THE SOUTHERN C(ity) GUIDE 2 Savannah with Libbie Summers

At The Southern C, our demographics span the entire South, from large cities to small towns, each with their own unique blend of Southern culture. This mix is a large part of what makes The Southern C special.

We want to promote this mix by having members in different cities peel back the curtain on the way they conduct business in their town. We are calling this “The Southern C(ity) Guide”, which will be promoted across three TSC platforms–Instagram, Pinterest, and here on our website.

Our first Southern C(ity) Guide was brought to you by me and I spotlighted the two spots I reside in the Golden Isles and Athens, Georgia on Pinterest and the blog.

This week, Libbie Summers, Creative Director for A Food-inspired Life, will share her favorite spots in Savannah on an instagram Tuesday Takeover, on a pinterest board and below.  We are thrilled to have Libbie presenting at The Southern C Summit next spring.  She is one of our favorite foodies!

Photo: Christine Hall

Describe your brand/business and how it got started:

I’m the creative director of my own lifestyle brand, A Food-inspired Life. Through it, I create content for myself and other companies centered around food and entertaining. The content is always delicious, beautiful and filled with cheeky humor.

I’m a creator … not a curator. So, I took the less traveled road and just kept creating original content and putting it out there for anyone and no one to see. I’m living proof that if you create something beautiful and unique they will come. It’s not always about likes and followers … it only takes one person … the right person who sees something you created and contacts you to say “hey, we love what you do, can you do it for us.”  Then, it’s important to have a great team around you. My publicist, Lauren Hopkins, is key. She keeps me focused and does the ground work to keep in contact with the people I have created work with or wish to in the future. If I love a product and have an idea on how to do something with it, she’ll contact them for me.  She also brings products I may not know about, but she knows I’ll love, to my attention. I’m a big fan of promoting products and businesses that are made/fun by females.

Inspiration:

Food

#1 skill needed to be an entrepreneur:

Unflappability

Role model:

Five letters … Oprah. I admire her strength, wisdom, intellect, philanthropy and will forever be in her debt for suggesting wonderful books to read.

Favorite social media:

Instagram

(Editor’s Note: Libbie shares fun and often times funny 15 second videos on Sundays – LOVE! Always with great tips.)

Most used emoji:

I only use one emoji … the high five and I’d much rather give it in person.

Favorite quote:

“You have to say “no” to good things so you can say “yes” to great things.”

Biggest risk that paid off:

I left a very lucrative life and completely switched gears…sometimes working for free just to gain experience and hone my craft … I ate a lot of hot dogs during the learning process.

Interesting tidbit about you or your business:

I’ve probably cooked for more celebrities than a White House chef.

Favorite book or author:

The Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. I’m working on my third reading. It is an American comedic masterpiece. I’m also currently devouring The World’s Largest Man from Savannah’s own Harrison Scott Key. It’s the PERFECT holiday gift for any man (or woman) on your list. Laugh out loud funny so be careful where you’re reading it!

Hobbies:

Snow Skiing (clearly not in Savannah), Hiking (I’m working on finishing the Appalachian Trail, and by “finishing” I mean I hope to start soon), Writing, Baking and all things that involve a red bird dog.

Favorite charity:

Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest). Did you know 1 in 7 people in the United States struggles with hunger –15 million of those are children. Having enough nutritious healthy food is critical to a child’s physical and emotional development and their ability to learn.

Favorite session at the Summit:

I love the sessions where the speakers are forthright about their struggles and successes –those that give solid advice and answers. One of my favorites was Jamie Meares from Furbish Studio.

What you love most about your town:

Savannah is filled with creatives and makers. We all help each other out. If I ever need something illustrated or sewn or whatever, I know who to call and I know they will knock the job out of the ball park! So many beautiful things are created in Savannah.

Describe a typical day in your town:

I travel so much that when I’m in town, I’ll ride my bike everywhere I go so I can buzz by and catch up with all my friends who work downtown. Never having to get in my car is one of the many reasons why I love living in the historic district of Savannah.

Photo: Chia Chong

I love breakfast meetings AND the Smashed Avocado with Poached Egg at The Collin’s Quarters, so it’s a natural fit for a morning meeting.

I’ll always swing by Chocolat by Adam Turoni for a little indulgence…usually his dark chocolate covered orange peels. To die for.

The girls at Satchel make the leather tassels and fringe cuffs I sell on my site. I love stopping in and seeing what great new bags they are designing and creating.

I do not sew…but I love fabric and I use so much of it in my work, so I’m always looking for cool stuff. Natch I’ll stop by Fabrika Fine Fabrics and see what new bolts are in. I don’t think I’ve ever stopped by without buying a yard or two of something.

I’ll never ride past Shop SCAD without stopping in … ever. It’s one of my favorite shopping places in Savannah for hand made. I could spend 2 hours inside if I don’t watch myself.

Before I know it, it’s lunch time! Some of my favorite spots for lunch are Fire Street Food, Sandfly BBQ and Zunzi’s.

Work and a nap if I’m lucky.

Savannah is perfect for prop shopping. I love all our junkin’ spots. My favorite is Habersham Antiques Market. I’ve NEVER left there without buying something … ever.

I try to stop in all the shops in the Downtown Design District every chance I get. Supporting local is so important to me and all of these shops and their owners are quite unique … very Savannah! I’m obsessed with the new PW Short General Store! Obsessed!!! And right across the street is one of my fave clothing stops, Custard Boutique. I’d much rather shop boutiques any time over a big department store … how about you?

Smith Brothers Butcher Shop is my go to for most everything to fill my refer, pantry and heart. I love this new urban market in Savannah!!! LOVE.

Before I know it, it’s drinks and dinner time. Savannah has so much to offer. Our restaurant scene is growing by the month and I’m so proud of what’s happening here. I pretty much eat everything the city has to offer, but some of my favorites are The Grey, The Florence, Pacci, 22 Square and the Flying Monk.

Libbie shares more Savannah favorites here on the pinterest board.

The Southern C(ity) Guides:

Cheri Leavy of The Southern Cotherie in the Golden Isles and Athens, GA

Whitney Long of The Southern Coterie in the Golden Isles, GA

Holly Phillips of The English Room in Charlotte, NC

Kelly Shatat of Moon and Lola in Raleigh, NC

Cassie Kelley of Womanista in Nashville, TN

Molly Waring of Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau