of Savannah, the Savannah Jazz Festival is a free event and open to the public. MORE INFO: savannahjazzfestival.org

Bike Fest

WHEN: August 27 – August 29 WHERE: Starke, Florida THE LOWDOWN: Presented by the North Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce, this 5^th annual bike festival takes place at Historic Call Street in downtown Starke, Florida. The main events planned for the festival include a tattoo contest and bike show. The bike show begins Saturday at 2 p.m. Trophies go to touring bike, custom bike, metric, sportster, classic, rat rod, best paint, and best of show. Registration for the bike show starts August 28^th at 11 a.m. INSIDER’S TIP: Both RV and primitive camping accommodations will be provided at the Bradford County Fair Grounds.

MORE INFO: starkflbikefest.com, 904.964.5278

Shrimp & Grits Festival

WHEN: September 17 – September 19 WHERE: Jekyll Island, Georgia THE LOWDOWN: “Shrimp and Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival” is an island-wide event that showcases the wonderful tastes, sights, and sounds of Jekyll Island. Amateur and professional chefs will be competing in this 5th annual Shrimp and Grits cook-off. In addition, the festival includes shrimp boat tours, a three-day race challenge, cooking demonstrations, dolphin tours, book signings, arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, and a kid-friendly fun zone. Admission to the festival is free. INSIDER’S TIP: The featured event takes place in the Jekyll Island Historic District, and begins with a concert Friday evening at 5:45 p.m. MORE INFO: 912.635.4192

Arts in the Heart of Augusta

WHEN: September 17 – September 19 WHERE: Augusta, Georgia THE LOWDOWN: The festival’s thirtieth anniversary features music, dance, and theatre encompassing four different stages, ethnic foods from over 35 different countries, a Southern Beer Garden, children’s activities, an arts and crafts show, and much more. 2010’s festival theme is “Going Green and Protecting Our Environment.”

INSIDER’S TIP: In 2008, over 80,000 people attended the festival, so be prepared to brave a crowd!

For more great events, check out the August/September issue out now!

Cool off with one of the most popular trends in exterior design: salt water pools. These manmade ponds offer both health and financial benefits. Because they have a generator that breaks down salt and produces chlorine, the pools are easy to maintain and don’t require purchasing a lot of expensive, harsh chemicals. “The pH of the water in a salt water pool is very close to the pH of our eyes,” explains Frank Fotia, president of Year Round Pool.

Yearroundpool.com 912.236.6261

Paver Lights

Pavers have been a hot trend in exterior design for some time due to their durability and clean aesthetic. Now, paver lights are adding another attractive element: the ability to highlight a back patio, walkway, or driveway with solar-charged lights. “They look really great at night and add to the ambiance if you like to entertain,” says owner of Quality Hardscapes, Fabio Santos. And since they’re self-powered, these lights don’t emit any harmful carbon dioxide, a perfect addition to the already eco-friendly benefits of pavers.

Minimize to Maximize

Placing laundry machines in the master closet eliminates wasted space and minimizes time spent on chores. No more trips back and forth across the house carrying loads of laundry—this design allows for efficient washing, drying, and folding in the very place the clothes belong.

Install shelves that span from the closet rod to the ceiling, allowing you to store less-used items at the top and the rest within reach.

Add an extra closet rod, hang wall hooks, and utilize space on the back of the door with a hanging closet organizer to triple the storage capability of your closet.

Let it Flow

Home decor no longer applies to everything but the kitchen sink—add character to your home with unique faucets to match any kitchen. savannahkitchenandbath.com, 912.236.9299

To read about even more hot home design trends, check out the August/September issue out now!

Spend a few minutes with Savannah Sand Gnats President John Katz, and you’ll realize he’s extremely proud of this year’s team. In fact, all it takes is a simple query about how the season’s going so far to get him talking. Enthusiasm and pride rises in his voice as he responds.

“This season has been very unpredictable,” he explains. “We won three straight games, then we lost four straight and now we’ve worked our way back from last. So, we’ve had success and struggles, and they’ve both come in spurts.”

However, as far as Katz is concerned, all that matters is the present, and right now his club is going gangbusters.

“This team is super-hot right now,” Katz beams. “Our first home stand ended last Saturday, and now we’re standing at 10-5 in first place.”

An old hand in the world of professional baseball (he was Vice President and General Manager of the Salem, Virginia Red Sox for four years prior to relocating here to run the Sand Gnats organization), Katz feels the key to this team’s ability to supersede adversity is the strong camaraderie its members have developed – despite hailing from disparate backgrounds.

