National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah Georgia

We were able to spend a couple of hours at the Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Savannah while we were there.

This is a very nice museum obviously focusing on the Air Force in World War Two.  I was impressed with their collection of authentic items from that conflict.

This is not an overwhelming museum like the one in Dayton (there is no museum like the one in Dayton) so you can cover this one in a reasonable amount of time.  It is still informative enough that a true fan could easily spend a day or more here.

I was personally moved by the huge photo of Hitler with some of the children of Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels.  The children in the photo were murdered by their mother after she learned of the death of Hitler.

The museum is very interactive, and we participated in a film viewing situation, that allows the viewer to pretend that they are going in to the Air Force, and preparing for a mission.  A short film is watched in 3 different rooms, and the last room is a very visual one involving actual footage from the period of air combat.  You feel like you are in the middle of it.

Also, at the beginning of the presentation, there is a briefing for the new pilots, on the targets that will be bombed.  I have a much better understanding of how this sort of mission worked.  A lot is involved!

Check out the museum next time you are in the Savannah area!

Interview with Ron Cerosky bassist from the RailShakers!

I just mentioned the RailShakers from Akron Ohio the other day.  I asked bassist Ron Cerosky about doing a quick Q & A and he agree!  Check it out!

1.  Hey Ron, thanks for taking the time to do a Q & A about your career, and your new band, The RailShakers!  To start out, I know you were a part of that amazing Akron music scene back in the 70s!  Did you ever rub elbows with the Mothersbaughs or the Hyndes?  How exciting was it to be playing music in Akron in the 70s?

LOL No never met them but have seen Chrissie running around Akron a few years ago. I knew the Casale's brother's Father (from Devo) for a while. He made my mother a stained glass piece for her birthday.

 For the most part the 70's scene here in Akron for me is a blur today. I was quite inebriated back then- you know...great times!

 I saw Hammer Damage, Husker Du, The Clash at the Civic and allot of other bands from NYC and all over who maybe got big. It was a big party- a big dirty party.  The music was loud and we lived it all night. I was a kid from the sticks so coming to Akron was like NYC to us.

 I saw things I never saw in the sticks and had only heard about like hookers and drugs... to see a real crossdresser..it was wild.

 As a musician back then I couldn't get anything going. I really kind of gave up and just went to shows and partied.  It is  a period I will never forget. For awhile Akron was cool and we had a great music scene here..Kent also.

2.  You and Mike were previously in Lo-Watt Radio together, can you tell us about where the other members of Lo-Watt Radio are now?  I was a huge fan of Doc's!

Well Doc (Glen Blankenhorn) has a band now down where he lives around Athens Ohio. I see him on facebook sometimes and its a bluegrass band.

When LWR was folding he was diagnosed with Cancer. I have heard he beat it and from the looks of things he is retired and doing quite well.

 He is a great guy and a master player. Doc used to say" if it has strings I can play it". Truer words could not be spoken.

Drummer Joel Geiser moved to Virginia and is playing in a band down there. We stay in touch a little. Evan Moran (keys) is in Cleveland and has a band again. We don't stay in touch much but they were all great guys and great players. I am honored to of had the time with them and playing together.

3.  Are you guys (The RailShakers) doing much material from Lo-Watt Radio?

Yes and no. Mike Harven is the soul of LWR and the Railshakers. He is truly a gifted songwriter- one who I'm afraid will never be heard by the masses ...which suits him just fine.

 Mike is very humble is very anti- music business establishment.  More so than most performers at his level. He doesn't do it to be vain or trying to be a tortured songwriter behind a vail, he is just a family guy who likes to play and go home. I have played with quite a few people but nobody impresses me like Mike does. He is talented beyond his years.

We do cover some LWR songs, some old songs have also been restructured. Mike has plenty of songs and really wants to distance this band some from LWR and let the Railshakers walk on its own.

4.  Can you give me a brief rundown of the other members of your new band, and their previous projects? 

Kristine Jares (violin) has performed for years all over NE Ohio. She is a former member of Cats on Holiday and Jehovah's Waitresses back in the day. She is a great violinist and performer.

 Chris Celleghin (drums) has also played around the scene for years and plays for his Church. He is a very talented and tasteful drummer.

 We just added a guitar player James Bucceri. James played in the Cleveland band The Not so Good Ol' Boys. I don't know a lot about his past band but he is also skilled and knows the scene.

5.  You guys seemed very comfortable as a four piece- and it felt like there was a lot of music coming out of the four of you!.  Do you feel like five is the right number for what you all are doing?  By the way, I will take a violin/fiddle any day of the week over a lead guitar!

