The American bachelor pad is iconic, to say the least. In its most recognizable form, it boasts chic, black leather furniture, a well-stocked wet bar for entertaining, and possibly a view of the city skyline, all meant to swoon unsuspecting bachelorettes.

But in Savannah, a city notorious for attracting some of the world’s choosiest style connoisseurs, it’s no surprise that the bachelors know how to put a spectacular Southern twist on the macho abode. To prove it, four eligible men invited The South into their homes for a glimpse of how a few good single men live here in the South.
The Guy’s Guy: Bobby Deen

Age: 39
Occupation: Restaurateur and TV host
Home: House on Wilmington Island
The Location: “I do love having family and friends over for a Lowcountry boil. It’s also a great place to fish and shrimp or crab or boat. And it’s within walking distance of the Wilmington Island Golf Course. I love it. It’s a little piece of paradise.”
The Style: “It’s a mix. You can see where the decorators were and which parts I did. But it’s very comfortable. It has lots of big comfy leather chairs and things like that.”
Why it’s a bachelor pad: “I put in an expansive entertainment unit. It has a movie screen that drops down from the ceiling. I also put in 400 feet of speaker wire along the dock alone so I could listen to music out there. My place screams, ‘I’m a guy.’”
Any favorite rooms at home? “You know what’s funny? I stand a lot more than I sit. I like to move around: my dock, my bedroom, my shower. I like so much about the property, that I’m just all over the place and really try to take advantage of it all.”

The History Lover: Sam Carroll

Age: 32
Occupation: Preservationist
Home: House on Habersham
The Renovation: “Architecturally, I wanted to keep what was there. The only decisions I made were to refinish the floors and then the countertops. I wanted to make them all heart pine but I didn’t have enough at the time, so I harvested some from the construction process … I don’t think I really had an aesthetic in mind; it was more of just a philosophy on how to deal with the house.”
The Style: “I don’t know if I had a mood or style in mind. Something that I tried to do was keep the historic details. Like when replacing a floorboard, it’s really important to use a floorboard from someplace else in the house.”
Why it’s a bachelor pad: “I would have to say my kitchen.”
Why renovate this particular house? “The one thing that really sells me on a place is tall ceilings … I think it makes the biggest difference … Fireplaces are nice, but they’re bonuses. I think a lot is in the ceilings. It’s your height, your visual space.”

The Comfort Lover: Christian Dunbar

Age: 36
Occupation: In-house designer for 24e, furniture design student at SCAD
Home: House in downtown Savannah
The Essentials: “From a designer’s point of view, you have to have stuff that’s cohesive. I believe in being eclectic, but you have to have something that brings it all together. Also, I had to have pretty, hardwood stuff. I’m crazy about the aesthetic of it.”
The Style: “I think style and comfort. Guys so often go for this image and it ends up not being comfortable at all. But I think you can do it these days if you just choose the right materials and are smart about it. And you have to go with what you like, too, and not just go with what’s out there.”
Why it’s a bachelor pad: “My TV. I love my Bose speaker system.”
Any favorite pieces in your house? “Yes! An original photograph of the Schindler House. It’s one of the first poured cement houses. I did a study of it in design school, and I was at an auction in New York and [the photograph] was being auctioned. I had to have it.”

The Collector: Zach Thomas

Age: 30
Occupation: Lawyer
Home: Loft in downtown Savannah
The Deal-Closer: “The view, definitely. The fact that it was two bedrooms and the fact that it was a corner unit, and other than that, just being on Broughton and Barnard.”
The Style: “I wanted to blend the older, historic aspect of the building with a modern twist and try and incorporate the things I’ve collected.”
Why it’s a bachelor pad: “The bears and the [sports, music and movie] memorabilia. Basically all the things on the walls. I just really wanted things that said something about my personality, either about the things I like or the places I’ve been, or things I’ve collected.”
What’s up with the animals? “Alright, there’s two sides to it: The bears … are both animals that I got when I went on a trip with my father, who’s a big hunter, to British Columbia. But the zebra and leopard are not.”

The Off-Season

“A lot of people don’t realize that Uga doesn’t just work during football season; he works year-round. He is very busy attending other university events, and his calendar is still full.”

The Treats

“One of his favorite things is on Saturdays, I would take him to McDonald’s to get a hamburger, and he just loved it. We used to get him cheeseburgers, but we noticed he was putting on weight, so we cut it down to plain hamburgers.”

The Chunk

“The pounds have kind of snuck up on him in the winter months, so we took him to the vet and they put him on a special diet. So, no more McDonald’s. He’s very disappointed.”

The Hobbies

“He plays with his cat named Knowshon. They just play and tumble and they’re very good with each other.”

The Attitude

“You hate to call a bulldog sweet, but Uga is very loving.”

