Takin’ It Downtown - Brunswick Morning Noon and Night

Rise and shine! It’s a beautiful day to discover downtown! There’s always something to do in Old Town from morning, noon, to night. You’ll find eclectic shops and galleries, salons and spas, fantastic restaurants, bars, and a brewery, parks and historic sites, a library, and theaters, all within walking distance. Here, we’ll be visiting some of the vibrant Brunswick businesses that keep the SoGlo district buzzing. C’mon downtown and stroll the streets and the historic squares with us.

Morning Exploring

The perfect place to start the day is at Daddy Cate’s Coffees at 302 Gloucester Street. Open Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays, DeeDee and her crew have been serving up freshly brewed coffee, muffins, and more since 2002. In addition to their cinnamon rolls, muffins, and scones, they serve breakfast and lunch sandwiches, hot dogs, and salads. If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, DeeDee’s cakes are phenomenal, and they’ve got milkshakes and ice cream floats too. Pictures on the wall of “Daddy” R.V. (who works behind the scenes) and the Cate family and friends, along with fun, quirky signs, make you feel right at home with this friendly bunch. Whether you settle in with a cuppa joe or grab a hot cocoa to go, you’ll be welcomed with a smile! 

Mary Ross Waterfront Park on Bay Street at the end of Gloucester Street is a great place to greet the day. Watch the shrimp boats and large vessels as they head to and from the waterfront docks. You might also catch the OCEARCH shark tracker vessel or a tall ship here for a visit. At the time of writing, the USS Savannah, the Navy’s newest Littoral Combat Ship to be added to the fleet, was at the Brunswick dock for a commissioning ceremony. This is also where you’ll find the Liberty Ship Memorial Plaza with the scale model Liberty Ship commemorating those built here. 

If you’re there on a Saturday morning, check out the Farmer’s Market that’s open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., or so. You’ll find fresh produce, herbs, honey, meats, eggs, and other offerings from local and regional farmers and food vendors, like Potlikkker Farms, Greenway Gardens, Hickox Family Farm, Halls Homestead, and Georgia Olive Farm. If you’re lucky, you might be able to snag some crab cakes or pie from Linda’s Cupcakes before she sells out! Of course, if you have to settle for a cupcake or two instead, that’s not too much of a disappointment. Hours for the Farmers Market may change seasonally, including Tuesday and Thursday hours, so check the Mary Ross Park & Farmer’s Market page on Facebook for updates.

Once you’ve grabbed your greens and gourmet goodies, the shops, salons, boutiques, and galleries will be opening. If you need some primping and pampering or want to freshen up your style, salons aren’t hard to find downtown. The “new kid on the block,” Embraced Salon & Spa at 1508 Newcastle celebrated its grand opening with a Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting in January. This chic new space opened by Courtney Willis offers full salon services, microblading, facials, lash extensions, permanent makeup, and more. They’re open at 10:00 a.m. Monday-Saturday and close at 6:00 p.m. every day except Saturday, when they close at 2:00 p.m. Drop in to schedule an appointment or for a free consultation. When you see the fabulous décor, you might not want to leave! But leave you must, there’s more to explore! 

To continue the pampering experience, drop by Cunningham Jewelers at 1510 Newcastle. It’s right next door and sweet shop dog Topaz might be there to greet you. Cunningham Jewelers has a long history in Brunswick. Established in 1916, they celebrated their 105th anniversary last year. They offer fine jewelry and unique gifts, as well as china and traditional silver. If you have special wedding gifts to buy, this is the place! You sports fans should ask Alexia and her staff about the limited edition UGA National Championship and Atlanta Braves World Series Waterford collectables!

Speaking of sports memorabilia, remember those newspaper front pages or signed jerseys you keep meaning to get framed to hang in the den? Here’s your reminder to pop in and see Beverly at Main Street Frame Shop at 1403 Newcastle Street. Another longtime downtown business, Beverly Drawdy has been providing custom picture framing with a personal touch since 1984, when she got a job at the frame store as a high school art student, now she owns the shop! All matting and framework is done by hand and Beverly is an expert at making sure your art or memories are displayed at their best. So grab those Natty posters or “Dawgs Win” papers you’ve been saving and bring them by Main Street Frame Shop so they can finally go on your wall! You’ve waited a long time for this! 

