Availability for Christmas and New Years 2011

Happy December!

We’re just over three weeks away from Christmas (and 4 from New Years Eve). If you’re hoping to plan a “last minute” get away to Savannah to round out the holiday season during, you’re in luck. As of this posting (9:00 AM on December 1, 2011) we have the following rooms available:

Catherine’s Room – This room was recently updated with a brand new tile and glass shower, pastel blue walls, a silk tufted queen sized headboard, and a working gas fireplace. For a flavor of this room, head over to: http://on.fb.me/u0NGG7 . Catherine’s Room is available December 28 and 29. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)
The Captain’s Room - Located on the top floor of the inn with a balcony that overlooks the courtyard. This room was also recently updated with a new honey-toned paint scheme, leather queen sized bed, and new furnishings. Private bathroom with a three sized glass shower AND a whirlpool Jacuzzi. The Captain’s Room is available December 23 – 26 (checkout on the 27th). This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

The Jim Williams Room – Located on the top floor of the inn with a balcony that overlooks the courtyard. Private in room bathroom with a tiled shower. The Jim Williams Room is available December 23 – 26 (checkout on the 27th) and for one night on December 30. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

Jessica’s Room – Located on the garden level of the inn, this room features a private patio with a locking gate. Private in room bathroom with a three sided glass shower. Jessica’s Room is available for one night on December 29th. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

Nell’s Room – Located on the garden level of the inn, this room has access onto the courtyard patio – perfect spot for a morning cup of coffee or tea. Private in room bathroom with a shower/tub combo. Nell’s Room is available for two nights on December 22 and 23, and for one night on December 26. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

The Garden Room - Located on the garden level of the inn, this room has access onto the courtyard patio – perfect spot for a morning cup of coffee or tea. Private in room bathroom with a tiled shower. Room is decorated with a black and white color scheme with touches of apple green. The Garden Room is available December 23 – 25 (checkout on the 26th). This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

The Hibernian Room – Located on the main floor of the carriage house. This room has a private in room bathroom with a tiled shower. The room also has a porch (furnished with a table and chairs) in the courtyard. The Hibernian Room is available December 23 – 26 and December 28 – 30 (checkout on the 31st). This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

The Sea Trade Room – Located on the main floor of the carriage house. This room is one of two KING sized beds in the inn. Room also features a working gas fireplace, porch, and a private bathroom with a three sized glass shower AND a whirlpool Jacuzzi. The Sea Trade Room is available available December 26 and 27. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com).

The Cosmopolitan Room – Located on the top floor of the carriage house. This room is one of two KING sized beds in the inn. Room also features a working gas fireplace, private porch, and a private bathroom with a large dual headed tiled shower. The Cosmopolitan Room is available available December 27 and 28. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com).

For photos of all of our available rooms, visit the “rooms and rates” portion of our website. Additional photos of some of our guest rooms are on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/catherinewardhouseinn

15 Minutes Away on Foot: Tour the Sorrel-Weed House

This week, we highlight the Sorrel-Weed House located on Madison Square, at the intersection of Bull Street and West Harris Street. The physical address of the Sorrel-Weed House is 4 West Harris Street.

Sorrel-Weed House. Photo by Ken Lund.

The Sorrel-Weed House was designed by Charles Clusky in 1835. The house was completed in 1838. The house has received national attention for it’s role as a filming location for Forrest Gump (the opening shot of the feather floating above Savannah was filmed from this house’s roof), as well as being featured in a 2006 episode of HGTV’s “If Walls Could Talk,” and various paranormal activity shows. The house was built primarily in the Greek Revival style, but does feature some Regency style influences.

The house is now partially open to the public as a museum. The Sorrel-Weed House is open daily from  10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Guided tours of the house are $10.00 per person.

Getting to the Sorrel-Weed House from the Catherine Ward House Inn by foot is easy. From door to door, it takes as little as 8-12 minutes to walk between the two.

Savannah Holiday Tour of Homes

As we begin to pull out the holiday decorations and prep the trees for ornaments, I am pleased to announce that the Catherine Ward House Inn will be participating in this year’s Holiday Tour of Homes.

Just a preview of one of our trees from 2010.

The inn will be decorated throughout the common areas and guest rooms for this annual event. We’re excited to show off our inn to the public during this tour. Access to guest rooms during this tour is still being planned and will be dependent on our occupancy – but our common areas and courtyard will be available for touring.

Having volunteered for the tour in 2010, I can say that this is a great opportunity to see some of the premier homes in Savannah, and to get a nice taste of holiday seasonal decorating – Savannah Style. For more information about the tour, and to order tickets, visit: http://dnaholidaytour.com/

Availability for Thanksgiving 2011 – Updated

Happy November!