The Spirit

“Each Uga has a very different personality. This one had greatness thrust on him seemingly out of nowhere, and he has remained exceptionally calm. Unlike his dad, Uga VI, who was a real junkyard dog, he doesn’t get rattled by the marching band or excited by the game; he is just very calm and laid-back.”

The Choice

“I think what my parents look for in a litter is a dog that closely resembles his predecessor and that has all the elements of a good English bulldog: the face, the right stance, the ears, the tail. And I’m sure that personality has a part in it, too.”

Let the Big Dog Eat

Uga VII is on a strict preseason diet of Hill’s z/d Prescription Diet dog food. The only snacks his doctors at UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine allow him are baby carrots. Charles Seiler, Uga’s current caretaker, admits, “I’ve never given him any carrots. These dogs are funny about what they eat.”

Gameday Preps

To help Uga VII get in the football groove, Charles and Wendy Seiler will simulate the gameday atmosphere. “We’ll take him for a lot of walks, especially around Daffin Park,” Charles Seiler says. “We let him hear the noise of the crowd in the baseball stadium to get him used to noisy crowds again. He also practices riding in his kennel in the car for long periods of time; he needs to get used to that because of the long trips to Athens.”

All Dogs Go To Heaven

All of the Ugas are buried in marble vaults near the south end of Sanford Stadium.

Baa, Baa Red and Black … Goat?

UGA’s mascot for its first football game against Auburn University in 1892 was a goat. The goat wore a black coat with red U.G. letters on both sides. Throughout the game, Auburn fans yelled, “Shoot the billy goat!”

Uga’s Right-Paw Man

Charles Seiler, son of Sonny and Cecelia Seiler, is Uga VII’s on-field handler. His tenure on the sideline began as a young teenager. “For me, it’s just another day at the office,” explains Charles Seiler. “But I love to see the smiles on people’s faces when they see Uga. Plus, I get to see a lot of folks from my past. And that’s always fun.”

Uga’s Family Tree

Uga I, 1956–1967

Name: Hood’s Ole Dan

Record: 53-48-6

The Seiler family’s very first Uga was a gift given to Cecelia Seiler by a friend. His first game appearance was the 1956 home opener.

Uga II, 1966–1972

Name: Ole Dan’s Uga

Record: 42-16-3

Uga II took over the mascot job when his father, Uga I, died. The 1966 homecoming game was his first time on the sideline.

Uga III, 1973–1980

Name: Seiler’s Uga Three

Record: 71-32-2

Uga III stood on the sidelines of 100 football games, including the 1980 NCAA national championship win.

Uga IV, 1981–1989

Name: Seiler’s Uga Four

Record: 77-27-4

The highlight of Uga IV’s career was escorting Herschel Walker to the Heisman Trophy banquet in 1982. He was the first mascot invited to the prestigious affair.

Uga V, 1990–1999

Name: Uga IV’s Magillicuddy II

Record: 65-39-1

Uga V was the last puppy sired by his father, Uga IV. Sports Illustrated put him on its cover in 1997 and declared him the nation’s best college mascot.

Uga VI, 1999–2008

Name: Uga V’s Watchagot Loran

Record: 87-27

Uga VI has the most wins of any mascot in UGA history. He was also the biggest of all mascots, weighing 65 pounds at his coronation.

A restaurant group based in Texas can’t know much about coastal provisions in Savannah … or can it?

Chart House, overlooking River Street, is one of the few restaurants under the corporate umbrella of Landry’s that proudly allows its chef the creative freedom to build a local menu. Executive Chef Jim O’Connor started with Landry’s Restaurants in Alexandria and Annapolis before landing the Savannah location, where he has created a Lowcountry menu. And Savannahians are taking note.

The menu at Chart House changes nightly to feature such local fare as stone crabs from Hilton Head. O’Connor attributes his success in Savannah to his emphasis on consistency. “The details make the difference. It’s the little things that make food great,” O’Connor professes when the question of his food philosophy is brought up. “When a step is missed, it simply won’t come out right. I really want the details taken care of.” 

Chart House’s crab, avocado and mango stack is one of O’Connor’s favorite dishes. White, jumbo lump crabmeat is tossed in a spicy remoulade sauce on a juicy layer of mango and confettilike diced red pepper. A bottom layer of bright green avocado and red onion follows, and everything is garnished with basil oil and fragrant, fresh basil. The vertical design of this dish is a nod to O’Connor’s past: He began college as an engineering major.

The demanding schedule that a chef’s life requires is the only way O’Connor would have it. He personally greets his guests, being especially keen to acknowledge special occasions. It’s his goal to make everyone feel appreciated—and satisfied.

Chart House is located at 202 West Bay Street, 912.234.6686 or www.chart-house.com

Chocoholics, Rejoice

The ideal way to end lunch or dinner at Chart House is with a hot chocolate lava cake. A warm, rich Godiva chocolate liqueur cake is baked with a molten center and topped with chocolate sauce, crunchy Heath Bar pieces and vanilla ice cream. Order it with your meal to make sure it’s ready by dessert time. Just remember to save room.

