Happy THURSDAY, Charleston. On this day in 1778, South Carolina became the second state (and by some accounts the first to act) to ratify the Articles of Confederation, formally approving the fledgling nation’s first governing framework and helping stitch the states together under a common government.
I keep hearing that mah-jongg is having a moment — and I’m wondering if it’s time to add a monthly Mahj Night to the CHS Happenings lineup. Think: a Tuesday evening at a local restaurant, cocktails flowing, tiles clacking, zero pressure. Beginner-friendly, social, and just plain fun.
Would you be into a once-a-month mah-jongg club?
Congrats to Dianne B. of Isle of Palms who guessed correctly in last week’s “Where Are We?” I was at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry downtown, on Ann Street.
Thursday 47° / 32° ☁️ 💧24%
Friday 56° / 39° ☀️ 💧7%
Saturday 56° / 31° ☀️ 💧2%
Sunday 49° / 39° ☀️ 💧2%
The Cooper, a new hotel on the harbor about to open
A Hotel, a Marina, and a Question Charleston Keeps Avoiding
It looks beautiful. That’s not the whole story.
I didn’t need to read the Robb Report piece to know where it was headed. Words like luxe. Phrases like private marina. A price point that clears its throat politely before announcing $950 a night—before tax, before valet, before the yacht captain introduces himself by first name only.
But yes, I read it anyway. And sure enough, here comes The Cooper, rising from the footprint of the old Ports Authority building, framed as Charleston’s next great waterfront awakening—ideally experienced from the deck of a chartered Hinckley, preferably at sunset.
Let me say this plainly, because nuance tends to get lost online.
I’m not anti-development.
I’m not anti-wealth.
And I’m not anti–property rights.
I’ve spent much of my career advising clients on redevelopment projects exactly like this one. I understand entitlements, capital stacks, risk, timelines. I know what it takes to make an underutilized site pencil. By every professional measure, this project works.
That’s precisely why it deserves scrutiny.
Markets don’t ask civic questions.
They don’t ask who gets access and who gets pushed farther out.
They don’t ask whether a former working waterfront—once tied to jobs and infrastructure—should become a gated experience with a marina keycard and a spa menu longer than the zoning code.
The hotel sits beside Union Pier, and together they tell a very coherent story. Not a villainous one. A rational one. Capital doing exactly what capital does, in a city that keeps saying yes without asking “to what end?”
Luxification isn’t sinister. It’s efficient.
But efficiency has a point of view.
Charleston isn’t being ruined. It’s being curated—for visitors who read the Robb Report on airplanes and experience cities in amenities per square foot.
I can admire the execution and question the outcome.
I can support property rights and worry about what gets priced out quietly.
Now your turn.
Who, exactly, is the harbor for now?
Jump into the comments. Let’s hear it.
Just reply to this email, or if you’re reading on our website, email me here. The first person to guess correctly will get a shout-out at the top of our issue next week!
Not just a building, a sentiment to place top of mind
Reminder: Happenings has a new setup, and the new event link below is now the front door—use it if you want in.
Thursday
American Mah Jongg - Slow Play | 12 - 2 PM | Poe/Sullivan's Island Library, Sullivans Island | Play American Mah Jongg with friends. Slow play suitable for beginners - no fancy sets, special game rules, or high-pressure competition.
Road Warrior Foundation's 2nd Fundraise Fore Freedom | 6 - 8 PM | Topgolf Charleston, North Charleston | Join us for our 2nd Fundraise Fore Freedom and help us chip away at $5000 to send a veteran on an epic adventure.
Publik Education Trivia Night! | 7 - 9 PM | Broken Leash Dog Park & Bar, North Charleston | Gather your crew, answer some brainy (and not-so-brainy) questions, sip a drink, and compete for prize.
Friday
Tai Chi | 9 - 10 AM | Daniel Island Library, Daniel Island | Join free Tai Chi at the Library, an ancient form of exercise for all ages using slow, smooth body movements.
INTO THE WILD - Opening art reception | 5 - 8 PM | Charleston Artist Guild Gallery, Downtown | The Charleston Artist Guild (CAG) Gallery invites the public to celebrate wildlife art during Art Walk.