We’re just over a week away from Thanksgiving. If you’re hoping to plan a “last minute” get away to Savannah to kick off the holiday season during Thanksgiving weekend – you’re in luck. As of this posting (11:00 AM on November 16, 20111) we have the following rooms available:

The Jim Williams Room – Located on the top floor of the inn with a balcony that overlooks the courtyard. Private in room bathroom with a tiled shower. The Jim Williams Room is available November 25-27. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

Jessica’s Room – Located on the garden level of the inn, this room features a private patio with a locking gate. Private in room bathroom with a three sided glass shower. Jessica’s Room is available November 23-27. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

Nell’s Room – Located on the garden level of the inn, this room has access onto the courtyard patio – perfect spot for a morning cup of coffee or tea. Private in room bathroom with a shower/tub combo. Nell’s Room is available November 23-27. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

The Hibernian Room – Located on the main floor of the carriage house. This room has a private in room bathroom with a tiled shower. The room also has a porch (furnished with a table and chairs) in the courtyard. The Hibernian Room is available November 23 and 24. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

The Sea Trade Room – Located on the main floor of the carriage house. This room is the ONLY KING SIZED BED still available for Thanksgiving. Room also features a working gas fireplace and a private bathroom with a three sized glass shower AND a whirlpool Jacuzzi. The Sea Trade Room is available November 23 and 24. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

For photos of all of our available rooms, visit the “rooms and rates” portion of our website. Additional photos of some of our guest rooms are on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/catherinewardhouseinn

Recipe of the Month: Warm Blueberry Coffee Cake

At the Catherine Ward House, we make every effort to switch between sweet and savory breakfast dishes every morning. Our blog follows suit as we share recipes that we have tested in our kitchen over the past seven years. So far, we have shared recipes for Banana Bread, Individual Ricotta Frittatas, Orange Praline French Toast, Rolled Omelets, Scones, Vegetarian Strata, and Apple Crisp. This month we would like to share with you a recipe that has quickly become a crowd favorite at the inn – Warm Blueberry Coffee Cake. This recipe was originally created by Paula Deen but has been minorly tweeked to suit our tastes. It is a quick dish to toss together and put in the oven while preparing a main breakfast dish.

Photo from cakeandallie.com

Follow the jump for the recipe.

Availability for Thanksgiving 2011

Happy November!

We’re just over three weeks away from Thanksgiving. If you’re hoping to plan a “last minute” get away to Savannah to kick off the holiday season during Thanksgiving weekend – you’re in luck. As of this posting (9:40 AM on November 2, 20111) we have the following rooms available:

 
Catherine’s Room – This room was recently updated with a brand new tile and glass shower, pastel blue walls, a silk tufted queen sized headboard, and a working gas fireplace. Photos on our website are being updated to reflect these changes as I write this. For a flavor of this room, head over to: http://on.fb.me/u0NGG7 . Catherine’s Room is available November 23-27. To book this room, call the inn directly as it is not available online until our website photos are updated to reflect the changes we completed.

The Jim Williams Room – Located on the top floor of the inn with a balcony that overlooks the courtyard. Private in room bathroom with a tiled shower. The Jim Williams Room is available November 25-27. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

Jessica’s Room – Located on the garden level of the inn, this room features a private patio with a locking gate. Private in room bathroom with a three sided glass shower. Jessica’s Room is available November 23-27. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

Nell’s Room – Located on the garden level of the inn, this room has access onto the courtyard patio – perfect spot for a morning cup of coffee or tea. Private in room bathroom with a shower/tub combo. Nell’s Room is available November 23-27. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

The Hibernian Room – Located on the main floor of the carriage house. This room has a private in room bathroom with a tiled shower. The room also has a porch (furnished with a table and chairs) in the courtyard. The Hibernian Room is available November 23 and 24. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

The Sea Trade Room – Located on the main floor of the carriage house. This room is the ONLY KING SIZED BED still available for Thanksgiving. Room also features a working gas fireplace and a private bathroom with a three sized glass shower AND a whirlpool Jacuzzi. The Sea Trade Room is available November 23 and 24. This room may be booked by calling the inn directly or online through our website (http://www.catherinewardhouseinn.com)

 

For photos of all of our available rooms, visit the “rooms and rates” portion of our website. Additional photos of some of our guest rooms are on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/catherinewardhouseinn

15 Minutes Away by Car: Bonaventure Cemetery

This week, we take another trip outside of Savannah’s National Landmark Historic District to highlight Bonaventure Cemetery. Bonaventure began its life as a private cemetery in 1846. In 1907, the City of Savannah purchased the cemetery – transforming it into a public cemetery. Bonaventure has the distinction of being one of the most photographed cemeteries in the United States.

