Time Sep

81

Modernizing history

THE GREYSAVANNAH GA.

Born in the Bronx to a
Georgian mother Mashama
Bailey grew up calling herself
“one-generation-removed
Southern.” But even after her co-workers
inspired her to attend culinary school—
they often complimented her sweet
potatoes and roasted chicken—she
never toyed seriously with the idea of
moving south to open a restaurant.
Then venture capitalist Johno Morisano
heard about Bailey through her mentor
chef Gabrielle Hamilton and reached
out to her about a long-abandoned
once segregated Greyhound station
he’d bought. The duo clicked and
Bailey eventually abandoned her more
traditional concepts (“the inspiration
of the early menu was purely Italian”
she says) in favor of blending African
European and classic Southern lavors
they now serve (foie and grits with red-
wine gravy or tuna crudo with okra and
pickled peppers). Those efforts paid off:
in 2017 the Grey was named Eater’s
Restaurant of the Year.—Kate Rockwood

A library

beyond books

AUSTIN CENTRAL LIBRARYAUSTIN

At this library which opened
in 2017 the books—500000
in total—are just the
beginning of the story. There’s
also an art gallery an event space a
rooftop butterly garden a series of
group-study rooms a café (featuring
several cookbook-inspired meals) and a
“technology petting zoo” which enables
visitors to toy with next-generation
gadgets like a 3-D printer. The building
itself—which centers around a six-story
sun-drenched atrium—is cutting-edge
too. In July it earned a Platinum LEED
certiication for its sustainable design
which includes a bicycle-repair and
parking garage and a cistern on the roof
that pipes rainwater to the bathrooms.
—Julia Zorthian