The Library - Bar and Grill

    Hi, I'm Juri Terras. Welcome to the Library. I'm the assistant manager and bartender.  Jaak, my brother, is the owner ("Jaak" is an Estonian name, pronounced "Jake" by everybody around here). This building was once part of the Chatham County library system, built in the 1920s—solid granite on the outside and solid oak on the inside. Oak book shelves, oak tables, oak chairs, and oak counters, underneath twenty-foot-high ceilings. It had been long-abandoned by the county when Jaak bought it. He restored it and made it into a real community asset.

     He knows the names of most of the law students, and serves as counselor to many. He's helped untold numbers of students sort through personal trouble and make it through the three tough years at Savannah Law. He spent thirteen months in Vietnam when he was their age, so he usually has some good advice on how to deal with personal challenges. He was a special friend to Scott and Jennifer. You'll read more about that in the novel.

     Jake hosts a poker game in his private lounge at the Library every Sunday night (that's the one day that the Library Bar and Grill is closed). In the novel, Savannah Law, you'll meet all the regular players—Jaak's business and personal friends. Professor Nolan was one of the original poker players (and the most frequent loser). See that single black chip on the table?  That's all Nolan had left when I took that picture one night. Jaak told me I shouldn't say anything about Nolan . . . it just slipped out . . . but that's a really nice table, don't you think?

     I preside over the bar—and the music. I've got over a 1000 CDs in my DJ system; just let me know what you want to hear. Music, stories, and jokes—they're my specialty.

    Didn’t I see you in here last March for our St. Patrick’s Day celebration? Maybe not. We had a big crowd at the bar, and some strange happenings. A man came in with a 5-foot alligator. Called me over and said, “Do you serve lawyers in here?” Strange question, I thought, and I said, “of course.” And he said, “Then I’ll have a beer---and a lawyer for my ‘gator.”

     Jaak tells me I’m not to tell lawyer jokes, but I can’t help myself.  

     I've got to run, but I hope you'll stay and have lunch. But first, why don't you click on  "How to Order" and purchase a copy of Savannah Law?  Don't let my joking get it wrong. It's an exciting but not really a humorous book, but hey, a little fun along the way can't hurt.