The cemetery (which, in my opinion is much more like a sculpture garden and nature preserve than traditional “cemetery”) has been a “tourist” destination since the City purchased the property, with people visiting the site to pay their respects to notable individuals and families of the Savannah and surrounding low-country. Tourist interest in Bonaventure grew dramatically after the cemetery became known nationally, thanks to Jack Leigh’s famous photograph of the “Bird Girl” on the cover of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Though the “Bird Girl” is now located in the Telfair Museum (for her own safety), the 160+ acre cemetery is full of equally impressive statuaries, monuments, obelisks, and ornate iron work. People still flock to Bonaventure to pay their respects to many of the renowned people interred there, but the cemetery’s artistic qualities draw just as many (if not more) visitors.

At over 160 acres, Bonaventure can easily become a day long excursion – wandering (on foot or by car) through the seemingly endless maze of lanes and drives lined with historic live oak trees and azalea bushes. Given the extensive plantings in the cemetery, it is particularly popular with flower enthusiasts in the spring.

Bonaventure Cemetery is open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission into the cemetery is free. There is a kiosk near the front gate where guests search for specific individuals and print (for a nominal cost) maps marking the grave’s location in the cemetery. For those who wish to skip the kiosk, numerous small wooden markers have been erected throughout the cemetery to help guide visitors to some of the most frequently requested places and individuals.

Getting to Bonaventure Cemetery from the Catherine Ward House Inn by car is very easy. From door to door, it takes about 12-15 minutes to drive between the two.

15 Minutes Away on Foot: Chippewa Square

This week, we highlight Chippewa Square, constructed in 1815 and is named in honor of the American soldiers killed in the Battle of Chippawa (yes, there is a spelling discrepancy in the name of the square). Like many of Savannah’s squares, the statue in the center of the square commemorates someone other than the soldiers – in this case, the statue, constructed in 1910, features the likeness of James Oglethorpe, the founder of Savannah. Oglethorpe’s statue faces south, addressing the one-time enemy of Spanish Florida, with his sword drawn.

When the statue of Oglethorpe was placed in the square, the busts of Francis Stebbins Bartow and Lafayette McLaws, both prominent figures within the Confederate army, were moved to Forsyth Park. The busts now stand near the Confederate War Memorial in the center of Forsyth Park.

Chippewa Square is often sought out by visitors, as it was the filming location of the “park bench” scenes in Forrest Gump. To help clear up some common confusion: Yes, Chippewa Square was the filming location. Tom Hanks sat on the north side of the square, facing the Savannah River. The bench was a movie prop, brought in and placed on the outside edge of the square, after filming the bench was removed. Traffic in the movie flowed in the opposite direction than it does in real life. This was done so bus doors would open on the correct side, given Hanks’ position.

Properties of note on Chippewa Square include: the historic Savannah Theatre, the First Baptist Church, Perry Rubber Bike Shop, Six Pence Pub, and the Independent Presbyterian Church.

Getting to Chippewa Square from the Catherine Ward House Inn by foot is very easy. From door to door, it takes about 10-14 minutes to walk between the two.

Recipe of the Month: Apple Crisp

At the Catherine Ward House, we make every effort to switch between sweet and savory breakfast dishes every morning. Our blog follows suit as we share recipes that we have tested in our kitchen over the past seven years. So far, we have shared recipes including: Individual Ricotta Frittatas, Orange Praline French Toast, Baked Rolled Omelets, Cherry Coconut Scones, and an Artichoke and Pimento Strata.

In honor of autumn and the cooling of the days, we’d like to share with you one of our General Manager’s family favorite comfort foods – Apple Crisp. As this recipe has been perfected over the years with countless batches whipped up in fall and winter evenings by her dad, Mike Preble, we thought it was only fitting that he serve as a guest blogger to share this family specialty. In between batches of apple crisp, Mike has found time to be an elementary school teacher, earn a masters degree in creative writing, produce a jazz CD, and author a fantastic children’s book – Why The Owl Has Big Ears*.

Follow the jump for the recipe

Photo of the Month

This summer we’ve been busy updating two of our guest rooms (Catherine’s Room and The Captain’s Room) in time for the fall tourist season in Savannah. Both rooms have a very distinctive, elegant style that blends feminine and masculine touches.

The Captain’s Room now features a substantial leather bed with an oil-rubbed bronze nailhead treatment. Photo by Author.

Click the above photo to visit our Facebook album of photos for the updates we made to both rooms.