Afternoon Delights

Looks like it’s time for lunch now. Time flies when you’re having fun and there’s so much to see! A personal staff recommendation is that you grab a seat inside or out on the patio at Indigo Coastal Shanty at 1402 Reynolds Street. Here you’ll find fresh and flavorful dishes like Calypso Nachos with jerked chicken, corn, black beans, pineapple salsa and guac, fragrant Bahamian Chicken Curry, or the Charleston Sauté or Fisherman’s Bowl featuring local shrimp. Save room for dessert too! The Georgia Peach Pound Cake and Shanty Sundae with chocolate bread pudding and bourbon caramel sauce are off the chain good! The Shanty is open for lunch Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and for dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5:00-9:00 p.m.

The best way to work off that lunch is to get in a little exercise. A perfect way to do that is by booking a bike tour with Tyler Vaughn at Brunswick Old Town Tours at 212 Monck Street. A fabulous addition to downtown, Brunswick Old Town Tours offers guided bike tours and bike rentals. Tyler and his crew provide Historic District Bicycle Tours at 11:00 a.m., 1:00, 3:00, and 5:00 p.m. The tours are for riders aged 16+ (must be accompanied by an adult if under 18) and last an hour and a half. Your trusty steed for the tour will be a single-speed beach cruiser and your friendly guide will lead you on a ride that highlights Old Town and shares information about downtown Brunswick’s historic sites. As a special bonus, with every tour you get a free pint glass from Silver Bluff Brewing Company, so you’ll want to drop by the tap room to fill that up after your ride! The beer garden is a great place to chill in the afternoon. Tyler and his crew can provide customized group tours for small groups as well. Seasonal tours are also offered, and currently include a nighttime Haunted Bicycle Tour. No matter what tour you choose, Brunswick Old Town Tours makes it FUN! Book in advance by calling 912.584.0165 or at brunswickoldtowntours.com.

If you’ve got some time before your tour, pop over to The Southern Hanger at 1412 Newcastle Street to make sure you’re appropriately attired for your bike ride, a long walk around Old Town, or to head out to enjoy the nightlife tonight. They have t-shirts, shorts, and other athletic wear, casual attire, sandals, and shoes. Forgot your sunglasses? They’ve got you covered. If it rains, they’ve got umbrellas, jackets, and cute bags in which to stash stuff. For outdoor apparel, including extensive fishing gear, On the Fly Outfitters is a must.

If you’re not up for a guided bike tour, but still want to spend the afternoon downtown, arts and antiques are awaiting discovery! You can find both at the end of Newcastle Street with The Market on Newcastle at 1624 and The Gallery on Newcastle at 1626 and there are several antique shops with treasures to discover. To see works by local artists, stop in SoGlo Gallery at 1413 Newcastle Street, The Ritz Theatre at 1530 Newcastle Street, and the Brunswick-Glynn County Library at 208 Gloucester Street to check out the exhibits they currently have on display in their galleries. Some other places to see art include Creative Frameworks at 1302 Gloucester Street and Blue Cottage Artist Market featuring works by more than 35 local artists at 1422 Newcastle Street. If you’re interested in art classes or paint parties, contact Painted Planet at 1304 Gloucester Street at 912.266.1201 to check their current offerings. The library offers craft workshops and lots of other fantastic programming too, so take a look at their website to see their monthly events at moglibraries.org.

Another important part of the downtown art scene is the Brunswick Mural Project. Take a walk or ride around to see the murals painted on various downtown buildings in the past couple years by Catherine Durrett, Kevin Bongang, Megan Torello, Cullen Peck, Jeff LeMieux, Roderrick Davis. You can find a list of their locations and descriptions under the Brunswick Mural Project tab on the Glynn Visual Arts website at glynnvisualarts.org. You’ll also find a link there where you can donate to offset costs or sponsor a mural if you’d like to see more works like this downtown.

You can find another kind of art at SoGlo Guitar Gallery at 509 Gloucester Street. Local musician Crawford Perkins and his talented crew create some gorgeous custom guitars and amps, and sell a plethora of music equipment and accessories. They’re experts when it comes to repairs and refinishing as well. From restringing and tuning to refrets, resets, or total refinishing, they can do it all!

Stop by to see the musical eye candy on the walls and play a riff or two. If you can’t, Crawford will be happy to oblige. If he’s not around, you can always stop by Tipsy McSway’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill on a Thursday night to see him in action.