Well funny we just added a lead guitar a month ago.. LOL. James does play tasteful and understands Kristine's violin is the main lead instrument of the band.  The guitar adds some grit and allows Mike to take a step back on guitar when he wants to.

 We are now really working James and his sound into the Railshakers and are excited to see what it will add to the music.

6.  When will we see a RailShakers album come out?  Where are you all going to be playing over the next few months?

There is an EP out now. I did not play on it or, for the record, any recorded tracks the band has now. I joined after the past bassist left and was reunited with Mike again. I wanted to play again with him before I kick the bucket so that one is crossed off the bucket list.  There are tracks being mixed for a full album with the former bassist.

I do not know when this will be out but stay tuned.  We are on facebook and reverbnation so go there for more details in the future. We are booked to play around the Akron/Cleveland area this year. Our next gig is April 24th at The Barking Spider in C-Town.  It's my favorite place to play there and I'd say its like the Austin City Limits of Cleveland.

7.  Again, Akron is such a great city for music.  I remember seeing some amazing shows downtown... there are some great venues.  What are some of your favorite venues to play and what is special about them?

Well Akron is limited for live music and playing originals makes it even tougher to find places to play. I enjoyed Musicia, Highland Square Fest, and the Old 97.  Thats a favorite place. We did a show at a club now closed on my 50th Birthday. It was a great crowd and was just weeks after my Father had passed. My Sister brought my Mother down for that show. I was deeply moved since my Mother or Father never seen me play. They both bought me my first guitar as a kid.

 It was quite a night which I will never forget. In Cleveland I love the Barking Spider, Brothers Lounge and Prosperity Social Club. Bonnie at PSC was the first and only club owner to give LWR, an Akron based band, a shot. We play there again this summer.

Any gig is a good one for me, I'm an old hack and just playing with fine folks is always a great night.

8.  Ron, thanks for taking the time to talk!  Any last thoughts?

My pleasure! Its not everyday somebody takes and interest in an aging ,semi talented bass player. Bass players never get the spotlight you know.

 I love still playing and, for what its worth, I give it my all.  I might not impress many with my musical skills but you will have a hard time beating my passion and desire.

Plantation Jewels in Savannah Georgia

I am not a jewelry person.  I honestly can't tell the difference between any two rings.  Seriously.  I just don't feel excited or even interested in metals and stones.

Ever so often though, I find something that even catches my eye.

While in Savannah on River Rd., we found a very nice lady selling some VERY cool items.

My wife stopped when she saw some very attractive designs on small pendants.  I also noticed some broken Frozen Charlotte dolls that had been made into attractive necklaces. 

We stopped to chat with Jeanie at Plantation Jewels about what she makes and sells.

She explained that what they do is excavate at old sites around Savannah.  She finds broken bottles, dishes, etc. and she makes the pieces into really unique Savannah jewelry!

I would put a picture up of the items we purchased, but check their photos out on their site.  They are stunning, and obviously a lot of time has been put in to each piece.

Each purchase came with a card explaining the item, its approximate age, where it came from etc.  Each item she sells has a very unique story, and each item is a great, one of a kind souvenir from Savannah!

They also had a great selection of other items that one might find while excavating, including fossils and Civil War related items.

You will spend a little more at Plantation Jewels, but you will be getting an exceptionally unique item that will be treasured.  This place gets my highest endorsement. 

Entrance at Lookout Mountain, Georgia

The bottom postcard has a special offer on the back-

 

"You will be given a pocket calendar for each occupant of the car and a souvenir decal of Rock City with the purchase of one or more gallons of gasoline from the service station at the entrance of Rock City compliments of Pettway Oil Co."

 



RailShakers

Let me tell you about the RailShakers!

This is my new favorite band and you really need to check them out.  This is a great four piece band that is fronted by Michael Harvan, who was previously the main guy in another favorite band of mine, Lo-Watt Radio.  I mentioned those guys here, here, and here.  Bassist Ron Cerosky is also in the band, meaning that one half of the line up was also in Lo-Watt Radio!

The RailShakers have the same folk/rock feel that Lo-Watt had, but I think they are getting more into the folk, where Harvan and Cerosky's previous band was a bit more rock.  Its still a very thin line though- the bands are both a good mix of genres.

You do notice a difference in the two bands when you realize that the mature vocal/multi-instrumental talents of Doc Blankenhorn is not present (I have heard that Doc has retired to the Athens Ohio area).  Instead, the youthful Kristine Jares fills that role on violin and vocals.

