February 11, 2008
I spent this past weekend in Savannah, Georgia at the first (potentially annual) Interaction Design Association conference.  First Savannah, then the conference… Savannah seems like a really neat city.  I did a quick walking tour, but I wish I’d had a bit more time to explore the historic squares, mansions and row homes.  From what little I did see, it was sort of a fitting location for a design conference.  It is one of the earliest examples of a successful urban plan in the US.  The designers created central squares throughout the city, bordered by both public buildings (banks, churches, courthouses, etc.) and residential homes.  Today’s architects want us to believe they are so innovative with their ideas of mixed use.  Hardly…  Overall, I don’t think there are any MUST SEE buildings in Savannah, but taken as a whole, the architecture creates a wonderful feel.  I’d like to learn more.I stayed in the River Street Inn, which is a great old building that was originally built in 1817 to store, grade and export cotton.  The whole thing is original wood floors and exposed brick and beams.  Though my room didn’t face the water, the back of the building looks onto the Savannah River, which I now know from personal experience, is very much a working river.On Saturday I had a conference call (I know, a call on a Saturday… it’s a long and uninteresting story…) and decided to take it outside in the 72 degree sunshine.  I found a bench overlooking the water.  I had a really fabulous “Strawberry Fields” salad with balsamic vinaigrette.  Birds were chirping.  Flowers were blooming.  The water was making its gentle water noises.  I made my call.  Five words into my personal participation on this phone call a very large container ship announced its arrival on the scene – insert large ship horn noise here, THREE TIMES.  As an aside, the woman who founded the Girl Scouts was born in Savannah, one of the original Jewish congregations in the US was established in the city, and it’s considered one of the most haunted towns around.

I spent this past weekend in Savannah, Georgia at the first (potentially annual) Interaction Design Association conference.  First Savannah, then the conference… 

Savannah seems like a really neat city.  I did a quick walking tour, but I wish I’d had a bit more time to explore the historic squares, mansions and row homes.  From what little I did see, it was sort of a fitting location for a design conference.  It is one of the earliest examples of a successful urban plan in the US.  The designers created central squares throughout the city, bordered by both public buildings (banks, churches, courthouses, etc.) and residential homes.  Today’s architects want us to believe they are so innovative with their ideas of mixed use.  Hardly…  Overall, I don’t think there are any MUST SEE buildings in Savannah, but taken as a whole, the architecture creates a wonderful feel.  I’d like to learn more.

I stayed in the River Street Inn, which is a great old building that was originally built in 1817 to store, grade and export cotton.  The whole thing is original wood floors and exposed brick and beams.  Though my room didn’t face the water, the back of the building looks onto the Savannah River, which I now know from personal experience, is very much a working river.

On Saturday I had a conference call (I know, a call on a Saturday… it’s a long and uninteresting story…) and decided to take it outside in the 72 degree sunshine.  I found a bench overlooking the water.  I had a really fabulous “Strawberry Fields” salad with balsamic vinaigrette.  Birds were chirping.  Flowers were blooming.  The water was making its gentle water noises.  I made my call.  Five words into my personal participation on this phone call a very large container ship announced its arrival on the scene – insert large ship horn noise here, THREE TIMES.  

As an aside, the woman who founded the Girl Scouts was born in Savannah, one of the original Jewish congregations in the US was established in the city, and it’s considered one of the most haunted towns around.

•