Meet Cassie and Jason, a couple who eloped and married here in the Ballastone courtyard in February.

For couples thirsting for a romantic getaway or planning an anniversary celebration, the Ballastone offers relief from the distractions of everyday life.  Enjoying the privacy of this historic house while in the midst of an urban forest filled with live oak trees and Spanish moss is unforgettable.

Memory making begins at the energizing gourmet breakfast, followed by a leisurely stroll on brick lined streets to world-class museums, outdoor cafes, and specialty shops.

Sixteen guest rooms of ultimate distinction warmly welcome each guest.  Luxurious fabrics have been coordinated with interior décor to offer a unique experience in each suite.

Southern nights in Savannah can start with a short walk to fine dining establishments, a moonlit carriage ride or a night at the theatre.

Savannah Destination Weddings

For a small intimate gathering, the Ballastone Inn offers an elegant backdrop for memorable moments.  Beautiful wedding events are a specialty and our team can put together all the fine details to give the finishing touches deserved, including floral, reception delights, carriage rides, and a minister.

A Ballastone wedding is complete when you and your guests all stay in our elegant bed and breakfast, while creating new memories for years to come.

The Ballastone will be welcoming tenor Ian O’Brien this weekend for the Savannah Philharmonic “A Night in Vienna” on Friday, February 1, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

Ian O’Brien, tenor, is a young opera singer from Connecticut. He was previously an Opera Tampa Young Artist under the direction of Sherrill Milnes, Maria Zouves and Anton Coppola. This past summer, Ian was a Bonfils-Stanton Studio Artist with Central City Opera in Colorado, where he was the recipient of the John & Ginney Starkey Award.
His winter performance of the Soldat in Viktor Ullmann’s “The Emperor of Atlantis” with Central City Opera was broadcast on NPR.

The Vienna performance will be held at the Trustee’s Theater and tickets are now available for purchase by calling the box office at (912) 525-5050 or online at www.savannahphilharmonic.org. Ticket prices are $16 – $55 with limited premium seating at $65.

The Ballastone is pleased to be able to support the Savannah Philharmonic and their educational outreach.

“Make it look like you’ve planned this for weeks and call us now because our availabilities are limited,” said Salandi. “We’ll make it a Valentine’s celebration you and your partner will never forget.

“I order the long-stemmed, large-head roses special, and pick them out myself.  Then each rose is placed bedside in an antique sterling and crystal bud vase. At turndown or check in, a quality split of champagne is presented to the two of you, in addition to all the other food and beverage offerings of the Ballastone throughout the day,” said Salandi.

Salandi explains that, although many of the city’s finer restaurants are already sold out for Valentine’s, the Ballastone’s concierge can sometime “work miracles.”

“We work with all the top-rated restaurants in town, and we have special relationships with four of them, in particular. They include The Olde Pink House, Elizabeth on 37^th, Alligator Soul and Circa 1875,” Salandi said.

Built in 1838, the restored luxury inn boasts a history as rich as its furnishings. Today, the Ballastone pampers well-heeled travelers who have come to expect the kind of four-star service the Ballastone Inn provides.

Located at 14 East Oglethorpe Avenue in Savannah’s historic district, the Ballastone is convenient to the best dining, shopping, and local culture that Savannah has to offer.  Featuring a parlor and private bar plus 16 sumptuously outfitted bedrooms on four floors, the beautifully decorated Victorian-style mansion includes an elevator, private courtyard garden and off-street parking with 24-hour surveillance.

Salandi says her professional staff and concierge services are always working to make guests’ getaway vacations, romantic weekends and business trips a pleasure.

“We’re proud of our gourmet breakfasts and, in the afternoon, our guests enjoy high tea served in the inn’s parlor. There, they enjoy a selection of teas from Harney & Sons served on antique silver while indulging in a lovely selection of fresh scones, tea sandwiches, homemade pastries and other hors d’oeuvres, most of which are featured in our Ballastone cookbook. Offered at our private Victorian bar are seven boutique wines from a selection of elite vintners as well as complimentary port and sherry. A special selection of ice cold beer is available all day,” she added.

“We also provide free Wi-Fi in every room plus the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the Savannah Morning News.”

Bring in the new year with us! If you are subscribed to the Ballastone Inn E-News, this is for you:

During the month of January 2013, we are offering 20% off your stay at our Savannah Premier Boutique Hotel.

Gift Certificates are also available! Treat yourself, your family, and friends to incomparable luxury and elegance offered by Savannah’s most historic Bed and Breakfast. Give an extravagant gift at an affordable price!

