Indigo Coastal Shanty is located at 1402 Reynolds Street in downtown Brunswick. Indigo is operated by Kate Buchanan, one of the former owners of Cargo Portside Grill. The eclectic restaurant is currently open Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 3pm for lunch and Friday and Saturday night from 5pm to 9pm for supper. The food presentation was great, and what an experience for my taste buds. Indigo has a daily special and soup every day. I had the Stockpot Pozole Verde soup with chicken, tomatilloes, poblanoes with hominy. It was exceptional. My son had the fish tostada which was a crisp blue corn tortilla topped with black beans, island slaw, grilled fish and fresh pineapple salsa. It also came with black beans and rice. A.T. had the Mediterranean veggie stack, which was grilled season vegetables with hummus layered and drizzled with a roasted red pepper vinaigrette and crumbled feta cheese. My wife had the jerked chicken which were two large chicken breast served with Jamaican spices for a touch of heat. It was served with black beans and rice, pineapple salsa & a cooling dollop of sour cream. I had the daily special which was the crisp Venezuelan corncakes stuffed with a beef and pork picadillo, melted Mexican cheese and avocado cream; served with a side of salsa verde, black beans, brown rice & crisp Island slaw. We cannot wait to make a return visit to try out some of the other unique dishes. Get there early because this is a small restaurant popular with the locals, so the line starts forming around 11:30 or earlier.

Mangos Grill is a great Cuban restaurant recently opened in Brunswick at 135 Altama Connector (across the street from the Wal Mart). Mangos serves some of the best dishes from Latin America, including Cuban sandwiches, plantains and burritos. All of their food is made from scratch and is very tasty. I had the Arepas, which are two huge hot corn cakes, crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. They are stuffed with ground beef or chicken. My wife had the hot dogs, which are not your average hot dogs. The all-beef franks are served in a fresh baked bun, top with their secret relish, mayo, mustard ketchup and a very generous sprinkle of potato sticks. The black beans and rice are some of the best we have ever had. Mangos Grill also serves up a variety of salads, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, quesadillas, burritos and nachos. Mangos Grill is open seven days a week from 11am to 9pm. We look forward to a return visit to Mangos Grill in the near future.

When: Saturday, January 28, 2012

Time: 12:00pm until 3:00pm.

Where: HSSCG, 4627 US Highway 17 North, Brunswick, GA

After several years of fundraising and construction, the new Humane Society building is open! On Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 12-3, the Humane Society will host a Grand Opening Celebration! This event is open to the public and will give everyone a chance to see the new Adoption and Community Center, visit adoptable pets and get a sneak peak at some of the new programs. Guests will enjoy the sounds of Michael Hulett in the main lobby, have refreshments provided by Coca Cola, award winning Barbeque from Brunswick’s Right on Q, and try a sweet specialty from Kristen Kramer at Halyards.

Pam Mueller, Author of the Kiska Trilogy about Kiska the Cat and “Hello, Goodbye, I Love You” and “Aloha Crossing” based on the adventures of the dog, Aloha, will be in the Education Center signing her award winning books. There will be activities for children throughout the event and pet & family friendly dogs are welcome to join us too!

While visiting, anyone can register to win some great prizes from our past, present and future business supporters like Golden Isles Bracelet Company, Viola’s, Island Dog and more! The location remains the same at 4627 US Highway 17 North in Brunswick. Come celebrate the Grand Opening and experience why something extraordinary happens when you visit your NEW Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia!

Located on the pier end of Mallory Street in the charming Pier Village of St. Simons Island, Zuzu’s has an oceanfront view of the sparkling water and the pier. They serve up a great hamburger with hand cut fries. They also have a good hotdog. This is by far the best ice cream shop on the Island. Stop in for a cup or cone of hand-dipped ice cream and draw up a stool in front of the expansive window. You can people watch as passersby envy your ice cream. If you’re a little shy and don’t want to drip ice cream in front of everyone, there are plenty of booths where you can enjoy your ice cream or opt for a sandwich, salad, or cool drink. Or take your treat outside on a stroll along the pier. But eat it quick before it melts! And their lemonade is always a hit during the summer months! Zuzu’s is a delightful beachfront diner.

Inside Zuzu's

Angel’s Café is one of the best sandwich and salad restaurants in Brunswick, Georgia. Angel’s is located on Cypress Mill Road in the Shops at Cypress Mill. Angel’s Café is open weekdays from 10:30am – 2:30pm. They have a very wide variety of salads, wraps and sandwiches and two to three fresh soups each day. For the money, you cannot beat it. I normally get the soup and sandwich for around $6.00. I think they make some of the best tuna salad in the area. I also recommend the Italian sandwich and the steak sandwich. Their pasta salad is also very good. Angels is usually pretty crowded but thre is rarely a wait for a table. Don’t miss this super lunch spot in Brunswick!

Nachos Mexican Restaurant & Cantina just opened its doors a couple of weeks ago on St. Simons Island. We went for dinner recently and it was slammed—which is a good sign. There was only one table available when we arrived.

I rate my Mexican restaurants by their “Chile Rellenos” and the ones at Nachos were probably the best I have eaten. The two huge poblano peppers were stuffed with Mexican cheese, dipped in egg and skillet fried and topped with a sauce that was out of this world. They were served with refried beans, rice and corn or flour tortillas.

