Latest news with #Savannah-based
Eater
22-07-2025
- Business
- Eater
Savannah's Death & Co. Bar Is the New Spot to See and Be Seen
When Municipal Grand swung its doors on July 11, the hotel's eponymous lobby bar quickly packed with patrons thirsty for a taste of its much-anticipated beverage program — and the people it attracts. The debut came within two years after Midnight Auteur, a new hospitality group from the founders of Death & Co. and Denver's the Ramble Hotel, announced plans to reimagine the six-story, 1960s landmark into a cocktail-driven, 44-room destination. Municipal Grand's name is a clever nod to the past: the First Federal Savings and Loan Association, which operated from 1961 to 1989, later served as a City of Savannah workplace at 45 Abercorn Street. The preserved architecture, from terrazzo tiles to the bank vault, sets the tone for the midcentury modern-inspired interiors by AAmp Studio — the same firm behind Death & Co.'s bars in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. — in collaboration with Savannah-based Lynch Associates Architects and Ward Architecture + Preservation. Drink martinis or 'cheekies' at the bar. Kelly Calvillo By design, Municipal Bar is the city's best new spot to see and be seen, both in person and on Instagram. Anchoring the lobby is a curved, 14-seat bar surrounded by serpentine banquettes and low lounge seating. Although at street level, the entire floor feels like one big sunken conversation pit, thanks to an upper mezzanine level encasing the perimeter. The Municipal Bar's menu of shareable drinks and small plates further leans into its sociability. A 'Family Style' list of playful offerings encourages guests to start with banana daiquiri 'cheekies' — miniature renditions made with Wray & Nephew rum and served in port glasses for $8 per person. Or, patrons can 'Keep It Going' with espresso martini cheekies at $6 a pop. For a fancier pour, the $36 'Proper Martini Service' for two — inspired by London's Dukes bar — is served ice-cold with a choose-your-own-adventure selection of accouterments, plus the option to add a side of salty shoestring fries for an additional $5. Of course, there's also a full selection of regular-sized beverages, such as the neon-hued white Negroni (Terroir gin, Americano, and Gentian amaro), garnished with a juicy pineapple wedge. With a subtropical climate in mind, rum or mezcal concoctions — complete with crushed ice, crystal-clear rocks or frosted glassware — are heavenly for cooling off in Savannah's thick humidity. Ranging from $16 to $19, these are contemporary riffs on classics, expected given the Death & Co. association. The hotel also offers creative fare for brunch and dinner. Kelly Calvillo For the uninitiated, Death & Co. first opened by David Kaplan and Ravi DeRossi in the mid-aughts as an unassuming bar in Manhattan's East Village. The brand would become one of the world's most sought-after cocktail bars, with four locations in New York, Denver, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. With insatiable demand (parties still often wait hours to enter the flagship) came the spin-off concepts: in 2018, Kaplan launched the full-scale hospitality firm Gin & Luck with several partners, including Alex Day, who serves as chief operating officer. This branch is responsible for recent projects like Close Company in Las Vegas, Nashville, and soon, Atlanta. The expansion is fueled in part by investor funding through SeedInvest, an online equity crowdfunding platform. As the Death & Co. institution appears closer to cementing its status as a household name, some may wonder if this dilutes the brand's popularity or prestige. On the contrary, Midnight Auteur operates as a distinct entity—more of a cousin than a sibling. Joining Kaplan and Day in this venture is Ryan Diggins, the founder and operator of the Ramble Hotel in Denver, Colorado, where the second Death & Co. opened in 2018. The midcentury modern-inspired interiors are by AAmp Studio. Kelly Calvillo With this ownership team based across the country, they brought in Franck Savoy to lead Municipal Grand as general manager. The son of chef Guy Savoy, of Michelin-starred restaurants in France and Las Vegas, launched his career in fine dining alongside his father before moving on to roles at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, California, Auberge Resorts, and most recently, Berg Hospitality Group in Houston, Texas. Joining Savoy is a mix of talent recruited to relocate to Savannah, like Death & Co. veteran Sam Penton as the director of outlets, as well as an all-star lineup of familiar faces from around the city. Helming the kitchen is executive chef Karim Elkady (formerly of Hotel Bardo, Southern Cross Hospitality, and Perry Lane) and executive sous chef Shannon Koprivich (also formerly of Southern Cross Hospitality), with Justin Stevenson (formerly of Husk Savannah) managing the front of house. Behind the bar, locals recognize James Nowicki and Sebastián Montero-Hernández, just to name a couple. Herein lies the true joy of a visit to Municipal Grand — the dynamite combination of the Hostess City's famed hospitality paired with Death & Co.'s gravitas. That, and food to back it all up. In the era of the aesthetic restaurant, when Instagrammability is weighted as highly as the quality of the food and service, Municipal Grand delivers on all three. Brunch at Municipal Grand. Kelly Calvillo Loaded with vibrant herbs and veggies, jewel-toned dishes are as colorful and refreshing as the cocktails and the artful vibe. Lunch standouts like the smoked salmon tartine, crispy chicken sandwich, and a mortadella roll, all served on Flora and Fauna bread. 'There's no club sandwich or Caesar salad. That's intentional,' says Savoy. This fall, the hotel will unveil its basement cocktail den, Hot Eye, decked out in red walls, blackened mirrors, and oxblood leather booths, just in time for the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. For a quieter experience, visit in the morning. The Carolina Gold rice porridge — a combination of currants, coconut, carrot, and pistachio that tastes like a cross between overnight oats and carrot cake — and a 'Fancy Omelet' (complete with a cheese pull) are well worth waking up early for. The Municipal Bar is open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Access to the rooftop Sun Club is currently reserved for hotel guests.
