Savannah Night Life
The cool thing about Savannah's Historic District is that everything is pretty much within walking distance, or a short ride; and there are lots of fun modes of transportation too. There are rentals for bikes and scooters, and there are carriage rides of every size and shape. There are also several types of public buses, mini-buses, and lots of tour buses that teach you about the city as you sit back and enjoy.
In Taverns Measureless To Man
Jane Martin
I told myself I wouldn’t start this nightlife assignment with any references to the past or to “’kickin’ it old school.” But that’s just not possible. In Savannah, back in the late eighties, a totally awesome night meant piling into my red VW Beetle after work and puttering down to Jim Collins’ Bar on State Street for 75 cent pool games, good conversation and 2 dollar cans of Foster’s beer (It goes down and it stays down…).
Plastic checker-board table cloths draped two or three wobbly tables, and a 2-foot Christmas tree blinked year round. In the front corner, a jukebox played vinyl 45’s. Jim, the owner & bartender, sometimes informed folks to “take it out of here” if they used profanity or danced too provocatively (…to the scratchy sound of The Kingston Trio?). But the focal point at Jim’s bar was the pool table-- a less than professionally-sized stretch of faded green, somehow harnessed to fit into an even smaller gaming area. Bent pool sticks were generally the norm, and the “short stick” understandably became the most popular.
My father referred to the bar as a “dive.” I guess that’s an objective assessment, even though it comes from a man who never left the Southside unless he needed the services of a Federal building. Why go out for drinks if you own a five speed blender? Those carefree nights at Jim Collins’ formed a lifelong appreciation for small, “underground” social spots, the likes of which I may no longer gain true access.
Nearly twenty years later, I find myself downtown again, looking to replace the now closed social spot of yesteryear. Our group is older (as are our knees and livers), so I suppose it makes sense that our first epiphany clarified that we should not drink at every Savannah pub in one night’s search. That said, we parked the Quest for the night and hailed a bicycle cab from Savannah Pedicab (912-232-7900). These open-air taxis are a very charming and easy-going alternative to crawling. Kudos to the young woman driver for her fun spirit and strong legs!
While there are dozens of taverns and clubs to choose from downtown, we were in search of a “dive,” a smallish gathering place with beer, music, characters, and pool. This is what we found:
McDonough’s Restaurant & Lounge on the corner of McDonough and Drayton Street, has a comfortable freindly bar/lounge and also a Karaoke room for socializing with music and games. While not exactly a dive, the lounge does provide a great mix of locals, students, and professionals.
B & B Billiards, located at 411 W. Congress St., is also well known for its good pool tables. Alternative music and high energy shows attract people here as well. On Friday, November 2nd, you might check out Hell On Earth Halloween. All out sexy/scary costume contests, DJ fun and wickedness abound. Clearly, this is too cool to be a dive.
(912-233-7116)
Chuck’s, at 305 W. River Street, is probably the closest we came to finding a “true” dive. This is a fabulous escape from the tourist scene on River Street. Dark, quiet, and friendly, Chuck’s reminds me of pleasantly surreal dreams I’ve had after taking Nyquil.
There is a pool table and an eclectic mix of people enjoying themselves.
(921-232-1005)
Wg’s Tavern, at 17 Lincoln St, resides a little off the tourist path, which made it a great place to end our abbreviated “dive crawl.” A cozy, familiar atmosphere predominates. Although the bar has an additional room with a pool table and juke box, the main room is large enough for a long bar and a couple of pub tables. The bartender was new, and we found that rather charming. Over the course of the evening, we met a variety of nice folks, including a woman renowned for appearing on stage with Prince (the artist formerly known as?). The juke box kept the Prince songs coming, and we all decided this was the best place ever. I imagine this feeling is behind the real spirit of the dive.
(912-925-5111)
The New Olde Pink House
One of the most popular new bars in town this Summer is the Pink House Bar. It is located just behind, and connected inside to, the Olde Pink House restaurant at 23 Abercorn Street, just 1 block South of Bay Street. The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable, and the decor is 100% historic Savannah elegance. This is a place where you will be offered a complete dining menu, along with the beverage choices of a full bar. This is a place where you can really relax and enjoy spending quality moments with friends.
Stop by any evening - or visit during the day for lunch!
For more information, call the Olde Pink House at (912)232-4286.
Moon River Brewing Company
 “Yeast thrives in its perfect environment.” So we were reminded Tuesday by Moon River Brewing Company Brewmaster, John Pinkerton, who kindly treated Gazette staff to a quick course on local brew and its preparation. In general, how a fermented beverage attains its flavor depends upon how the brew is fermented with a starch and how it is further imbued with regional character. Natural ingredients like wildflower honey and orange peel often add to its distinction. This age-old process produces a variety of colors, textures, and original flavors.
While not giving away their unique recipes, Moon River does provide a nice description of these seasonal and guest brews on your table and at their website. The current beer lineup includes Wild Wacky Wit, Savannah Fest Bier, Swamp Fox India Pale Ale, and The Captains Porter. Small 4oz glasses are available if you’d like to sample a few. We were all surprised by the smoothness of the dark brew, The Captain’s Porter, despite its intimidating thick black beeryness.
Located at 21 W. Bay Street, Moon River Brewing Company opened in 1999 after undertaking serious renovations needed to restore the structural damage imposed by Hurricane David in 1979. Restored to a comfortable mix of modern and traditional (modern art meets sturdy wood), the brewery also serves a full menu of traditional favorites, and the staff can make suggestions about which beer compliments what food.
 The Brewmaster encourages people to stop by on Fridays (bell rings at 6:00 p.m.) to sample their current selections and enjoy a toast with area regulars. Sometimes, Pinkerton says, he makes the toast himself, adding that this is a time to comment on something or someone important to the community. According to Pinkerton, Georgia is one of the last three states to allow brew pubs. If you become a member of their Quality Assurance Team (at only $35 for a life-time), you will also receive great discounts, invitations, and a free dinner on your birthday.
For the holiday season, the brewery will also offer hard cider made from sweet North Georgia apples. Over 550 gallons of apple juice, Pinkerton explained, will be pressed while Moon River Brewing Company trucks wait to transport the fresh juice back to their local brewery to continue the cider process. Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Gold Rush apples are frequently chosen for making cider. The Gold Rush apples make a great choice because of their sweetness and acidity, Pinkerton added. Sounds delicious to me.
The Gazette staff enjoyed learning a bit more about how and why to appreciate quality crafted brew. And, hey, it’s also fun to hang out in the same building that once functioned as City Hotel prior to Sherman’s arrival to Savannah. We were also given the early scoop about a 2009 Savannah Beer Festival currently in the planning stages. This is good news for those who enjoy and appreciate quality ale and interesting places to locate it.
 
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