If you have ever played music with other people, you know how hard it is to find a competent drummer.  Luckily, Mike has always had good drummers behind him.  Chris Celleghin is the perfect drummer for the band, playing intelligently while not trying to dominate.

You can listen to their songs here.

Lady and Sons in Savannah Georgia

Like Leopold's Ice Cream, you can't leave Savannah without stopping by Paula Deen's restaurant, Lady & Sons.

Just about every local I talked to said that this is a great place to eat.  I was kind of impressed with the fact that the locals still strongly endorse her.  There was no pretending to be too cool to go to her place.  Savannah loves Paula Deen.

So we stopped in and had a very nice lunch.  We were trying to eat sensibly on this trip, but that is hard to do at Lady and Sons.  I know our meals look healthy but the toast on my sandwich was buttery.  DELICIOUS, but buttery.

Half a sandwich, salad and soup was about $12, which was more than reasonable in Savannah, and at such a nice restaurant.  The buffet was around $16.

We had a great waiter named Zack who took care of us.  We enjoyed the food, the atmosphere, and Zack.

I have always admired Paula Deen, and I am glad that she and her restaurant are still such distinguished parts of Savannah.

Leopold's Ice Cream in Savannah Georgia

EVERYONE told us that we had to go by Leopold's while in Savannah.  I guess this is kind of one of those places that is very distinctly Savannah.  When you go to Savannah, you should have some ice cream here the same way you must have a beignet in New Orleans.

There is a ton of history at this place.  It has been around for almost a century (it was founded in 1919!) so that alone makes it a business to check out.  Also, they claim to have invented tutti frutti!  Stratton Leopold, son of one of the shop's founders and long time head of Leopold's has had a very successful career in films.  You can see many movie used items in the shop today!

We stopped by for some great ice cream.  The staff was helpful and friendly.

Savannah Coffee Roasters

Savannah Coffee Roasters was a great find for us on our recent trip to Savannah.  We stopped by for some coffee and pastries, and ended up having a nice lunch here.

I love coffee shops like this where they offer great beverages and nice lunches.  The place is clean, cozy, and classy.

Being on the road, our internal clocks were a bit off, and we were ready for lunch around 10:30.  We asked these guys how early they started serving lunch, and they had no problem getting things going early just for us!


Inside there were plenty of seats, and it did not feel cramped at all.  We saw lots of people coming through, but the place never felt too crowded.

I grabbed a couple of bags of their decaf to take home, and I am so glad that I did!

Savannah Georgia

We JUST completed a very enjoyable trip around Georgia and the Carolinas- with a bit of a focus on Savannah!

This was our second trip through Savannah (check out my write up from 2010 here).

We were able stay at the same great hotel we stayed at before, the Savannah Hyatt Regency.  We loved staying here last time, and it was so great this time too.  Its perfectly located right on the very exciting River Street.  I know a nice historic place might have been the way to go here, but this is a nice, very updated and clean hotel. 

I took the night photo from the balcony at the bar in the hotel.  Check that out!  I really love that view.

The concierge there, Sally, gave us a great deal on a trolley and river tour.  Phil, who had worked there before, gave us a similar deal last time.

I really don't know what to say about Savannah that hasn't been said before.  In fact, there are mountains of books and articles about Savannah, and its amazing history.  I guess the most I can contribute is telling about my own experiences.

Like last time, we utilized the orange/green on/off trolley.  This is a great way to get around.  Its convenient, and the drivers are great narrators and informative.


As I mentioned in 2010, Savannah is so real.  The history and stories are real.  Not to devalue other town's histories, but Savannah has so much going on that feels authentic.  There are old houses around, with documented histories.  Historical events happened all around, and you can feel it.  Very few replicas are present.

I can think of many other historic places, where replica buildings and homes are constructed, on sites where people think something happened, maybe.  Museums show off large artist interpretations, with no authentic relics.  That is not the case at all in this legendary Georgia town.

Remember when I wrote about finding all of those great coffee shops around Lake Michigan?  Well, I didn't have as much luck on this trip as far as coffee shops went.  I did find two great ones though.  I did want to mention the very cool independent coffee shop The Coffee Fox.  I forgot to get pictures while I was there, but this was one of the few coffee shops we visited that was really good in town.  We also liked Savannah Coffee Roasters (more on them later, I DID get some photos).  We stopped by Vic's in town too which is at a very convenient location, but we cannot recommend them.  The Fox Coffee and Savannah Coffee Roasters care about making a tasty, quality product.