Sky News AU
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Donald Trump nominated for Nobel Peace Prize over Israel-Iran cease-fire
President Trump was formally nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on Tuesday for his efforts in securing the Israel-Iran cease-fire. In a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) recommended Trump for the prestigious prize 'in recognition of his extraordinary and historic role in brokering an end to the armed conflict between Israel and Iran and preventing the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism from obtaining the most lethal weapon on the planet.' 'President Trump's influence was instrumental in forging a swift agreement that many believed to be impossible,' added Carter, who has represented the Peach State's Savannah-based 1st District since 2015. 'His leadership at this moment exemplifies the very ideals that the Nobel Peace Prize seeks to recognize: the pursuit of peace, the prevention of war, and the advancement of international harmony. 'In a region plagued by historical animosity and political volatility, such a breakthrough demands both courage and clarity. President Trump demonstrated both, offering the world a rare glimpse of hope.' Trump, 79, on Monday evening announced a cease-fire between Iran and Israel — and proposed naming the conflict the '12 Day War' — just two days after ordering an unprecedented US attack on three Iranian nuclear sites in support of Israeli strikes. Members of national parliaments, university professors, and others can submit nominations for the award, though Trump has made clear he doesn't expect to win it. 'I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do,' Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social after his administration helped broker a peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 'I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for this, I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping the War between India and Pakistan, I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping the War between Serbia and Kosovo.' In remarks to reporters, Trump noted the Abraham Accords of 2020, in which his administration brokered diplomatic relations between Israel and four Arab nations. 'I should have gotten it four or five times… They won't give me a Nobel Peace Prize because they only give it to liberals,' he said. Three sitting presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize, including Republican Teddy Roosevelt in 1906 for brokering a peace deal between Russia and Japan. The other two commanders-in-chief to win the prize were Democrats Woodrow Wilson (1919) and Barack Obama (2009), with the latter receiving the award fewer than nine months after he took office. 'Among the reasons it gave, the Nobel Committee lauded Obama for his 'extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples'. Emphasis was also given to his support — in word and deed — for the vision of a world free from nuclear weapons,' the peace prize's website says of the award. Obama's award drew criticism — including from Trump and fellow Republicans — as he presided over expansive US drone warfare, provided arms for bloody extremist-led rebellions in Libya and Syria and supported a $1 trillion plan to rebuild the US nuclear arsenal. Former President Jimmy Carter was honored in 2002 for 'decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts,' and former Vice President Al Gore scooped the prize in 2007 for popularizing public concern about climate change. Originally published as Donald Trump nominated for Nobel Peace Prize over Israel-Iran cease-fire
New York Post
24-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Trump nominated for Nobel Peace Prize over Israel-Iran cease-fire
WASHINGTON — President Trump was formally nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on Tuesday for his efforts securing the Israel-Iran cease-fire. In a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) recommended Trump for the prize 'in recognition of his extraordinary and historic role in brokering and end to the armed conflict.' Advertisement 'President Trump's influence was instrumental in forging a swift agreement that many believed to be impossible,' added Carter, who has repped the Peach State's Savannah-based 1st District since 2015. 'President Trump also took bold, decisive actions to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and ensure that the world's largest state sponsor o terrorism remains incapable of acquiring a nuclear weapons.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Law firms file 100-page lawsuit against designers, builders of Sapelo Island gangway after collapse
Six law firms, including Morgan & Morgan and the firm of prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, are suing five companies involved with the engineering and construction of the gangway on Georgia's Sapelo Island that led to the deaths of seven people after collapsing last October. Four of the people who died were from Jacksonville, one was a former reverend from Brunswick, and the two others were from Georgia. Georgia state officials believe 40 people were on the gangway between the ferry and the island when it broke apart. 'This was a tragedy of unbelievable proportions,' said Chadrick Mance, a Savannah-based attorney who helped create the lawsuit, 'there was an improper design and improper maintenance of the gangway.' The 101-page lawsuit lists 19 different charges against the companies being sued, including negligence and wrongful death related to the collapse. Part of the reason is because it lists information from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources saying the gangway should have been able to hold the weight of 320 people. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Between survivors of the collapse and family of those who died, 50 people are listed in the lawsuit as those seeking damages. The lawsuit claims the gangway had issues for years. It shows an email from 2022 between one of the companies that helped design the gangway and DNR, saying hairline cracks and a 'completely failed weld' had been found during an inspection, and concerns raised over a loud popping sound as people were walking across the platform. The email later said there were no issues or concerns related to the gangway's structural integrity. The lawsuit was announced between two separate news briefings: one held by attorney Ben Crump in Atlanta and another held by Chadrick Mance at the Elm Grove Baptist Church in Meridian, Georgia. It's right next to the ferry pickup to Sapelo Island and the site where those who survived the collapse first reunited with their families after it happened. 'Replaying everything in my mind, seeing my daughter hanging on the side, finding out my wife and my youngest daughter are missing, it's just been rough,' Michael Wood said, one of the survivors who spoke at the briefing inside Elm Grove Baptist Church. Read: Historic Mayport Lighthouse in plans to be relocated One of the last pages of the lawsuit, which was filed in Georgia's Gwinnett County, demands a trial to be held, though no set trial or hearing date has been given. Mance, along with the other lawyers who helped put the lawsuit together, are promising answers for those affected by the collapse in the hope it may help them heal. 'We will be seeking maximum justice, unfettered justice and aggressive justice for these clients. And these are the best firms in the country. And so if there's ever an opportunity to get justice, this is it,' Mance said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Survivors of Sapelo Island dock collapse suing construction companies
The Brief The survivors of a ferry dock collapse that killed seven people on Georgia's Sapelo Island last year are suing the engineering and construction companies responsible for the dock's construction. The collapse happened when family members and tourists had traveled to the island for Cultural Day, an annual fall event spotlighting the island's tiny community of Hogg Hummock, home to a few dozen Black residents. Officials have confirmed with FOX 5 that the last inspection of the gangway took place in December 2023. No areas of concern were found during the inspection, which officials say examined the top and bottom sides. SAPELO ISLAND, Ga. - The survivors of a ferry dock collapse on Georgia's Sapelo Island have filed a lawsuit against the engineering and construction companies responsible for the dock's construction. The devastating disaster killed seven people and injured more than a dozen others who had gathered on the small island for a celebration. MORE: Remembering the victims of the Sapelo Island dock collapse The backstory The collapse happened on Oct. 19, 2024, when family members and tourists gathered for Cultural Day, an annual fall event spotlighting the island's tiny community of Hogg Hummock, home to a few dozen Black residents. Authorities say the dock held about 40 people when the metal snapped, sending them into the Atlantic waters. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources said engineers calculated that the 80-foot gangway should have been able to support the weight of 320 people. The dock was rebuilt in 2021 after Georgia officials settled a lawsuit by Hogg Hummock residents who complained the ferries and docks failed to meet federal accessibility standards for people with disabilities. Ferry worker Ed Grovner said he complained to a ferry captain months ago that the gangway didn't seem sturdy enough, but nothing happened. "I couldn't sleep last night," Grovner told the Associated Press after the disaster. "My wife said I was sleeping, I was hollering in my sleep, saying, 'I'm going to save you. I'm going to save you. I'm going to get you.'" Officials have confirmed with FOX 5 that the last inspection of the gangway took place in December 2023. No areas of concern were found during the inspection, which officials say examined the top and bottom sides. The remains of the gangway were sent to a secure facility to be inspected. Details about that inspection have not been released. What we know Attorney Chadrick A. Mance announced that a lawsuit has been filed in Gwinnett County against the parties involved in the engineering and construction of the gangway. According to the complaint, the survivors suffered physical injuries and mental anguish and trauma. While the complaint has not been released to the public yet, the Savannah-based attorney plans to discuss the lawsuit at a press conference on Wednesday morning. Dig deeper Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has also announced he would be representing the families of three of the individuals who lost their lives and one who was injured in the collapse. "The tragic deaths and injuries caused by the collapse of the Sapelo Island dock gangway are devastating for these families and the entire community. We will not rest until we uncover the truth behind this catastrophic failure and hold those responsible accountable," Crump said. "This should never have happened, and it is crucial that we prevent future tragedies by addressing the negligence that led to this horrific event. Sapelo Island also has no medical facilities. Resident Jazz Watts said a health care provider was planning to open a clinic in the county-owned building that had long served as the island's community center. But those plans got scrapped when county commissioners opted to lease the space for a restaurant. The Source Information for this story came from a release by The Mance Law Firm and previous FOX 5 reporting.