“We have a lot of what I like to call ‘international flair’ in our dugout,” he offers. “The catcher hails from Germany, we have nine or ten players that hail from Latin America and our coach is from Puerto Rico. So, there’s a good degree of diversity in this team.”

For more information on Savannah’s favorite home team, check out the latest issue on newsstands now!

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL BUNN

1 SAVANNAH HARDSCAPES Dining al fresco has led to cooking al fresco. The moveable feast has moved to the great outdoors, and Savannah Hardscapes leads the way with a full range of outdoor appliances to make your outdoor entertaining sizzle. Whether you intend to grill it, smoke it, wok it, cook it on a rotisserie or in an oven, there’s an outdoor kitchen appliance for the job. There are warming drawers to keep your food fresh after it comes off the fire and outdoor hoods to keep the fresh air fresh. There’s a full line of refrigerated storage and dispensers to make sure your favorite brew or nicely aged Chardonnay stays at the perfect temperature. All you need for a perfect backyard outing are some wonderful guests and a day of sunshine. SAVANNAHHARDSCAPES.COM

2 FOUNTAINS ‘N’ SUCH With today’s challenging economy, people are spending more time at home and many have discovered that water features can provide relaxation while enhancing the environment, creating a much-needed oasis in their backyard. For nearly a decade Fountains’n’Such has been providing a wide range of creative options from residential fountains to larger projects including the new interactive fountain at Forsyth Park. With a variety of fountains to fit any budget, Fountains’n’Such is just the ticket to create an inviting and welcoming refuge. FOUNTAINSNSUCH.CO

3 YEAR ROUND POOL The latest wave in the swimming pool industry is “green,” environmentally friendly and cost-effective products. People are looking for alternatives to chlorine to use as a sanitizer. Year Round Pool Company offers the Jandy Aqua Pure and Aqua Link saltwater sanitizing systems for pools and spas. Saltwater swimming pool systems have a saline level similar to eye drops so they are easy on the eyes and skin. ACE saltwater sanitizing systems are also available for self-contained spas. While many people love saltwater pool systems, until now the technology has not been a viable option. YEARROUNDPOOL.COM

4 PACE LIGHTING Exterior lighting offers many benefits to homeowners. A well-lit home is safer and more secure, illuminated steps and pathways help prevent accidents in the dark, and strategically placed lighting can create the right mood for an outdoor soiree. Lighting at night also showcases your home and surrounding property, and Pace has all the equipment and know-how to key in on architectural features to create a visually interesting space. PACELIGHTING.COM

Guest Editor: Michael Bunn

Michael Bunn is the manager of the outdoor living division of Savannah Hardscapes. In addition to summer kitchens, Michael also offers top quality outdoor furniture lines such as Richard Schultz, Brown Jordan, Lloyd Flanders, Gloster, Barlow Tyrie and others. Stone fireplace mantels from Francois & Company and Chesney’s are also offered. Contact Michael at 843.784.6060 or at mbunn@savannahhardscapes.com.

These days, women can get away with a slightly sexier heel at the office. The rules have changed and the fashion savvy professional can certainly find wiggle room within office dress codes. Pumps can look ultra-chic in the workplace when paired with fitted slacks and can add a slight sexiness to a high waist pencil skirt. But how do you know which pumps are office appropriate? To read more about smart and savvy shoes pick up a copy of our June/July Professionals issue!

Indie folk group, Matt Pond PA, is yet another big name to play at Live Wire Music Hall as of late. Last Wednesday night, the formerly Pennsylvania based band played an intimate set in the depths of Savannah’s underground. These are the types of shows that critics and music goers alike live for. There isn’t quite anything like seeing a musically refined show in a dark, humid bar. The experience is entirely personal and intimate where the audience finds themselves on the same level as the performer. What results is a rare dialogue and a lasting memory.

Matt Pond’s steady, methodic voice will sooth any wound. His tortured, moody, yet decidedly upbeat tone is reminiscent of the early 2000’s alternative mode, á la Snow Patrol. However, make no mistake, Pond creates a sound entirely his own. Home grown, poetic lyrics trickle endlessly accompanied perfectly by Chris Hansen (keyboard/guitar), Leslie Sisson (backup vocals/guitar), George Souleidis (bass) and Brad Gunyon (drums). Pond’s melodies seem to float effortlessly while still having a decisive musical bearing thanks to his accompanying cast.