James Island Town Market | 6 - 9 PM | Town Hall Parking Lot, James Island | Live music, crafts, lawn games, food trucks and fresh produce vendors.
Saturday
8th Anniversary Commonhouse Aleworks Celebration | 12 - 10 PM | Commonhouse Aleworks, Park Circle | Includes a Block Party, Live Music, and Brewery Tours.
Valentine's Art Market | 5:30 - 8:30 PM | City Lights Eastside, Downtown | Sweet Handmade Art Shindig to Spread some LOVE.
Preseason - Crown Legacy FC at Charleston Battery I 7 PM | Patriots Point, Mount Pleasant I Crown Legacy FC taking on the Charleston Battery as part of the Battery’s 2026 preseason build-up.
Sunday
Galentine's Breakfast & Candle Making | 9:30 - 11 AM | Rooted in Charleston, Downtown | Join us for a fun morning of breakfast and candle making with your gal pals to celebrate Galentine's Day!
Football Skills Challenge I 11 AM | South Croquet Lawn, Isle of Palms | Put your game-day talents to the test at our Football Skills Challenge.
Super Bowl Watch Party at Lamar's I 4 PM | Lamar's Sporting Club, Downtown | No tickets are required! However, you can make a reservation to secure your spot.
One Thing We’re Seeing
Real Estate Desk
Buyers vs. Headlines
The headlines make it sound like buyers have disappeared. They haven’t. What’s changed is how selective they’re willing to be. Buyers today are slower to commit—but still decisive when pricing, condition, and terms line up. The frenzy is gone. The intention is not.
— Jimmy, The Farrell Group
South Carolina just topped the nation in population growth again—and it’s starting to reshape daily life here.
→ What’s driving the surge and who’s feeling it mostA cult-favorite bagel brand with TikTok heat and no sandwiches is sliding into Charleston, and the hype is already baked in.
→ See where PopUp Bagels plans to open and how to score a preview biteA new off-price home chain tied to TJ Maxx finally plants a flag in Mount Pleasant, with a date now locked.
→ Get the exact opening morning shoppers are circling on their calendarsA Philly-born pizza joint built on credit cards and college cash keeps quietly winning national praise in Cannonborough.
→ Why D’Als still feels like Charleston’s most honest slice
Friday
Big Shows
The Movement brings a polished reggae-fusion set to Charleston Music Hall—one of the weekend’s cleanest, biggest bookings.
Lightwatch anchors a tight local indie bill at The Royal American—lean, loud, and well-curated.
Something Different
Deep Crates turns Tin Roof into an all-vinyl listening room—crate-digging energy, heads nodding, no filler.
Latin jazz takes center stage at Forte Jazz Lounge, led by a band that knows the tradition and how to stretch it.
Late Night
A full-room dance reset at Music Farm with a 2000s-leaning DJ night—pure release, no thinking required.
Saturday
Big Shows
The Charleston Jazz Orchestra’s Billie Holiday tribute lands at Charleston Music Hall—elegant, reverent, and built for a seated crowd that listens.
MC Davo and Sabino bring international hip-hop energy to Music Farm.
Something Different
A full-scale Bob Marley Birthday Celebration takes over the Charleston Pour House—reggae, dub, DJs, and deep grooves into the night.
A convincing Nirvana tribute shakes the sand at The Windjammer—raw, loud, and unapologetically nostalgic.
Late Night
Alt-country and rock collide at The Royal American—a local triple bill that rewards staying out late.
Sunday
Brunch & Daytime
Motown-soaked Sunday Funday vibes roll across the deck at Charleston Pour House—sun, soul, and an easy afternoon groove.
Stage Shows
Final chances to catch Chicago at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center—slick, jazzy, and crowd-tested.
Late Night Wind-Down
Gracious Day closes the weekend at Henry's On The Market—casual, familiar, and exactly right for a Sunday night reset.
FEEDBACK
Got 15 seconds? Let us know what you thought about today’s newsletter by voting in the poll below. 👇
