Thursday, February 23, 2012

A Couple of Nights in The Mansion

Bliss on Forsyth Park


What do you get when you renovate an 18,000 SF Victorian Romanesque mansion built in 1888, seamlessly add on 126 oversized modern hotel rooms, take off the top and pour in art, then stir nicely with views of Savannah's lovely 22 acre Forsyth Park? 

Savannah's Exquisite Forsyth Park

You get the Mansion on Forsyth.

The Mansion On Forsyth

The Mansion is part of the Richard Kessler's collection of unique hotels and has joined the Marriott Autograph Collection, which is sort of a hotel "codeshare"arrangement of unique hotel properties.

This week the partners from my architectural firm decided to make this our home base for our annual retreat. It turned out to be a great choice.

The hotel defines eclectic. History slams into modern art in every hallway. There is even an uber cool collection of lovely millinary lining a hallway.

Half of the Hat Collection

Each Hat - A Work of Art

My Favorite Hat 
The Beehive

You can see the pink marble swim area from the reception area. I also loved the huge model ship over the bar at the lobby. 

The Lobby Bar

In many Yelp reviews you will see visitors grousing about the Mansion's location on the edge of the historic district. Well I've stayed in many of the downtown hotels and am frankly delighted to have a lovely and quiet alternative to listening to loud partiers on the street at two in the morning evacuating their tummies.

The rooms are spacious, plush, and pretty darned romantic. I especially loved the large hydro tubs set smack in the middle of the room.

A Typical Guestroom

Bring comfortable shoes, and a pair of expand-o-matic slacks, the Mansion just a few blocks from the Wilkes House for a lunch never to be forgotten. 

And before you leave do stop at the Market for some warm pecan pralines.

Dearest Savannah, cheers, till we meet again!


Roadboy's Travels © 2012

Monday, February 6, 2012

Whats In Your Netflix Cue?

Bill Cunningham New York
He Who Seeks Beauty......Will Find it!


The ability to travel allows us opportunities to go to new places, experience different cultures, view beauty and fall even more madly in love with our amazing world each day.

I just finished watching a documentary profiling Bill Cunningham. Before viewing this film I was not aware of this 82 year old, bicycle riding, fashion photographer and New York Times icon.

Bill Cunningham New York follows him as he roams the streets of New York City on the prowl for new fashion trends to photograph. He snaps pictures of both everyday people and the glitterati.

In a time when our broadcast media and journalism dial up ever noisier and brutal ways to provoke us via cynicism and hate, this film was a joy.

I love the fact that the New York Times still hires this guy to find those willing to express their own personal style. And, what makes it even more wonderful is, he does it with genuine affection and kindness.

Please, do Roadboy a favor. Put this one in your Netflix cue!

Cause the world could use a few more Bill Cunningham's.


Roadboy's Travels © 2012