For years, The Coastal Jazz Association has brought delightful jazz sounds to the Savannah area compliments of the Savannah Jazz Festival, and this year is sure to be no different. This year’s free festival will take place from Sunday, September 19th through Sunday, September 26th in Forsyth Park and surrounding Savannah areas. There is no shortage of events to attend the entire week, so here’s a comprehensive list so you can pen in some jazz this week- no matter what your schedule looks like.

Now that the Southern heat and humidity has hopefully taken it’s break for the year, golf can resume in full swing. As if in celebration, tournaments have been scheduled throughout September and October in the Southeastern region. Many of these tournaments are also all about raising money for charity. You can play, sponsor holes or watch your favorite pro golfers, all while contributing to a great cause.

1. X may mark the spot in the Coastal Empire. X-Men movie looking to shoot in or around Savannah.

The buzz has been buzzing for quite some time about the latest “X-Men” Motion picture shooting in our area. Locations have been scouted, researched, offers have been made, negotiations and rumors swirl like Kristi Yamaguchi after drinking five Red Bulls, but nothing is official yet. Why? Well, apparently there are a lot of details and planning that go into a mega-motion picture (who’da thunk it?). Define mega? The X-Men series to date has generated a box office revenue of a billion (yes B) and a half dollars. That’s a lot of popcorn. Well, maybe not that much considering what they charge for popcorn at the movies now days. Regardless, the players involved locally are hopeful we land this tuna and add it to our motion picture resume. One doesn’t exactly think of Coastal Georgia being a prime place for a sci-fi flick, but what do I know? I’m still afraid to put my digital camera through the X-ray machine at the airport for fear it will spoil my pictures.

Although we had an ample amount of rainfall over the weekend, Georgians still need to conserve the water we use in our homes. Sustainability expert Tommy Linstroth offers three simple steps every homeowner or renter can take to cut water consumption by nearly 30%!

Military wives – time to get your sexy on! Operation Bombshell is making its way to the Savannah area. Operation Bombshell, or Op B, for short, is the brainchild of dancer and military wife, Lily Burana. It is the first and only Burlesque school for military wives. For those of you already intimidated, let’s be clear – this is NOT a class in how to strip and no nudity is involved.

As always, Savannah is delivering an eventful weekend for Labor Day vacationers. Sand, beer, bikes, and and fireworks are all part of the fun-filled weekend in town, and with Savannah’s constant charm, everyone in attendance will surely have a blast.

1. Savannah’s Going Smoke Free – We’ve got four months to find an ashtray.

Well, we knew it was coming. Mayor Otis Johnson was pretty set on making his city smoke free. Thursday, by a vote of 7-2 he got it. I don’t smoke, never have. It will be very easy to figure out how I feel about this, but the bottom line is I know plenty of people who don’t like to go to certain places because they are too smoky, or the establishment doesn’t do a good enough job ventilating.

Sometimes sinking to the bottom is the best way to the top.

Not long ago we reported about Georgia Tech of Savannah’s Underwater Robotics Team, headed up by Dr. Fumin Zhang. His team of astute students built Beta, an underwater robot that has already garnered attention and fame for its successes in several robotics competitions.

Loco’s Grand Re-Opening was a raucous and riotous event last night, filled with good spirit, clever trivia and special guests.

Over the years, the Desotorow art gallery has come to be known as one of the most unique galleries in Savannah, hosting weekly arts shows and participating in Savannah’s First Friday Gallery Hop. Acting as an artist co-op and music venue for a number of years, the gallery was eventually picked up by a group of highly motivated and dedicated students and has been in full operation since. In April 2008, Desotorow incorporated as a nonprofit organization in the State of Georgia and became a public charity. The gallery is staffed by a group of committed volunteers who work hard to keep the gallery’s atmosphere a fun yet professional exhibition experience.