I love to cook.

And I love to watch other people savoring my dishes; it’s a natural form of nurturing.

Naming a gathering “dinner party” can be intimidating while living in the Hostess City and being bombarded with the social expectations marketed by recent icons of everything perfect. Even though I am determined to be a first-rate hostess, I cannot claim to be an expert. In fact, it may even bring me bad fortune and cause my next sauce to curdle, my soufflé to fall and my meringue to weep.

Entertaining is an art form practiced by men and women all over the South. Southerners know there’s a difference between asking someone to supper and inviting someone to a dinner. In the South, the distinction is in the preparation, the guest list and the goal. In that spirit, here is my simple recipe for having a successful food fete.

Supper: “Ya’ll come on over! We got plenty.”

A traditional Southern supper is relaxed and homey. The menu may be whatever was planned for that night’s family meal; if you’re lucky, something tasty is in the pot, otherwise known as “potluck.” Nothing formal or fancy is planned: just good ol’ home cooking that might even be served at the kitchen table. Very often guests will offer to share in the meal preparation and ask, “What can I bring?” The question is the perfect way for the host to set guests’ expectations by assigning them a dish to prepare, and voilà: A Southern supper is born.

Often the host does the inviting last minute. Maybe the host got an extra large mess o’ catfish that day and frying them for only two folks seems like an awful lot of trouble. Or a garden bumper crop of squash calls for cooking a big casserole and inviting the neighbors for a covered dish supper. Impromptu and causal, a Southern supper is every bit as tasty as fancy food from any highfalutin restaurant.

Supper Clubs: Members Only

A little more planning is involved with a supper club. Elegant, formal table settings may—or may not—be used. Fancy recipes are served—or not. In a supper club, the same members entertain each other at scheduled times throughout the year. The binding thread that holds them together might be shared friendships, a love of wine or a similar hobby.

Although popular in Savannah, supper clubs are very limited in their ability to reach out to new members. The groups can also develop dysfunctional family-like dynamics. Riffs might occur between the members and threaten the very existence of the club. As for inviting new blood into the group: discouraged, even forbidden.

But the best supper clubs are exclusive: The group has a history together and may have been meeting for years. So if you want to be invited, you better hope somebody moves and a spot opens up. Don’t want to wait? Enlist a few friends and start your own.

The Dinner Party

When it comes to entertaining, my favorite selection is the good ol’ dinner party. Hosting a dinner can repay a social debt, satisfy a desire to gain influence or celebrate occasions of all types. Changing mere social acquaintances into new friends, as well as enjoying the company of established chums, is what the Southern dinner party is all about.

From menu selection to special garnishes, pretty centerpieces and candlelight, the ambiance is one that is celebratory, hence the term dinner party. A Southern host sets the table with care and with seating arrangements carefully chosen. The right mix of people is an essential ingredient of the dinner party.

Invite the Anchors

Without the right blend of guests, serving the best food and the most incredible wine can be a disastrous waste of time and money, so I make a habit of including at least one couple that acts as the anchor of the table when I’m busy in the kitchen. These people help hold the party together; they are charming conversationalists and have a certain ease with new people. Placing the anchors to the right of the host is the traditional seating reserved for guests of honor.

The anchors are invaluable to the host because they naturally know how to ensure seamless transitions from course to course by keeping the conversation going and noticing when water and wine glasses need refilling. There is no risk involved with inviting these guests. The host must have complete confidence that these folks will add to the party’s success, get along well with anyone at the table, and be completely at ease as guests in your home.

The Stand-bys: A Go-to Couple

Next, I invite a couple of complementary friends, the stand-bys. These are the people whom I may or may not know very well but would be a first-rate addition to the mix. The host should be reasonably confident that the stand-bys will add enjoyment to dinner and that they are well matched with the anchors. These folks fill the table more completely, but they can be risky because they may not have long, established friendships with anyone at the table. Just knowing that these folks can carry on an interesting conversation is a good enough predictor that they will be excellent guests. If the host enjoys their company, others will too.

Play the Wild Card!

Finally, I focus on the wild cards. I may have met these people at a fundraiser, a worship service or at another party. They’re fun, they’re friendly, and they’re out of the ordinary. The wild cards can hold their own in a group of strangers. Comfortable in their own skin, they welcome a chance to make new friends, and the banter around the dinner table is better because they’re part of it. Plus, it’s much easier to get to know them around a table with food and wine, rather than at a cocktail party with short bursts of conversation.

When it All Comes Together

There is something truly magical about lighting the candles and arranging the place cards on the table before a dinner party. It’s like an overture that comes before a performance. There will always be someone who serves a better meal, has more elegant china, pours finer wines and generally outshines any party you have ever hoped to give. Don’t try to compete with that person.

