Jab's Southern Tiki Road Trip - pictures added - Other Events

T thejab Grand Member (1 year) Tradewinds Apartments, Alameda, CA Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 2992	T thejab Posted posted on Thu, Oct 20, 2005 10:19 PM On Monday I left Atlanta for Macon, home of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. I had lunch at the classic Len Berg's: Roast beef with gravy, taters, greens, cornbread, and, of course, sweet iced tea. I had to press the button on the way out! Also in Macon: The Georgia Music Hall of Fame covered all Georgia musicians, from blues to jazz to country to rock and soul. Early guitar and outfit from the B-52s: Collection of Chet Atkin's memorabilia: Near Macon was the Ocmulgee National Monument of ancient Native American settlements from 900-1100 AD, and this Streamline Moderne visitors center. I arrived in Augusta and made it to the Hale Tiki about 9:00. It was totally empty except for the bartender, but I stayed for a few fine drinks. They were out of passion fruit syrup so I didn't get to try a concubine. It's such a beautiful bar, it's a shame more people weren't there to enjoy it on a Monday night. Across the street from the Hale Tiki: On Tuesday I had some good pulled pork BBQ and Brunswick Stew at this old joint somewhere on the way to Savannah: Savannah is a beautiful city. It is so well preserved. Even this 1950s motel was preserved and the rooms upgraded, so it was a real plush place to stay (and a bit of a splurge compared to most of the places I stayed in). I had a marvelous dinner at Johnny Harris' Restaurant, a local landmark since the 1940's. The main dining room is round with a soaring ceiling with "stars", and cozy wooden booths, each with their own window. Big bands used to play there, and I was happy to hear original 1940s big-band recordings playing from the original wood loudspeakers in the dining room. I ate a meal of BBQ pork (twice in one day!), fried chicken, Brunswick Stew, cole slaw, homemade brown bread, and an old fashioned. The fried chicken was much different from the excellent super crispy battered kind I had in Atlanta. This one had a very thin crust and was almost like BBQ chicken. Both were real juicy unlike that overcooked and dry rotisserie chicken we have all over in California. Their BBQ sauce was very tangy and somewhat vinegary, so I had to buy a bottle to take home. Y'all can get some here: http://www.johnnyharris.com/ And if you want to know what the heck Brunswick Stew is check this out: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?path=/Folklife/Foodways&id=h-555 Savannah, like New Orleans, is a hard city to capture adequately in pictures, especially at night. You just have to experience the romance of it's streets and many public squares on foot, preferably with drink in hand (like New Orleans you can drink outside if it's not in glass). It's a place I vowed to return to soon so I could spend more time there. The next day I headed for the Okeefenokee swamp as the weather got worse. Along the way: I saw the swamp in a driving rain that made it very atmospheric. I kept looking for 'gators but the only ones I saw were in captivity. I arrived in Ormond Beach, Florida just in time for a prime rib dinner at Julian's. I'm not sure why but I didn't take any pictures in Daytona - I guess because I have quite a few from previous trips to Florida. Julian's food was great and the entertainment was splendid. I checked out the Hawaiian Inn in Daytona and had a look-see in the showroom at all the Witco. I checked in to the smal 1950s Ocean Court Motel next door to the Hawaiian Inn, cheap and right on the beach (highly recommended for visits to Daytona). I poured myself a bit of George Dickel Barrel Select whiskey and watched the lightning storm over the ocean. The next day I took old highway one South from Dayton and saw some great old motels: I had lunch at this drive-in that still had car hops (not on roller skates though): On Friday night of the Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale, me and Unga Bunga headed up to the dock where the boat takes passengers to Cap's Place, a great old restaurant that used to be a speakeasy and gambling den in the 30s. They serve a tasty hearts of palm salad. Their fresh palm hearts come from the same farm that they have bought from for decades. The bar had a great atmosphere, was chock full of photos and memorabilia from the history of the place, and even had a couple of tikis, because it is Florida after all: Finally, on my last day in Fort Luaderdale, I took some pictures of some of the great mid-century architecture near my motel: I hope you enjoyed my pictures. I had a great time in the states of Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. The people were so friendly, the food was always good (ever try hot boiled peanuts along the road in Georgia?), there was history everywhere, and the weather was perfect! Mahalo to Tiki-Kiliki, Swanky, and Tikibars for the travel suggestions and for arranging a heaping helping of that southern hospitality.