Simply Ballastone ~ Celebrate Holiday Fare Year Round

Savannah, Georgia October 23, 2012 – Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are always special at The Ballastone Inn, arguably Savannah’s most celebrated and luxurious historic boutique hotel, and its delicious breakfasts, high teas and hors d’oeuvres are a large part of its longstanding attraction. Now the Ballastone has its own recipe book called Simply Ballastone. Owner Jennifer Salandi says she created the newly released book of rare, selected recipes from the Ballastone’s popular kitchen in response to the many requests she has received over the years. The book is available now for holiday gifting.

The Ballastone, which dates back to 1838, features 16 exquisitely appointed guest rooms with Victorian furnishings throughout the Italianate mansion, private courtyard garden, exclusive hotel bar, an elevator and modern en suite amenities.

Holidays at the Ballastone are as festive as their decorations and elegant, full southern breakfasts, high teas and hors d’oeuvres served daily.

“Our guests are very discriminating. They particularly appreciate the wonderfully delicious and very special breads, breakfasts, tea items and hors d’oeuvres that we prepare for them daily. By popular demand, we have created this book of more than 100 recipes for them and for everyone else who wants to experience some of what the world famous Ballastone Inn has to offer. And, when Simply Ballastone cookbooks are given as gifts, the message conveyed is that the thoughtful gift giver is sharing something very special with the fortunate recipient,” Salandi said.

The new, hard cover cookbook starts off with a two-page history of Savannah and the Ballastone bed and breakfast, going back to the origins of the coastal city in 1733 while each of the four sections begins with a page of more than a dozen helpful hints related to that section.

But it’s the recipes themselves that are the stars of the book. Recipes like orange ricotta pancakes for breakfast, scones with blueberry sauce and Devonshire cream for high tea, and stuffed mushrooms with feta cheese for hors d’oeuvres are included for all to enjoy.

To obtain copies of Simply Ballastone for $20 each, call 912/236-1484 or 800/822-4553. The Ballastone Inn is located at 14 East Oglethorpe Avenue in Savannah, Georgia 31401. More information about the Ballastone is available online at www.ballastone.com.

BALLASTONE INN’S ORANGE RICOTTA PANCAKES

2 oranges – zest and juice 1 c. self-rising flour

1 ¾ c. Ricotta cheese 1 tsp. baking powder

2 eggs, beaten Dash salt

1/3 c. plus 2 T. sugar Powdered sugar

Mix ingredients together and pour batter by 3 T. on griddle. Cook on low heat just under 350 degrees. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

BALLASTONE INN’S SCONES WITH BLUEBERRY SAUCE & DEVONSHIRE CREAM

Scones:

2c. all purpose flour ½ c. butter, sliced cold

3 T. brown sugar 1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt 1 egg, separated

1 c. sour cream

Blueberry Sauce:

1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries 1 c. sugar

2 T. corn starch 1 c. water

Devonshire Cream:

1 c. heavy cream ½ tsp. vanilla extract

2 T. powdered sugar (or more to taste)

Nutmeg (optional)

Measure flour into mixing bowl, cut in butter, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until it looks like coarse meal. Add egg yolk and sour cream and blend together. Turn out on to a floured surface and roll out to ½-inch thick. Cut with cookie cutter and place on baking sheet. Add splash of water to egg white; mix and brush scones with the egg wash. Bake at 395 degrees for 12 minutes; turn pan around and bake 2-3 more minutes. Blueberry Sauce: Combine blueberries and sugar in a saucepan. Mix together water and cornstarch and add to blueberry mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until berries burst and sauce is thickened. Devonshire Cream: Mix heavy cream, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar in mixing bowl. Transfer to serving bowl and top with nutmeg, if desired.

BALLASTONE INN’S STUFFED MUSHROOMS WITH FETA CHEESE

20 large stemless mushrooms ½ c. grated Parmesan cheese

2 T. melted butter 1 egg

4 oz. cream cheese, softened ¼ c. bread crumbs

8 oz. feta cheese 1 tsp. garlic salt

¼ c. chopped green onions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Clean mushroom caps and brush with melted butter. Put on a baking sheet. Mix together cream cheese, feta, Parmesan, egg, bread crumbs, and garlic salt, mixing well. Stir in chopped green onions. Fill mushroom caps and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. You may run them under the broiler for an extra two minutes to brown, if you wish.