Sharing a meal is one of the true joys of entertaining, an art that is renowned in the Hostess City. The essential test of the party’s success is one to which the host might never be privy. As a Southern hostess, my greatest hope is that after the guests say their good-byes, offer their thanks and cross the threshold, they will turn to each other and say, as they close the door, “That was such a fun, interesting evening. I am so glad we were included.”

Southern Girl

Author: Daisy Mae Byrd

Publisher: Williams and Company Book Publishers, $18.95

The Story: A riveting memoir about an African-American woman’s quest to find herself while in a Southern community where she constantly battles social and economical forces beyond her control.

About the Author: Daisy Mae Byrd was born and raised in Candler, Georgia. She now lives in Savannah with her two daughters. Southern Girl is her first book.

Where to Buy: Southern Girl is available for purchase at Carriage Jewelers, on Byrd’s website (www.daisymaebyrd.com) as well as in Barnes & Noble bookstores.

Living Above the Store

Author: Martin Melaver

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing Company, $27.95

The Story: A smart how-to that challenges business as usual. Living Above the Store provides a roadmap for an economic crisis and teaches sustainable business practices.

About the Author: The CEO and vice president of Melaver, Inc., Martin Melaver, earned an Master of Arts and a doctorate in literature from Harvard University and an Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University. Melaver splits his time between Savannah and Tel Aviv, Israel.

Where to Buy: Living Above the Store is available at www.amazon.com and in Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million bookstores.

Child of the South

Author: Joanna Catherine Scott

Publisher: Berkley Books, $14.00

The Story: A sequel to The Road from Chapel Hill, Child of the South takes the reader back to the difficult years at the end of the Civil War. Two characters struggle to overcome the wounds of war and society in an unforgettable tale of racism, love and redemption.

About the Author: Joanna Catherine Scott was born in England, raised in Australia and currently resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Where to Buy: Child of the South is available at www.amazon.com and in Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million bookstores.

Murder, She Wrote: A Slaying in Savannah

Authors: Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain

Publisher: Penguin Books, $21.95

The Story: A gripping mystery, A Slaying in Savannah follows sleuth Jessica Fletcher as she works against time to solve the murder mystery of her late friend’s husband. With a million dollar inheritance hanging in the balance, Fletcher strives to uncover the secrets of the past while dealing with the persistent unpleasantries of the present.

About the Authors: Jessica Fletcher is a best-selling mystery novelist, perhaps best known for her popular television series, “Murder, She Wrote.” Donald Bain, her longtime collaborator, has written more than 90 books.

Where to Buy: Murder, She Wrote: A Slaying in Savannah is available at www.amazon.com and in Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million bookstores.

Free Reads

www.liveoakpl.org

Like to listen to audio books but don’t like to pay for them? Check out the Live Oak Public Libraries website, where you can download free audio books for your MP3 listening pleasure. The site also lists upcoming events at Savannah’s libraries.

He is an unexpected gust of wind, and chances are that you’ll hear Alan Davies before you see him. The booming, resonant English accent of the skilled tennis player turned instructor is first to greet you as you make your way down the sidewalk toward the green clay courts of the Wilmington Island Club. Yet you cannot help but see him as he stands to the side of the court, a man with a commanding presence, dressed in navy tennis clothing, waiting in his usual stance—one that is akin to the virile, debonair Cary Grant of the Golden Era—to begin the lesson.

On the court, Alan Davies is as alert and watchful as an impala standing stoic in the grassy plains of Africa. Sheltered behind sunglasses, his brown eyes lighten to amber or darken to black as he absorbs all the action on the court. Strikingly, he delivers a well-balanced critique of praise and criticism, characteristically softened with a quick-witted humor and charisma that puts all at ease. But off the court and in the shade of Savannah, Davies’ intensity melts into a delighted smile when he speaks of Kenya, the expansive world of his boyhood.

In the spring of 2000, a 20-year-old Alan Davies stepped off a plane at the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport with two duffle bags slung over one side of his broad shoulders. He carried with him items to help him feel at home: Kenyan coffee, Kenyan tea, his kikoi (a colorful cotton fabric traditionally worn by African men) and a tennis racket. He entered as a man born with a silver spoon for stirring tea in one hand and a tennis racket in the other.

“My ‘dad’ had me on the court from day one,” explains Davies of his childhood days spent on a court adjacent to their house. “We are a tennis family.”

Alan Davies’ grandfather—whom he calls Dad—came to Nairobi from Liverpool, England. As a young man, he joined the British Army and became a member of its African unit, The Royal West African Frontier Force, moving to Kenya in 1949. When the Korean War broke out, and the possibility of being shipped out arose, he asked Davies’ grandmother to marry him so he could stay in Kenya.

Davies’ dad trained him to be a singles player at the family’s 3-acre compound in Nairobi, the J.D. Tennis Academy. For two years prior to arriving in Hilton Head, Davies took everything he’d learned from his dad and entered professional satellite tournaments in Spain.