Nancy had the “Chicken Nachos Supreme” which were also very good. The menu is extensive with many unique Mexican dishes. The staff was very friendly and nice. Our waitress told us that the owners, Jorge & Nacho, had been partners in Los Arcos that recently closed in Brunswick and reopened on the Island. We were very pleased with our first meal at Nachos Mexican Restaurant & Cantina and sure we will have many more great experiences there. We are glad to have this Mexican restaurant on the Mid-North part of the Island.

Nachos is located on Frederica Avenue, in the Brogens North shopping center.

“Tides of Fear” by Anne B. Jones

Set on St. Simons Island, Georgia

Book signing January 10, 2012

12:00 to 2:00

G J Ford Bookshop in Shops of Sea Island

Which is the more dangerous predator? A shark? Or a man? St. Simons Island becomes the scene of panic as bodies are washed ashore. First blaming the deaths on sharks, police soon realize the predator is human. A killer stalks tourists, luring and drowning his victims as easily as he eludes discovery. Tides of Fear, set on the shark-infested Georgia Coast, includes the hunt for a serial murderer with water as the crime scene. Tides of Fear author, Anne B. Jones, has been compared to Thomas Harris and Jeffrey Deaver ‘without the slice and dice.’ The book includes a gripping plot, well-developed characters, and insights into profiling and other forensic subjects. Tides of Fear is unusual because of its use of water as a crime scene with underwater crime scene analysis. The book is based on the author’s doctoral research related to violence. Author Bob Mayer calls it “Jaws with a serial killer.”

by Guerry Norwood

As part of the College of Coastal Georgia’s Founder’s Day Weekend marking the 50th anniversary of the College’s inception, CCG welcomes multi-talented musician Randall Bramblett.

Bramblett will be performing with his band this Friday night, October 21st at 7pm at the St. Simons Island Lighthouse. Bramblett, who is from originally from Jesup, Georgia but now resides in Athens, plays piano, guitar, saxophone, harmonica, mandolin and several other instruments. While Bramblett may not be a household name, he is legendary within music circles for his songwriting and musicianship. He released a pair of acclaimed solo albums in the mid-‘70s, then joined the jazz-rock outfit Sea Level, becoming their principal songwriter and vocalist. From there, Bramblett embarked on a path as a big-league, musical utility man (primarily sax and keys) and landed on the speed dial of some of the greatest names in rock history, including Traffic, Steve Winwood, Levon Helm, Chuck Leavell and Bonnie Raitt.

Admission to the show is $10 at the gate. Members of the college alumni association, students, faculty and staff will be admitted free with valid identification.

by Guerry Norwood

The revitalization of the Pier Village area at the St. Simons Island waterfront has been an ongoing project since the latter part of the past decade.

Phase 1 started with the removal of the old public swimming pool and followed with the construction of the Neptune Fun Park Zone in 2009. The overall remake included some refurbishment to the Neptune Park grounds, the Village Pier and the creation of Sunset Plaza. Phase 3 was the refurbishment of Postell Park. Since May, the grounds around the Casino building have been in a state of confusion as crews worked to spruce up the area that hosts popular festivals and events.

Now the “Postell Market Park Improvement Project” to upgrade the overall appearance of the frontage of the St. Simons Island Casino is nearly complete. This area is commonly used for community events and annual festivals. Over the years, the landscaping in the park had deteriorated. Tree-lined areas where large roots were once exposed are now covered with grasses, and Asian jasmine. With the improvements, permeable pavers will cover the ground of the park. The parking spaces in front of the Casino have been reconfigured, creating additional spaces. This project will also improve drainage to the surrounding area.

Exciting developments in this favorite Island area can be seen each week!

Cannon’s Point, a 600-acre tract on St. Simons Island, will become a nature preserve under an agreement between Wells Fargo and conservation groups. The parcel, known as Cannon’s Point, is part of the vast holdings of the Sea Island Co., now owned by Wells Fargo. The property is the last and largest tract of natural undeveloped land on the island. Wells Fargo and the Bobolink Foundation of Chicago, whose trustees include former Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. and his wife, Wendy, will become partners with former Georgia-Pacific chief executive Pete Correll, the St. Simons Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy and community members and groups in the preservation project.

The tract is not only an undisturbed maritime forest, it also contains significant historic sites. In 1796, John Couper moved his family to St. Simons Island to live in a modest one and one-half story cottage that provided a magnificent view of the Hampton River and the distant marshes. The cottage was built by Daniel Cannon, a carpenter of old Frederica. John Couper’s interest in horticulture was reflected in the beautiful grounds of Cannon’s Point. Shrubs, trees and flowers of every description grew in profusion alongside groves of lemons, oranges and Persian date palms. At the request of President Jefferson, Couper imported two hundred olive trees from France, which soon yielded superior quality oil. The Coupers were gracious hosts, and Cannon’s Point was rarely without visitors. It was not unusual for guests to stay weeks or even months: one young couple came to spend their honeymoon on the plantation and stayed until the birth of their second child! Also contributing to the pleasures of a Cannon’s Point visit were the legendary skills of the slave cook Sans Foix, who had no equal on the Georgia coast.

To learn more about the preservation project and planned education center, view the St. Simons Island Land Trust video on YouTube.