Contact:

Tony Tortorici
Tortorici & Randolph Inc.
678-493-0313
tony@tortoricipr.com

More information about the Ballastone Inn is available at www.ballastone.com, by email at inn@ballastone.com or by calling (912) 236-1484 or (800) 822-4553.  Join in, with nearly 4,000 fans on the Ballastone Inn’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ballastone, or follow us on Twitter @BallastoneInn to keep up with what’s new at Ballastone and what’s happening in Savannah, Georgia.

Mary Musgrove (pictured with her third husband, the Reverend Thomas Bosomworth)

Known as Coosaponakeesa among the Creek Indians, Mary Musgrove served as a cultural liaison between colonial Georgia and her Native American community in the mid-eighteenth century. Musgrove took advantage of her biculturalism to protect Creek interests, maintain peace on the frontier, and expand her business as a trader. As Pocahontas was to the Jamestown colony and Sacagawea was to the Lewis and Clark expedition, so was Musgrove to the burgeoning Georgia colony.

Musgrove left such a mark on our country’s history; we named one of our most popular rooms after her. Much thought goes into naming rooms; every room of our boutique hotel is uniquely named often for a prominent person from Savannah Georgia’s rich cultural history and we can only hope our tribute lives up to her legacy.

We do our best to pay homage to Musgrove in this way and feel privileged to have recently hosted her great, great, great, great grand daughter, Sherri. It was an honor to welcome Sherri to our lovely Savannah as she visited for a friend’s wedding.  Sherri and Jennifer Salandi, owner of the Ballastone, enjoyed chatting over coffee about Mary Musgrove and the invaluable service she provided General Oglethorpe throughout his time in Savannah and the surrounding areas.

Mary Musgrove Guest Room

We thank Sherri, for selecting the Ballastone Inn boutique hotel to host her visit and to welcome her again  – and you, too – will be our pleasure!

Beautiful Wedding Floral Arrangements

Whether it’s an intimate wedding, honeymoon, anniversary getaway or romantic weekend, special occasions call for a special place. The Ballastone Inn boutique hotel is the premier wedding destination in Savannah and we would love to be your host! Anniversaries, honeymoons and weekend getaways are always romantic at the Ballastone Inn bed and breakfast.

Relax and our very own in-house event planner can take care of every detail for your special time at our special place. Wedding flowers, anniversary cakes and special requests are just a phone call away.

Our Historic Inn offers wedding packages and romantic weekend getaways along with all the details necessary to make your special occasion getaway memorable. Every day is a special occasion at the Ballastone Inn boutique hotel so give us a call for assistance with planning yours!

We hope you enjoy these photos from past events and look forward to welcoming you for your next special occasion at our charming Savannah bed and breakfast inn.

 Copyright (c) 2012 Ballastone Inn.

Treasured Savannah breakfast recipes in newly released cookbook, "Simply Ballastone"

Surveys have shown that breakfast is the favorite meal of the day when people are on vacation. And is there anything more pampering than having someone else fix breakfast for you? We think not.

At the Ballastone in Savannah, Georgia, we have a wide and varied collection of breakfast menus. Even if you stay with us all week (and we hope you will!), you won’t find the breakfast entrée repeated.

But while a really great meal starts with great food, there are other components, too. Presentation counts! Our attractive china, the fresh flowers and all the other touches add up to a beautiful whole.

Then there’s the setting. Each evening, when you are offered a menu card to fill out with your breakfast preferences (such as when you want to eat), you get to choose where you will enjoy breakfast. Will you return to a Table for Two in the front room where you enjoyed tea the day before? The window table in the elegant front parlor is always a popular choice. Opt for a seat in our cozy private bar, or enjoy your meal outside in our lovely courtyard.

A meal served with beauty and refinement is a wonderful way to start a relaxing and memorable vacation day. Linger with a second cup of coffee and savor every moment of being a Ballastone guest! You can also take home our cookbook, Simply Ballastone, and recreate the great breakfast, teatime treats and hors d’oeuvres you enjoyed at the Ballastone.

More information about the Ballastone Inn is available at www.ballastone.com, by email at inn@ballastone.com or by calling (912) 236-1484 or (800) 822-4553.  Join in, with nearly 4,000 fans on the Ballastone Inn’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ballastone, or follow us on Twitter @BallastoneInn to keep up with what’s new at Ballastone and what’s happening in Savannah, Georgia.

Copyright (c) 2012 Ballastone Inn.

