A Day in Starland w/ Josephine Johnson

Superbloom on Desoto Avenue beckoned first where work obligations demanded a couple hours’ wrangling the computer. This tea and coffee shop features health conscious beverages with ingredients like turmeric, cocoa, ginger, beetroot, and blue butterfly pea. I opted for a large turmeric and ginger oat milk latte plus a shot of expresso before logging on to tame the inbox.

More than special blend coffee and tea hot spot, Superbloom also serves as incubator for local makers. Since 2019, the team has partnered with creatives to sell their work in the community and beyond, and now as much as 60% of the shop’s total sales go back to local artisans. Superbloom hosts regular craft nights on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday where residents and visitors are welcome.

Stop #2 Starland Strange

With the barrage of emails handled, it was time to walk. I headed across the street to the neighborhood’s iconic two story, pink Victorian to explore Starland Strange & Bazaar. Whether walking or driving, when I pass by their outdoor marquee proclaiming, “Stay Strange Starland!!!,” I always smile and feel at home.

In summer, Starland Strange is my go to for ice cream, but on a crisp mid January afternoon, their wall of stickers, unique games, locally made T–shirts, and quality second hand clothing grabbed my attention. Since my tastes tend toward bright and sassy, this shop is most always a win for sequined shirts, skirts, and jackets.

Across Whitaker Street stands another retail treat. One for the Road, an all women collective, is a convenience store sharing space with the glittering jewelry of Tribe and Temple and upscale thrift of Meaningful Boutique. This powerhouse crew combines talent, creativity, and connection in fashioning one of Savannah’s most unusual shopping experiences. Bonus: the adjacent lot is available for patrons and locals to enjoy picnics or eat provisions purchased at the store.

For lucnh Flora and Fauna

Starland Yard, a Savannah favorite since summer 2019, offers pizza, sandwiches, and Mexican cuisine, but since I was visiting on a Tuesday, and the venue didn’t open until 5 p.m., I had to go elsewhere.

But just around the corner is one of the district’s newest cafes, Flora and Fauna, where I arrived in time to catch the end of breakfast and lunch hours. Affiliated with Farm Bluffton and Common Thread Savannah, Flora and Fauna is bakery by day, supper club by night. I opted for a cup of tomato soup and Mushroom Conserve sandwich. The soup’s creamy warmth took the chill off the day and paired perfectly with the mushrooms’ zesty tang. That house made, flakey baguette, especially, made me eager to return.

After lunch, I noted the inbox needed attention again, so I popped into Two Tides Brewing, headed upstairs, and instead of ordering a signature craft brew, treated myself to a Cortadito. The beloved brewery now roasts their own beans, which they serve and sell as Float Coffee.

Time to shop Graveface Records

Once all urgent messages were returned, I meandered over to Graveface Records. Here, I’m not so much into their 8,000 titles of vinyl since I don’t own a record player, but I do enjoy the ever changing array of taxidermy. Yes, I frequent the shop because of the unusual stuffed animals and eccentric curios. On this visit I noted a monkey, puffer fish, and a fox amid African objets d’art, and though the décor dabbles in macabre and creepy, the staff are always upbeat and friendly.