“You just want to go out there and do the best you can,” he says, glancing out the tennis shop windows toward the courts guarded on all sides by weathered water oak trees carefully trimmed in Spanish moss. “And at the end of the day, you either have to take the high road or the low road. I thought, ‘This is not for me. I’ve had a great run, but I need to get on with it.’”

He decided that he wanted to teach. Davies then returned home to Nairobi as an instructor and once again learned from his dad, who taught him the three C’s to playing and instructing: remain calm, cool and collected.

As he strolled through Savannah’s airport with his two duffle bags in tow, Davies could not foresee that he eventually would not have to choose between his homeland of Kenya and the American South, where he’d journeyed to instruct at the Van Der Meer Tennis Academy. His journey to the South got interesting when he went on a blind date with a graphic design student from Savannah College of Art and Design, Rachel Almond.

“Of course, I thought his accent was very charming,” Rachel (now) Davies recalls, smiling over at her husband. “And I was just really drawn to his stories about his upbringing, and how he was still so much a part of things there.”

In fact, Rachel Davies recognized her husband’s love for going on safaris when he took her to Kenya in 2001. During the trip, she proposed the idea of Alan Davies taking others on safari—professionally.

“He did such a good job of taking me there, hosting and making me feel comfortable,” she explains. “He was so excited and at ease with it. He just has such a warm, funny personality, and he truly loves the country. I couldn’t think of a better fit!”

“It all stems from ’survival trips’ I took during prep school to areas such as Naivaisha, Hell’s Gate and Gilgil outside of Nairobi,” Alan Davies says enthusiastically. “On Fridays, we’d get to leave school; we’d be in dress down clothes and have all our camping gear ready. And we’d hike, camp and cook outside at someone’s farm or by a river. These were great times.”

Supplementing such exotic field trips were family safaris to the Nairobi Game Park, which lies a few miles from their house.

“We’d get up real early and drive in there by 7 a.m. We’d watch the sun come up,” he says, looking up toward the bright ceiling of the tennis shop. “Then we’d fry bacon and eggs. We’d see animals along the way. If we were lucky, we’d see a lion out in the morning.”

According to Alan Davies, safari does not just mean going out into the wild to catch glimpses of lions, zebras and giraffes. In Swahili, safari simply means “to journey.” And you do not have to journey far to go on safari.

“Safaring is kind of like going to the ocean: It’s not monotonous,” he explains in his mellifluous accent. “Every single day is different. You are never going to see the same things twice. Every place has a unique feeling to it. The wildlife is a big draw. But I think it’s the environment, the landscape and the atmosphere all combined that make an area special.”

However, it wasn’t just the Davies’ passion for safaring that sparked the beginning of Jambo Safari, their African safari company. Early in their relationship, the two quickly realized that they both shared a love for traveling.

“Experiencing new places, people and food was a huge part of my upbringing,” says Rachel Davies, who is the senior director of creative services for SCAD and the owner of Red Door Design Group, a freelance design company. “The appreciation for learning how other people live was taught to me at a young age and is now something I really look for and am drawn to as an adult. I think that’s why I’m drawn to Alan too. His being from somewhere completely different than me and knowing how much he appreciated travel was really important to me.”

“As a child, I learned that there was more to the world than where you just went to bed every night,” states Alan Davies, who often traveled with his family through Africa, Europe and the United States.

In 2005, when the Davies began Jambo Safari, they quickly recognized how their interests and talents accented each other’s.

“We have to rely on each other’s expertise to really make it work. So, it really feels like ‘our’ company. We always joke about who works for whom?” Rachel Davies says, winking at her husband. “Alan is the personality of Jambo, and of course, the Kenyan expert. I developed our website and marketing materials and package his knowledge to our clients.”

It takes the Davies close to six months to precisely plan a custom safari that is tailored to suit the needs and interests of their clients. Extensive time and thought is needed to create a vacation far from the trail-ridden trip one could take with a major tour company. Therefore, when they are not working their full-time jobs, boating on the Wilmington River, fishing or spending time with their West Highland terrier, Tsavo, they are talking about Africa. The planning has become a natural, if not integral, part of their everyday existence.

“Alan’s heart has always been in Kenya, so planning itineraries and developing Jambo is very much a part of our everyday lives,” comments Rachel Davies. “Through our business, Alan is fortunate enough to maintain a strong presence as a Kenyan, as well as have a life here. Alan doesn’t have to choose.”

“There are very few family or partner companies that have a foot in both worlds like Rachel and I do,” adds her husband.

Jambo Safari truly came together in December 2008, when Alan Davies temporarily retired his Prince racquet, packed up his various safari gear and took a Richmond Hill resident and devout tennis player, Laurie Noonburg, off the courts and into the wild. Initially, Noonburg learned about Davies’ Kenyan background and safari company while taking tennis lessons at the club.

“One day, while recovering after hitting thousands of tennis balls, Alan and I had a conversation about him growing up in Kenya. His love and appreciation for the country was infectious, which I shared with my husband later that evening,” says Noonburg. “[My husband] Greer had always dreamed of going on safari—‘Johnny Quest’ being his favorite television show as a child. So, we met with Alan and Rachel for dinner and began discussing plans for taking our family to Kenya. We wanted our sons to share in what we knew would be the trip of a lifetime.”

Evidently, returning to Kenya is an easy transition for Alan Davies, who took control of the safari with as much confidence and enthusiasm as he exhibits on the court.

“He eases back into the lifestyle, into being a Kenyan,” says Rachel Davies, who, according to her husband, never travels anywhere without her kanga (a more colorful version of the kikoi). “Both Savannah and Kenya are places where the landscape and the nature shape the city and the culture. We will always be able to come home to both places.”

“Nairobi is an old city full of character. It’s cliquey and fun, very similar to Savannah. It’s a good mixture of culture and people—a melting pot,” says Alan Davies. “Maybe that’s why I am comfortable being in both.”

Davies journeyed the Noonburgs and their three sons to the historic Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi and into the Masai Mara, Kenya’s finest game sanctuary; accompanied them one-fourth of the way up Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest free-standing equatorial mountain; followed a herd of elephants with them through the Amboseli National Reserve; flew with them to the Serena Beach Hotel located in the ancient town of Mombasa, set on the coast of the Indian Ocean; drove them into the rugged landscape of Tsavo West National Park, Kenya’s largest game reserve; and finally, took them back to Nairobi to experience a lively outdoor trading market.

The Noonburgs will be the first to tell you that they did not merely travel through Kenya. They experienced what it was like to live there. “Speaking fluent Swahili and masterful with Kenyan shillings, Alan was the link that made Kenya personal. Having tea with his grandparents and playing doubles tennis at his family’s Nairobi compound ranks as one of my favorite memories,” expresses Laurie Noonburg.

“Alan’s family and the Kenyans themselves made the trip,” Dr. Greer Noonburg, a local orthopedic surgeon, says with conviction. “Everywhere we went, there was some family story or event to be told.”

***

Though his horizons are wide, Alan Davies is a man who doesn’t have to choose. He remains a Kenyan at home in Savannah. His two duffle bags no longer hold all his treasures. However, he navigates successfully between his two worlds, keeping his bags unpacked and a tennis racquet at hand.

And as we walk out of the tennis shop towards the adjacent patio, we wave to the club’s tennis director, Amy Bradley, as she energetically instructs on the court below.

“Amy has always encouraged me to go and do something else,” he admits. “She allows me to take the time to safari. It is very unique to have someone like [her].”

We can hear the heads of the sprinkler system, embedded in the lush green golf course, begin to tick and hiss as we sit down at a patio table. Suddenly, arms of water from each head arch out, leaving the rolling course looking like a synchronized army of greyish shrimp boats casting their trawl lines into the ocean. I ask him if the marsh, when it’s dry, looks anything like the savannas of Africa.

“I suppose you could compare brown marsh to some of the grassy plains,” Alan Davies says as he looks towards the river. “When you are out there and look at the marsh when it is mid to low tide, and all you see is grass in the distance, it is very similar to the plains.”

I wonder what it would be like to stretch my eyes across land absent of busy power lines, buildings and houses—a landscape of days gone by.

He mentions that many people want to go on safaris because they are interested in going back in time. “Africa remains in that timeless safari embrace,” remarks Alan Davies. “It doesn’t divert you with highways and byways. You are always driving the real Africa. Here, you are in the inside looking out; there, you are on the outside looking out.”

As we part ways, I ask him to say something to me in what he refers to as his “kitchen Swahili.”

“Safari njema,” Alan Davies says, his eyes all in amber. “It means, ‘Have a safe journey.’”

“Safari njema,” I respond timidly.

For more information on Jambo Safari and to view photos of the Davies’ journeys, visit www.jambosafari.net

Kenya Dig It?

The Republic of Kenya is an unforgettable place. A former British protectorate and colony, it gained its independence in 1963.
Population: 39,002,772
Capital: Nairobi
Native language: Swahili
Sights: Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa (more than 5,000 meters); exotic animal safaris
Climate: Varies from tropical on the coast to arid in the interior

The Lowcountry is known for its big festivals, like Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration, but a Hilton Head event has been slowly and quietly growing into the largest of its kind on the East Coast. The Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival is a three-day event celebrating everything in the car world. “Unlike other races and shows, this one is unique because of its location in Savannah and Hilton Head Island,” says Bob Craig, former racer and now manager of the Savannah/Hilton Head Speed Classic. “That means whether you are a race fan, a vintage car enthusiast or someone who might only want to attend an event or two, all that Savannah and Hilton Head have to offer is also right at your fingertips as part of the whole package.”

