For those of us not fluent in Irish, Lá Fhéile Pádraig means St. Patrick’s Day. Did you know the second largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the United States takes place right here in Savannah? Yep, as if you need another reason to visit our magical city. Since 1813 the city of Savannah has been celebrating the feast day of Ireland’s most famous saint. Nearly 400,000 folks will take part in this year’s festivities.

The day begins with mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist at 8:15. The parade begins at 10:15 on Abercorn Street (between Gwinnett and Hall) and snakes (no pun intended since St. Patrick is rumored to have driven the snakes out of Ireland) its way around the historic district down Broughton, Bay and Bull Streets. Come join us in Savannah and be Irish for the day!

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Key West is known for all things Conch. If you are born here, you are a Conch. If you live hear for seven years or more you’re a fresh water conch. Our signature dish is is the conch fritter, the local football team are called the Fighting Conchs and the drill team the Conchettes. We live in the Conch Republic. In addition to providing us with delicious food, if you cut off the tip you can use it as a musical instrument For 48 years running the city has held a conch shell blowing contest and this year, it was won by our colleague, Clinton Curry, a sixth generation Conch, who is the general manager of the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Musuem. Congrats Clinton!
48th Annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest

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The Studios of Key West is a marvelous cultural center that features classes, studios for artist, lectures, exhibitions and concerts. Located in the historic Armory Building on White Street, the TSKW and is the anchor for the monthly Walk on White events. Our little island is very fortunate to have such incredible group and facility in our community.

Old Town Trolley Tours is proud to be a sponsor of TSKW and we have a trolley that has a special TSKW billboard on it designed by local artist Marc Caren. Yesterday, we too the plein air class out to the beach which was the perfect opportunity to get the trolley with the students and artists at the Armory.

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Ray Charles

Ray Charles Robinson was born n 1930 in Albany, GA, but as an infant moved to Greenfield, FL. At the age of five, Charles began to lose his sight and by the age of 7 was completely blind. It is thought cause of his blindness was due to an infection caused by soapy water. From 1937 to 1945 Charles was a student at the Florida School For the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine, just located down the street from Old Town Trolley Tours. It was while at the Florida School For the Deaf and Blind that his musical talent began to develop. At school Ray was taught classical music, but it was the jazz he heard on the radio that he really wanted to play and established his first group, RC Robinson and the Shop Boys. Read the rest of this entry »

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While not a native of Boston, Dr. George Franklin spent most of his adult life there. He was born in 1846 in Oswego, NY and at the age of 22 entered the arvard School of Dental Medicine, graduating in just two years. A year later, Dr. Grant became the first African American falculty member of America’s most prestigious university. While at Harvard Dr. Grant invented the oblate palate, a prosthetic used for the treatment of cleft palate and something he is probably even more famous for, the invention of the wooden golf tee.

Dr. Grant was elected president of the Harvard Alumni Association in 1881. He died of liver disease at his vacation home in New Hampshire in 1910.

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Congratulations to our conductor Alexandria “Denise” Coleman who won the Savannah Morning News Scavenger Hunt and a $1000 prize. A Savannah, native, Denise has been a conductor with Old Town Trolley Tours for over six years. . Knowing the city and showing it each day to the visitors of Savannah has really paid off! Read all about it here: http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-02-13/tour-guide-wins-scavenger-hunt

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Given San Diego is a sports mad town, we thought it would be timely and appropriate that we feature a member of the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints and San Diego native, Reginald Alfred Bush, our as he is known to his millions of fans, Reggie Bush. Read the rest of this entry »

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The OTT Savannah crew has many artist listed in its ranks.  Calvin Thomas, Hotel Concierge, is a wonderful artist who has an up comming show to display his beautiful abstract art.  Go to http://savannahvisit.com/events/calendar/305 or http://www.calvinwoodumart.com/ to see or read about his art and up coming show!

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Joyce Ellis, Groups and Charters Rep, was a finalist for the TLC’s service award.  She had a rooting section that evening as all the finalists took the stage.  Sadly she did not win, but at least she was honored and recognized for her service to the industry and her community.  Go Joycee!

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Denise Coleman, OTT Savannah Conductor, won the Savannah Morning News Savanager Hunt.  Go to http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-02-13/tour-guide-wins-scavenger-hunt to read about Denise’s big day.  Our Conductors not only talk the talk but they can back it up too. Go OTT Savannah!

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