Pianist Yejin Noh, originally from South Korea, guest soloist for opening night, September 8, 2012

The Ballastone Inn in Savannah, Georgia, loves beautiful. You can tell that in an instant, just by peeking through the iron gate to our green-and-growing courtyard in or looking through any of our elegantly appointed rooms.

But beauty comes in more forms than visual, and that’s why the Ballastone is proud to be a supporter of the Savannah Philharmonic, bringing beautiful music to Savannah.

If you are a Ballastone guest in the days leading up to any of the eight large or four intimate concerts that make up the Savannah Philharmonic’s 2012-2013 season, you might find yourself sharing afternoon tea or a late-night cordial with some of the world’s most talented classical musicians. The Ballastone is proud to be a lodging sponsor for the Philharmonic, and many of its touring guest performers stay with us.

On performance nights, you’ll find local guests at the Ballastone as well. Many couples choose to make a night of it when there is a major concert. After the performance, rather than drive home to Hilton Head Island, Skidaway Island or Richmond Hill, they return to the comfort of the Ballastone, perhaps for a nightcap. As part of our Savannah Philharmonic support, a courtesy discount is always offered to Friends of the Philharmonic. Call the inn to make reservations — toll free 800/822-4553.

To be a great city to visit, a city must first be a great place to live. Having a diverse range of music and cultural events is part of being a great place to live, and the Ballastone is proud to invest in beautiful Savannah where it has stood for the better part of 200 years. It’s an historic inn in historic Savannah and we help make future history possible.

Read about the Philharmonic’s season at http://www.savannahphilharmonic.org/2012/07/savannah-philharmonic-unveils-2012-2013-season/

Afternoon Tea, a tradition at the luxurious Ballastone Inn in Savannah.

Savannah, GA  July 31, 2012 – Living large is easier than ever at the Ballastone Inn, chosen year after year as Savannah’s Most Romantic Inn and its Best Bed and Breakfast, says owner Jennifer Salandi.

Salandi has partnered with Living Social to offer two nights for loving couples in a deluxe room for $274 or a suite or junior suite at $375, regularly valued at $548 and $750, respectively. Available since July 30, only a limited number of the specially priced packages are still available for purchase online through August 8 at http://tinyurl.com/c2nyfyr.

Built in 1838, the restored luxury inn boasts a history as rich as its furnishings, having served as both a bordello and a home for the Girl Scouts of America – but not at the same time, Salandi wryly explained.

Today, the Inn pampers well-heeled travelers who have come to expect the kind of four-star service the Ballastone Inn provides. The Living Social special offer includes a bonus bottle of red or white wine in-room on arrival, the famous Ballastone Inn gourmet breakfast for two, formal afternoon tea, and savory hors d’oeuvres.

Located at 14 East Oglethorpe Avenue in Savannah’s historic district, the Ballastone is convenient to the best dining, shopping, and local culture that Savannah has to offer.  Featuring a parlor and private bar plus 16 sumptuously outfitted bedrooms on four floors, the beautifully decorated Victorian-style mansion includes an elevator, private courtyard garden and off-street parking with 24-hour surveillance.

Salandi says her professional staff and concierge services are always working to make guests’ getaway vacations, romantic weekends and business trips a pleasure.

“In the afternoon, our guests enjoy high tea served in the inn’s parlor where they steep over a selection of teas from Harney & Sons served on antique silver while indulging in freshly cut salmon sandwiches, blueberry scones with Devonshire cream and other Dixie delights. Later, the evening’s hors d’oeuvres are served at our private Victorian bar where they enjoy a selection of seven boutique wines, champagne or complimentary port and sherry. A special selection of ice cold beer is available all day,” Salandi said.

“We also provide free Wi-Fi and television in every room plus the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the Savannah Morning News delivered daily,” she added.

Full details of the Living Social offer are available at http://tinyurl.com/c2nyfyr.  Salandi explained that the two-for-one promotional value expires on December 31, 2012.

More information about the Ballastone Inn is available at www.ballastone.com, by email at inn@ballastone.com or by calling (912) 236-1484 or (800) 822-4553 and, with nearly 4,000 members, the Ballastone Inn’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ballastone is another way to keep up with events and future promotions offered at the Inn.

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Contact:
Tony Tortorici, Tortorici & Randolph
678-493-0313 or tony@tortoricipr.com

EDITORS – Visitors to Savannah’s Ballastone Inn tend to come primarily from the states of Georgia and Florida, of course, but they include guests from California, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Washington, DC.  Other guests come from Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia as well as from other states and around the world.