Savannah's Spirit Was Built, Not Bought

Take a look at an overhead map of Savannah. What do you notice? The city's grid patterned streets with its 22 tree-shaded squares are unique only to Savannah and make up the essence of the city. Unlike any other city in the United States, Savannah was built for her community — for her citizens, for their welfare, and for generations to come. 

Savannah's original plan has existed intact since Savannah's founding in 1733. Even before studies were made and determined that green spaces play a pivotal role in population-level mental health, Savannah already had it. A place to convene, a place to meet, a place to play, and a place to belong. 

A Tale of 3 Third Places 

Savannah serves as the penultimate third place in the United States. A third place is a distinctive informal public gathering space that is neither work nor home. And there are few, if any, cities in the United States who do it better than Savannah. It's the third place of third places — built, established, and preserved by the locals for the love of their city and those who honor her significance as much as they do.  

Savannah's City Plan 

As a whole, Savannah's city plan serves as the foundation and starting point for a flourishing community and third place. The desire for a city that promoted equality, protection, and egalitarian principles culminated into the design of Savannah. 

Savannah is made up of square-shaped units called "wards." Each ward has a "square" which is a large, open space that sits in the center of the ward. On the four corners of each ward are units called "tythings," which each have ten private housing lots. You'll see four larger lots on the east and west flank of the square, and these lots were called "trustee lots," reserved only for public structures, such as churches, banks, or government buildings. 

This unwittingly set the precedent for modern day Savannah. With the structure of the ward, square, tything, and trustee lot, the residents of each ward had a natural meeting location to convene with other community members, while also having easy access to public institutions. The design of these squares drew both local inhabitants and visitors to the city and gave all a place to mingle, providing more open space in Savannah than any other town in American history.

Since its conception, Savannah was built with the community in mind, and today, Savannah is one of the largest urban historic districts in the United States. 

Bandshells 

Music is transcendent through time and place. When people come together with the sole purpose of listening to music, something magical happens that can't be contained by any earthly quality. You're changed from an individual to being a part of a whole, and that feeling never goes away. Through music, you can evolve and connect with your community on a higher plane of compassion and love. 

Where better to come together and listen to music together than at a bandshell? Bandshells are theaters that have a curved, hard surface and roof that is designed to focus sound to an audience. Bandshells of various styles began building in the 1890s but reached its height of construction in the 1920s-1940s when behemoths of cement, sand, stone, and slag were erected in community parks.

More than their acoustical purpose, bandshells also gave musicians a space to feel a sense of camaraderie and ensemble with their fellow bandmates, uniting the players and audience as one. Music has always had a unique ability to unite, inspire, and heal communities. 

Through the power of music and architecture, bandshells serve to unite communities and evolve mindsets. Hard fought for and deservedly won, our bandshell at Forsyth Park was erected in 2009 and has held a host of community events ever since its construction. 

Forsyth Park 

30 acres of lush greenery, rich history, and cultural legacy, Forsyth Park is the historic heart of Savannah. The park was designed as a safe and pleasant gathering place for all of Savannah's residents and to this day, that ethos still rings true. 

Embodying over 150 years of Savannah's history, Forsyth Park was established in the 1840s and the iconic Forsyth Fountain was erected in 1858. Since then, the park has continued to grow and adapt to the city's needs, responding to the community's cries for a bandshell, located in the Forsyth Park Visitor's Center. Since 2009, the bandshell has hosted numerous community events and concerts throughout the year such as the Sidewalk Arts Festival in April, the Savannah Jazz Festival in September, the Picnic in the Park with the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra in October, and the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in November.

One of the most unique features of Forsyth Park is their Fragrant Garden for the Blind. Built by The Trustees Garden Club of Savannah in 1963, but recently opened to the public, the Fragrant Garden for the Blind is an inclusive and accessible treat for the senses. Solid cement walls surround the garden and enhance the natural floral aromas of the plants, with plant name plaques also featuring Braille writing for accessible identification. 

Much like West Broad's historical significance, the park is a living testament to Savannah's past while still serving as a daily reminder of the city's growth and adaptability. Several studies have found that accessing green space promotes stronger social ties, reduced loneliness, heightened place attachment, greater social cohesion, and higher rates of community trust in local government. 

Parks designed for a mix of uses (such as open space, a playground, a performance stage, and a community garden) invite and encourage interactions among a diverse array of visitors. Audrey Platt, a local of Savannah, writes, "Forsyth, one of the oldest parks in the country, has been an iconic symbol of our community since 1841 when it was first conceived as a space for residents seeking passive and active recreation and it remains so today. I see many, many locals during my daily walk and love the comfort this gives me."

A Cornerstone of Third Places — The Orient Espresso

Late night coffeehouses are universally affordable meeting points where social striations dissolve, unlikely connections are made, and brilliant ideas are born. At its core, the coffee shop provides an atmosphere for conversation and connection and the bar provides an atmosphere for freedom and expression. Coffee spurs the intellect; alcohol the emotions and the soma. But what if we could have both, all at once?

Welcome to The Orient Espresso: your place to percolate, plot, and play — all night long. 

Oldenburg writes, "It is in the local diner, tavern, or coffee shop that those who face common problems find their common ground, give substance and articulation to group sentiment, and offer social support to one another." 

The casual, social interaction offered in your local coffee shop or bar is unlike any other. Having a chat over a drink is a tale as old as time but serves as one of the most important mediums in bringing together community. Nightlife is often associated with alcohol, but year by year, alcohol consumption lowers ever more and finding a third place at night without alcohol is difficult, and often impossible in many cities. 

Not anymore. At The Orient Espresso, night life isn't limited by the expectation of booze. It's a place for your imagination to run wild, for the night owls to come alive, for the insomniacs to flourish. Read, play, conversate, at your leisure and at your pace. Time is only a construct — we refuse to let it define us.