Savannah, 2024

Almost all of these folks are my neighbors, and of the few who aren’t, most of them did live in the neighborhood at some point. The reason we are almost all in PJs and bathrobes is, like most stories in Savannah, based on a past event.

Barbara and I have lived on Saint Julian Street now for going on 35 years. That longevity makes us the longest term residents in Washington Ward, going back to when we had different, and fewer neighbors. One of those was a restaurateur named Frankie (male, knowing this will become important), who lived in the building right behind this group photo. Frankie would work late, but also had to manage restaurant needs early. Using a cordless phone (no cells back then) he would do business most mornings sitting on the bench that’s buried under this crowd, wearing nothing but his bathrobe. Frankie’s way of expansively crossing his legs often left no doubt of his “commando” style. That became a conversation which became the impetus for a party. This is Savannah and we will find any reason for a party to help fill the ten months when we are not doing St. Patrick’s Day.

So a small group of neighbors got together on one of those just perfect, languid southern Sunday mornings (think Tennessee Williams) and set up a lush potluck brunch in the square, seated around a table with white linen tablecloth and candelabra, lots of mimosas. The theme, though, required everyone to come in a bathrobe, a la Frankie. To the best of my knowledge, Barbara (of course) was the only attendee who actually followed the letter of the plan.

We did it a couple of times, and then, life moves on. Frankie died a few years later and the neighborhood makeup changed continuously over the 25-30 intervening years. A few years ago I mentioned the story of Frankie and the brunch to someone, and it became a party excuse all over again, now as an annual Bathrobe Brunch, another potluck gathering, but one too populous for seating, except for this photo.

I told you, it’s Savannah.

For more of Bill’s photographs, go to https://www.billdurrence.com/index