The Speed Classic, a two-day track event that is held on the newly opened Hutchinson Island racetrack, includes heart-stopping races by professional drivers in close to 10 classes, including Formula 1, Formula 5000 and even vintage cars. It also gives participants a chance to ride the course with a driver or drive their own car in a parade lap. The Hutchinson Island racetrack is a source of hometown pride and nostalgia for race entrant and founding president of the Oglethorpe Driving Club, Kevin Iocovozzi. “It’s a very personal race for me, along with others,” reflects Iocovozzi. “I call it the ‘home race.’ Knowing the history behind the Hutchinson Island track and to have seen the many volunteers of this festival come together and have such a successful impact for its reopening makes this a very special race for me and everyone involved.”

Saturday’s main event is the Car Club Jamboree, which offers car clubs across the country the chance to show off their best autos from the 1940s to current vintage. This year’s festival will place a special emphasis on British engineering with such icons as Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Austin Healy and MG.

The Motoring Midway: Memory Lane to the Fast Lane traces the evolution of the automotive industry and includes a weekend field show on Hilton Head Island. Visitors will see everything from classic cars and motorcycles to the latest in cutting-edge technology.

And then there is the event that started it all, the Concours d’Elegance.

“The Concours is truly what gave us our status in the eyes of enthusiasts and remains a highly attended event at the festival,” says Lindsey Brown Harrel, manager of business operations for the event. Known as the centerpiece of the motoring festival, this Sunday event displays rows of vintage vehicles in historic Honey Horn Plantation. Last year’s best in show winner was a beautifully preserved 1928 Packard 4-43 Phaeton.

All ticket proceeds from the festival go to benefit charity. Since 2002, the Concours has contributed funds (direct and in-kind) in excess of $170,000 to selected charities, nonprofit organizations and individuals, making this event a heart-racing and heart-warming festival.

Did You Know?

Before the Concours d’Elegance’s efforts to reopen the racetrack at Hutchinson Island, it had only hosted one race. The 1997 Indy Lights Series Race was won by now famous Indy racer Helio Castroneves, three-time Indy 500 champion.

Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance and Motoring Festival

When: October 30 – November 1

Where: Various locations in Savannah and Hilton Head Island

More Information: 843-785-SHOW, www.hhiconcours.com

These days, finding something free is truly rare—if not impossible. And if you do stumble upon an elusive freebie, chances are, you get what you pay for. Nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to the soulful American sounds of the 2009 Savannah Jazz Festival. Since its beginnings in October 1983 when the sweet slides, skats and beats of jazz music rippled through an eager audience at Grayson Stadium, the Savannah Jazz Festival has continued its tradition of hosting an incomparable musical treat free of charge and open to the public.

Today, the Savannah Jazz Festival is considered one of the best free jazz festivals in the country, and this year, beginning September 20, the annual gathering of this unique event will again be held at various locations throughout the city.

“We have our sponsors to thank for that,” says Lacy Manigault, festival chairman. “From the city of Savannah to various corporate sponsors, they are the reason Savannah is able to enjoy this one-of-a-kind event absolutely free.”

Sponsorship is certainly a large part of the festival’s success. In an economy that supports very little these days, it seems the arts sometimes get the short end of the stick. “Atlanta used to host [a jazz festival], but they aren’t able to this year due to lack of sponsorship. Our sponsors are crucial to our success, and we are truly grateful,” adds Manigault.

Manigault moved to Savannah in 1998 from Puerto Rico, where jazz music is a true phenomenon. So it was only natural that he find his way to the Coastal Jazz Association, and today he is as passionate about the festival as he is about his love of the music. “It tells a story that unites us, so no matter where you are or how old you are, it makes a connection unlike any other music I know,” he reflects.

A lifelong jazz enthusiast, Manigault credits his passion with the music’s historic roots. “It is the music of America and has been here longer than any other form of music,” he says with a clearly audible excitement. “It’s the backbone of the U.S., and if you approach it with that kind of reverence and appreciation for its roots, then you get it. But you have to sit and listen and let the rhythmic attention grab you—like a feeling that runs from top to bottom. Hey, I might not get hip-hop, but I can still appreciate it. You just have to give it a chance.”

Every year, the festival kicks off and concludes in Forsyth Park, with a multitude of concerts and jam sessions held at Savannah venues throughout the week. Sunday, in particular, is a huge festival day with events for families. “It’s always a huge draw; the kids really love it,” says Manigault. “McDonald’s is this year’s sponsor for our closing concert and offers an incredible opportunity to bring young and old together for some great jazz music.”

Manigault believes all of the entertainers in this year’s lineup will fill Savannah with their unmistakable jazz rhythms and help make the 2009 festival “another unforgettable year.”

Savannah Jazz Festival

When: September 20–27, 2009

Where: Locations throughout Savannah

More info: www.savannahjazzfestival.org

If you haven’t heard of shag dancing, one thing is for certain: You aren’t from the Carolinas. Shagging came into fashion in the 1950s after originating in and around Myrtle Beach with rebellious boys and girls in canvas shoes and bobby socks. It became the official state dance of South Carolina in 1984, and the state music is—you guessed it—beach music.

