Plan Your Meetings

Watch for:

• A Savannah River Landing development is planned east of downtown on 54 waterfront acres. Plans for the development call for two hotels, 600 condos, residential units, shops and restaurants arranged around six town squares; the first phase is expected to open in 2010. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer; estimated time for completion is 10 years.
• Kitchens on the Square restaurant now offers two-hour lunch and dinner cooking classes on local and international cuisine for small groups.

Want interesting (and informative) tours?

Savannah has more than 50 tour companies, offering group tours on a variety of itineraries by foot, trolley, bus, pedi-cab, carriage, boat and bike. Some of the most unusual tours focus on Savannah’s haunted history, its cinematic or literary landmarks, historic architecture, African-American heritage, and Gullah and Geechee culture.

Want to surround your group with culture?

The Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) operates the SCAD Museum of Art and several galleries. The Red and Pinnacle galleries feature the work of art-world superstars such as Andy Warhol alongside promising SCAD students and up-and-coming regional artists. The Pei Ling Chan Gallery and Garden for the Arts showcases work in a variety of media; the garden has an intimate, 90-seat amphitheater. The Chroma Gallery has exhibits from jewelry and glass artists as well as photographers and painters. City Market Street has several galleries, including the funky A.T. Hun International Gallery, the Thomas Kinkade Gallery, The Gallery and the Silversmith Shop; groups can explore the working art studios of 35 artists in the market’s art center.

Want group activities?

Charter the Savannah River Queen or Georgia Queen for a dinner, sightseeing, gospel or murder mystery cruise down the Savannah River. Listen to local music at Savannah Blues. Sports fans can enjoy minor league Savannah Sand Gnats baseball games played in a historic stadium or Savannah Shamrocks rugby matches. Crowd-pleasing tribute musicals such as Broadway on Bull Street and The Beat Goes On play at the historic Savannah Theatre.

Want a dramatic venue?

The renovated Lucas Theatre for the Arts, operated by SCAD, has film series, concerts and theater shows, and the occasional film and music festival. Local drag legend (and scene-stealing personality from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) Lady Chablis performs at Club One and is available for special events; the club also has cabaret shows, pool tables, DJ music, video games, karaoke nights and one of the hottest dance floors in town.

Want group dining?

Lady & Sons is the buffet-centric restaurant of Food Network star and prolific cookbook author Paula Deen. Il Pasticcio attracts a celebrity clientele; Elizabeth on 37th Street is famous for its service and upscale cuisine. The Old Pink House Restaurant is another local favorite, named after its historic location. River Street has several waterfront restaurants such as the Chart House and Kevin Barry’s Irish Pub & Restaurant. The Sentient Bean is a hip coffee house with a performance space seating 100 people, an art gallery and a funky outdoor courtyard. City Market has casual indoor and outdoor dining at restaurants such as Vinnie Van GoGo’s and Belford’s Savannah. The Crab Shack has been voted “Best Seafood Restaurant” by Connect Savannah readers since 1998; its Gator Deck (with a view of 78 live alligators) is available for private parties.