Long story short, look up Matt Pond PA or even better, try catching him on tour. For dates click here.

Photographed and written by Elliot Ross

Win your chance to get a group of South Seats for our sponsored Sand Gnats Game June 24th.  We want to here from the biggest fans of the Sand Gnats on Facebook and Twitter!

FACEBOOK FACEOFF!

Send us your favorite picture from a Gnats game whether you were cheering for the home team or enjoying some of the great deals at Grayson Stadium for a chance to win a group of 4 tickets! Enter from June 16-20. Winners will be notified via Facebook and should respond within 12 hours.

TWEET FOR THE TEAM

Tweet us @south_mag why you should win the South Seats, 4 prime seats at the June 24 th Sand Gnats game!! Enter 6/21-23. Winners contacted via Twitter by 6/24.

Summertime means warm weather, spending time outdoors, and hot dogs. Summertime is also when the one event that combines all three of those happens: baseball! Thankfully, Savannah’s very own home team The Sand Gnats have many upcoming games where you can come out, cheer for the team, and stretch in the 7th inning.

Sand Gnats Home Game Schedule

May

24- Kannapolis Intimidators 7:05 p.m.

25- Kannapolis Intimidators7:05 p.m.

26- Kannapolis Intimidators7:05 p.m.

27- Kannapolis Intimidators7:05 p.m.

June

1-Asheville Tourists 7:05 p.m.

2- Asheville Tourists 7:05 p.m.

3-Asheville Tourists 7:05 p.m.

4-Asheville Tourists 7:05 p.m.

5-Kannapolis Intimidators 6:05 p.m.

6-Kannapolis Intimidators 2:05 p.m.

7-Kannapolis Intimidators 7:05 p.m.

8-Kannapolis Intimidators 7:00 p.m.

14-Rome Braves 7:05 p.m.

15-Rome Braves 7:05 p.m.

16-Rome Braves 7:05 p.m.

24-Asheville Tourists 7:05 p.m.

25- Asheville Tourists 6:05 p.m.

26-Asheville Tourists 7:05 p.m.

27-Asheville Tourists 7:00 p.m.

28-Asheville Tourists 7:00 p.m.

July

4-Rome Braves 7:05 p.m.

5-Rome Braves 7:05 p.m.

6-Rome Braves 7:05 p.m.

7-Rome Braves 7:05 p.m.

14-Greenville Drive 7:05 p.m.

15-Greenville Drive 7:05 p.m.

16-Greenville Drive 7:05 p.m.

17-Greenville Drive 6:05 p.m.

18-Greenville Drive 6:05 p.m.

29- Augusta GreenJackets 7:05 p.m.

30-Augusta GreenJackets 7:05p.m.

31-Augusta GreenJackets 6:05 p.m.

August

1-Augusta GreenJackets 6:05 p.m.

12-Kannapolis Intimidators 7:05 p.m.

13-Kannapolis Intimidators 7:05 p.m.

14-Kannapolis Intimidators 6:05 p.m.

15-Kannapolis Intimidators 6:05 p.m.

16-Kannapolis Intimidators 7:05 p.m.

17-Augusta GreenJackets 7:05 p.m.

18-Augusta GreenJackets 7:05 p.m.

19-Augusta GreenJackets 7:05 p.m.

20-Augusta GreenJackets 7:05 p.m.

25-Charleston RiverDogs 7:05 p.m.

26-Charleston RiverDogs 7:05 p.m.

27-Charleston RiverDogs 7:05 p.m.

28- Charleston RiverDogs 7:05 p.m.

September

3-Asheville Tourists 6:05 p.m.

4-Asheville Tourists 6:05 p.m.

5-Asheville Tourists 12:00 p.m.

6-Asheville Tourists

Very few acts have this kind of lasting power, especially in today’s cutthroat music industry. However, you have to hand it to these guys. The current lineup has been performing together for nearly four decades. They continue the group’s tradition and ongoing evolution since it’s incarnation way back in 1945.

Their unique sound can be attributed to the quartet’s wide range of octaves and melodies. Allen provides a strong foundation on which Golden finesses with his smooth baritone voice. Sterban’s booming low bass complements Bonsall’s high notes. The incredibly low notes that Sterban can hit help give the group their unique, trademark sound.

The Oak Ridge Boys are the essence of Southern music. Catch them during their extensive summer tour. For more information click here.

Photographed and written by Elliot Ross