I will talk more about some of the specific places we liked later....

Fayette County Fire Truck

This is another great photo I found dated from the early 1970s.  A car fire is being put out.  Been there.

Berea College Farm Store- Berea KY

So, I JUST realized there is a great little store on the campus of Berea.  It is where the old security building was when I was a student there.

You MUST check this place out!  We bought some great bread, some veggie jerky, and some other nice items.

They have a butcher there too who is super cool, and very knowledgeable about meats.  The day we were there, he was giving away samples of sausage that he made!  They were AMAZING and I plan on going back for more next time I am in Berea.

So, make sure you stop by- the Berea College Farm Store is walking distance from the college campus!

Boone Tavern Hotel Matchbook

Here is an old Boone Tavern matchbook I found recently!

Berea Bull- Berea Kentucky

This bull has been in Berea, in front of Near New Auto Center forever!  He is one of the first things I remember seeing my first day in Berea.

Heres a photo- check him out!

Berea Bulk Food Store in Berea Kentucky

I thought I would post a few photos from the Old Town Amish Store in Berea Kentucky.  It reminds me of a smaller version of The End of the Commons near Cleveland.

This is a great small store that sells all sorts of cheeses and bulk foods.  They have a deli area, and a lot of local products too!

Weston Studios Glass in Berea

I am almost ashamed to admit that I JUST found out about Weston Studios Glass in Berea.  The gallery is small, but each piece is amazing!  This is a MUST SEE site in Berea.

Check out the amazing seahorses and jellyfish!  Those small egg shaped paperweights look like a real jellyfish is frozen in time inside!

Some of the other works of art looked like a small reef was inside.  For such intricate and beautiful art pieces, we felt that the prices were reasonable too!


Check out my photos, and check out artists/gallery owner's studio site- there are more amazing photos!

Boone Tavern in Berea Kentucky

I have had a long and personal relationship with Berea College, AND with Boone Tavern.  I will say openly that I love the college and the historic hotel. 

I got my degree from the school.  I had a lot of fun while I was there.  I am still friends with a lot of people I went to school with there.

AND, I met my future wife at Berea College, while we both worked at Boone Tavern!

That's a story for another day.  Anyway, we decided that a weekend away at Boone Tavern would be nice.

Sure, we are in Berea a lot for day trips, or just to enjoy Papalino's, but an actual casual weekend with no real plans would be great.  Maybe we could take a tour, walk around old town, and just enjoy being there.

I did call the Berea College Visitor Center to schedule a tour for Saturday morning.  They took my name and number.  Well, when we got there Saturday morning, no one was there to give us our tour.  We even went back later in the day, and the visitor center wasn't open at all, despite posted hours that they would be.

That's the one issue I have with the place.....  Berea doesn't always bring its A game.  Students do run a lot of things around campus, and that IS nice, but they sometimes use that as an excuse.  In fact, I talked to someone on campus after our "no show" tour, and they said, "well, students give those tours so....".

I did email the visitor engagement manager about this and she blamed it on the tour guides car trouble.


Other than that, we had a great time back on campus.  We had a couple of great meals at Boone Tavern, and it had been some times since I actually set down for a meal there.  Spoonbread is what the place is known for.  I don't know how to explain spoonbread exactly, but it is like cornbrean but fluffier.

Chicken Flakes in a Birds Nest is another thing that has been on the menu here forever.  Anyway, everything was good.

Our room was cozy too.  For a historic hotel, Boone Tavern is very modern.  They did some major upgrades recently, and you can tell.

We were thinking about our trip to Talbot Tavern not too long ago.  I love Talbot Tavern in Bardstown, but as far as the rooms go, Boone Tavern is superior.

We actually spent a lot of time reading and relaxing in our room.  It was very cozy.  We also enjoyed the vibe around Boone Tavern.  In the evening, there was a young girl playing piano and singing in the lobby.

And, the main block where Boone Tavern is located is very lively for such a small place.  We enjoyed some coffee at Berea Coffee and Tea (my old hang out from the 90s) which was open pretty late.  Papalino's was also still busy later in the evening.

The college book store, Appalachian Fireside Gallery, Peace Craft, and ice cream/fudge shop, and other businesses are all on the square, a few steps from Boone Tavern,

Boone Tavern is a very nice getaway from Louisville or Lexington.  Its also just a couple of hours way from Knoxville and Gatlinburg.  Check it out when you have a chance!