Bring on the Night

Speaking of Tipsy’s, that’s a great place to start your evening. Susan Bates and her son Jason were at the forefront of putting downtown nightlife on the map when they opened the neighborhood restaurant and bar at 1414 Newcastle Street. The restaurant has a fun, upbeat vibe and serving delicious family-friendly food with awesome daily specials if you’re bringing the kids. On the adult side of things, the bar is the bombdiggity and exactly the kind of place where everybody knows your name. Try one of Mallory’s craft cocktail creations or stop in for tiki drinks with Davis and Gary on Tiki Tuesday nights. In addition to Crawford performing solo or with his partner in crime Jim Quigley on Thursdays, live music featuring both local and visiting artists is hosted inside Tipsy’s every weekend or sponsored in adjacent Queen Square East (weather permitting) via Brunswick Music District concerts 6:00-9:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. (You or your business can be a sponsor too, just call Susan to see how at 912.267.9991.) You can find out who’s playing by checking the I’m With the Band blog on the EIL website. If trivia is your thing, they do that on Wednesday nights and it’s a blast! Follow Tipsy McSway’s on Facebook see daily specials at the restaurant, weekly trivia topics, and upcoming events. 

On Wednesday nights, you can also find sassy songstress Annie Akins doing her thing in the Boom Boom Bar at The Southern Table, across the street at 1423 Newcastle. The creation of the fabulous folks behind Straton Hall, The Southern Table originally opened in 2014. They serve mouthwatering dishes from a menu that includes Southern fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, shrimp n’ grits, and bourbon pecan pie, as well as incredible weekly specials, in an atmosphere of classy Southern charm. Open Wednesday-Friday from 5:00-9:00 p.m. While every night is a party, Annie only performs on Wednesdays. She’s guaranteed to make you smile. So will the half-off appetizers and drinks at Happy Hour from 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Other delicious dining options downtown include pizza, Italian cuisine, Caribbean and Thai food, and more American/Southern fare. Reid’s Apothecary at 1618 Newcastle Street offers casual fine dining that includes offerings like delicious steaks, lamb lollipops, and build-your-own charcuterie boards, as well as weekend brunch and a special Sunday dinner with rotating options. They’re open Tuesday-Friday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m and Saturday-Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. While their food is excellent, their “prescriptions” deserve some attention too. These handcrafted cocktails can be enjoyed in the restaurant or in the “secret” speakeasy hidden within their walls, The Study. 

The Study is open Thursday through Saturday from 8:00 p.m. Access is through the back, and you’ll need the daily password. Call 912.289.2659 after 1:00 p.m. to get it. With warm lighting, comfortable couches and chairs, this unique lounge is a perfect place to wind down after a long week or to take visiting friends and family. They have live music Friday and Saturday nights at 9:00 p.m. and most Thursdays too. You’ll find listings for these performers in the I’m With the Band blog as well. Regularly featured bands have included Defunk, Whiskey Hotel, The Vibe, Rider, and the Hot Banana Coffee acoustic duo. No matter who’s playing, it’s always a good time at The Study!

Downtown Brunswick also offers great stage performances and cultural events in their theatres. The SoGlo Gallery mentioned previously for its art exhibits is also home to the Brunswick Actors’ Theater. This intimate 111 seat theatre located at 1413 Newcastle presents a full annual season of six shows between February and December, and hosts shows presented by additional performers as well. Brunswick Actors’ Theatre productions feature small, well-rehearsed casts of talented local actors. The plays are heartwarming, often poignant or thought-provoking, and almost always funny, because owner Lynda Dalton Gallagher believes that “Laughter is STILL the best medicine.” Refreshments (currently packed as individual snack packs) and coffee or tea are included in the ticket price. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the show. To see shows and ticket information and to reserve tickets, visit soglogallery.com.

Stage performances at The Ritz Theatre are fewer and more far between, but definitely worth keeping an eye out for. You won’t want to miss the Penguin Project shows or the Ritz Radio Show’s special holiday presentations. In addition, Golden Isles Arts & Humanities also offers the entertaining and informative Cinema Gourmet series where classic films are presented with a discussion about the significance of the film and accompanied by a tasty dinner, often tied in with the movie theme, from Indigo Coastal Shanty. You can enjoy the movie and the meal or just come to see the film. March’s Cinema Gourmet selection is Academy Award winning Western Unforgiven, starring Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris. In April, things get quirky with the Coen Brothers’ 1987 cult-classic Raising Arizona, featuring Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter. There’s something for everyone at The Ritz! Visit their website at goldenislesarts.org to see their monthly events.

Historic Downtown Brunswick has so much to offer, and more events and new businesses are popping up all the time. Another place to learn more about downtown events and keep up to date with Brunswick happenings is the Downtown Development Authority calendar and website at discoverbrunswick.com. For community events in Brunswick and throughout the Golden Isles, visit the EIL Events Page and website calendar. But remember, you don’t need any planned event or special occasion to cross the causeway and go downtown! Just go – and discover what the SoGlo community already knows – great things are happening in Brunswick!