On Monday I left Atlanta for Macon, home of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. I had lunch at the classic Len Berg's:

Roast beef with gravy, taters, greens, cornbread, and, of course, sweet iced tea.

I had to press the button on the way out!

Also in Macon:

The Georgia Music Hall of Fame covered all Georgia musicians, from blues to jazz to country to rock and soul.

Early guitar and outfit from the B-52s:

Collection of Chet Atkin's memorabilia:

Near Macon was the Ocmulgee National Monument of ancient Native American settlements from 900-1100 AD, and this Streamline Moderne visitors center.

I arrived in Augusta and made it to the Hale Tiki about 9:00. It was totally empty except for the bartender, but I stayed for a few fine drinks. They were out of passion fruit syrup so I didn't get to try a concubine. It's such a beautiful bar, it's a shame more people weren't there to enjoy it on a Monday night.

Across the street from the Hale Tiki:

On Tuesday I had some good pulled pork BBQ and Brunswick Stew at this old joint somewhere on the way to Savannah:

Savannah is a beautiful city. It is so well preserved. Even this 1950s motel was preserved and the rooms upgraded, so it was a real plush place to stay (and a bit of a splurge compared to most of the places I stayed in).

I had a marvelous dinner at Johnny Harris' Restaurant, a local landmark since the 1940's. The main dining room is round with a soaring ceiling with "stars", and cozy wooden booths, each with their own window. Big bands used to play there, and I was happy to hear original 1940s big-band recordings playing from the original wood loudspeakers in the dining room. I ate a meal of BBQ pork (twice in one day!), fried chicken, Brunswick Stew, cole slaw, homemade brown bread, and an old fashioned. The fried chicken was much different from the excellent super crispy battered kind I had in Atlanta. This one had a very thin crust and was almost like BBQ chicken. Both were real juicy unlike that overcooked and dry rotisserie chicken we have all over in California. Their BBQ sauce was very tangy and somewhat vinegary, so I had to buy a bottle to take home. Y'all can get some here: http://www.johnnyharris.com/ And if you want to know what the heck Brunswick Stew is check this out: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?path=/Folklife/Foodways&id=h-555

Savannah, like New Orleans, is a hard city to capture adequately in pictures, especially at night. You just have to experience the romance of it's streets and many public squares on foot, preferably with drink in hand (like New
Orleans you can drink outside if it's not in glass). It's a place I vowed to return to soon so I could spend more time there.

The next day I headed for the Okeefenokee swamp as the weather got worse. Along the way:

I saw the swamp in a driving rain that made it very atmospheric. I kept looking for 'gators but the only ones I saw were in captivity.

I arrived in Ormond Beach, Florida just in time for a prime rib dinner at Julian's. I'm not sure why but I didn't take any pictures in Daytona - I guess because I have quite a few from previous trips to Florida. Julian's food was great and the entertainment was splendid. I checked out the Hawaiian Inn in Daytona and had a look-see in the showroom at all the Witco. I checked in to the smal 1950s Ocean Court Motel next door to the Hawaiian Inn, cheap and right on the beach (highly recommended for visits to Daytona). I poured myself a bit of George Dickel Barrel Select whiskey and watched the lightning storm over the ocean.

The next day I took old highway one South from Dayton and saw some great old motels:

I had lunch at this drive-in that still had car hops (not on roller skates though):

On Friday night of the Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale, me and Unga Bunga headed up to the dock where the boat takes passengers to Cap's Place, a great old restaurant that used to be a speakeasy and gambling den in the 30s.

They serve a tasty hearts of palm salad. Their fresh palm hearts come from the same farm that they have bought from for decades.

The bar had a great atmosphere, was chock full of photos and memorabilia from the history of the place, and even had a couple of tikis, because it is Florida after all:

Finally, on my last day in Fort Luaderdale, I took some pictures of some of the great mid-century architecture near my motel:

I hope you enjoyed my pictures. I had a great time in the states of Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. The people were so friendly, the food was always good (ever try hot boiled peanuts along the road in Georgia?), there was history everywhere, and the weather was perfect! Mahalo to Tiki-Kiliki, Swanky, and Tikibars for the travel suggestions and for arranging a heaping helping of that southern hospitality.

Post #193975 by thejab on Thu, Oct 20, 2005 10:19 PM