By Annabelle Carr | Feb/March 09 | City Portrait

Sultry Savannah

It was founded as a settlement for misfits, but Georgia's first city has reinvented itself as a cultural haven

SHOP

Arcanum
Sim Harvey and Philip Hunter are the decor gurus at Arcanum, a loving monument to “warm modernism” that anchors the Downtown Design District. 422 Whitaker St.; www.savannahinstyle.com

The Hunt Club Custom Clothiers
Jim Hunt epitomizes Savannah savoir faire at this elegant destination for Savile Row suiting and sartorial luxuries. When he isn’t recommending the latest lamb suede motorcycle jacket, he dedicates his spare time to mentoring young men in the arts of etiquette and ascots. 102 E. Liberty St. #103; 912-238-5395

The Paris Market
World traveler Paula Danyluk’s two-story international bazaar is packed with unique finds, and you’ll want to take home a fragrant Low Country Luxe “Savannah” candle for everyone on your list.
36 W. Broughton St.; www.theparismarket.com

Pinch of the Past
As a refreshing detour from Savannah’s scores of traditional antique shops, visit Noreene Parker’s inspiring boutique, where she cleverly reimagines historic architectural elements as “new” home decor. 2603 Whitaker St.; 912-232-5563; www.pinchofthepast.com

Savannah Bee Company
Artisan honey, bee beauty products, and other sweet gifts make Ted Dennard’s tasty local business a mandatory stop for nature lovers. 104 W. Broughton St.; www.savannahbee.com

ShopSCAD
Browse original works by hundreds of Savannah College of Art and Design students, professors, and alums in this fantastic art and craft emporium, housed in the original SCAD building on Wright Square. 340 Bull St., www.shopscadonline.com

SEE

Bonaventure Cemetery
At this historic haunt overlooking the Wilmington River, the twisted live oaks are older than most of the mausoleums. “Moon River” lyricist Johnny Mercer and troubled writer Conrad Aiken are buried here, but you’re more likely to meet the living: local anglers who exchange lore and bait along the riverbank.
330 Bonaventure Rd.; www.savannahga.gov

The Islands
You haven’t seen Savannah until you’ve explored its surroundings by boat. Catch the tiny ferry directly from River Street to explore Daufuskie Island, the historically Gullah enclave Pat Conroy illuminated in The Water Is Wide. Or head south to Isle of Hope, a timeless waterfront community whose only business is a deep-water dock. Even if you left your yacht at home, it’s a great place to toss in the kayak and paddle with dolphins. Daufuskie Island (latitude: 32.1; longitude: -80.8); daufuskieislandresort.com. Isle of Hope: www.iohmarina.com.

The Ships of the Sea
Maritime Museum
Don’t let the name fool you: Gardeners will be just as delighted as sailors at this fabulously refurbished mansion, where native plants are lovingly nurtured to create an urban Eden. Stay for the collection of model ships and seafaring relics. 41 Martin Luther King Blvd.; www.shipsofthesea.org

The Telfair Museum of Art
The South’s oldest art museum is now one of its most contemporary, thanks to the airy Jepson Center for the Arts, a dazzling glass and stone construction that starkly frames historic Telfair Square. The Jepson’s adjacent sister sites, two exquisitely preserved Regency mansions, showcase the original Telfair collections. Telfair Square; www.telfair.org