So how did the dance fever shimmy its way down to Savannah? By way of devoted Savannah Shag Club members Gloria Moak and her partner, Walter Purcell.

Moak, Purcell and the other members of the Savannah Shag Club reminisce about their introduction to the dance with the specificity one usually reserves for more conventional milestones such as a wedding or the birth of a child. They spout names of legendary shaggers with reverence and list their successes like a sportscaster rattles off batting averages. “It’s like a religion,” Purcell explains. “And the purists never feel like they got it right,” adds 20-year member Bill Benninghoff.

Though shag purists make up a majority of the Savannah club, the group is anything but exclusive. They understand that the survival of shag depends on enthusiasm and youth. The group’s 137 members are not short on enthusiasm, but they do hope to add some young blood to the mix. Moak, president of the club, explains that the average age of shaggers is 55, “but we welcome new dancers of all ages and would love to see more people 21 to 40 join us.”

You don’t need a partner to join the Savannah Shag Club, and you certainly don’t need to be an expert dancer. Formed in 1988, the club is primarily a social group bound together by an unmatched enthusiasm for shaking their thang.

A newcomer should know a few basics, however. Most importantly, club members distinguish themselves by the brand of shag they dance. For instance, Moak and Purcell dance “true” shag, known as the Carolina Shag, in which both partners move up and down on a single line. This 6-foot-long and 3-foot-wide “slot,” as they call it, prevents dancers from bumping into one another on a crowded dance floor. Both partners maintain a fairly still and upright torso, while their feet do most of the jiving. The Carolina Shag is different from what club members call the Savannah Shag, which incorporates swing dancing elements: The upper body moves more freely and partners often travel the dance floor.

Whether your interest lies in mastering the complex steps of Carolina Shag, or if you prefer to put your own spin on things, the Savannah Shag Club will welcome you as long as you’re willing to do two things: get up and dance, and do your best to avoid colliding with veteran shaggers.

For more information on the Savannah Shag Club, visit www.savannahshagclub.com

Hit the Dance Floor

The Savannah Shag Club boogies twice a week:

*Wednesday nights at Doubles Lounge, located at the Holiday Inn Midtown on Abercorn Street. Early in the evening they offer free mini-lessons.

*Friday nights at the American Legion, Post 36, on Victory Drive. Shag DJ Jessie Griffin—the first woman president of the exclusive Association of Beach and Shag Club DeeJays—is at the helm.

Tune In

Tune to 104.9 FM for 24/7 shaggable beach music, blues, boogie and jazz. www.johnfm.net

Shag Central

Jekyll Island hosts its annual Beach Music Festival on August 21–22. Check out www.jekyllisland.com/beachmusicfestival/index.html for details.

If you thought racing yachts was strictly the province of Fortune 500 CEOs, the salty dogs at the Sun City Model Yacht Club would beg to differ.

Yes, model yachts—miniature versions of the real thing.

The Sun City Model Yacht Club started nearly 13 years ago in the Sun City community, an upscale 55-and-over retirement community in nearby Bluffton. The group sails two types of boats: an East Coast 12 Meter (5 feet long by 6 feet high, weighing 26 pounds) and a Soling One Meter (1 foot long by 4 feet high, weighing 10 pounds).

The club has 32 members and sails four days a week on Lake Somerset, competing in spring, summer and fall series. In addition, the club hosts two regattas.

But the Sun City sailors aren’t alone. The American Model Yachting Association boasts thousands of members around the country and even has its own AMYA Hall of Fame.

The boats themselves are radio-controlled and cost anywhere from $1300 for a build-it-yourself model to $2500 for a professionally built one. One hand controls the rudder while the other controls the sails. “You’ve got to marry the two perfectly or you’re not going to get the optimum speed,” advises Fran DiTommaso, who retired to Sun City from upstate New York. “It’s all in the thumbs,” he says emphatically.

Most of the club’s members are Sun City residents, with a few active members sailing well into their eighties. “It’s the kind of activity where you can do it for many, many years during retirement,” DiTommaso says.

Like many of the club’s members, DiTommaso used to sail the real thing, though he concedes he prefers sailing models. “No, I gave up big boats,” he says with a laugh. “It was just too much trouble keeping a boat, keeping it maintained, finding crew and then [sailing on] bad days,” says the club’s EC-12 champion for four years running. “With models, it’s pretty easy. If you look out the window and see it raining, you just don’t go.”

Interested in model yachting? Visit www.modelyacht.org for tips on how to get started.

See it Live

Wanna see the sailors in action? The Sun City Model Yacht Club hosts its signature event, the Sun City Regatta, on September 19–20. For more information, e-mail frandito@sc.rr.com