🌴 Dinner Club’s debut? 🔥

Happy Friday, Charleston. I asked. You answered. And it wasn’t close — just under 95% of you want the newsletter sooner.

I planned to launch yesterday, but the Dinner Club buzz (details below) had other ideas.

Starting next week: We land in your inbox every Thursday at 7:00 AM.

Again under the heading of “You spoke. I listened. Here’s what I learned.”

Earlier this month, I asked you to take a quick survey. Nearly 200 of you responded—and the results were both clarifying and energizing.

Here’s what stood out:

Nearly 96% of respondents said CHS Happenings influences their awareness or decisions around events, restaurants, and things to do in Charleston. Almost 44% have attended something specifically because of it.

That tells me I’m doing my job: helping you decide what’s actually worth your time.

In 2026, expect:

As always—thanks for reading, trusting, and showing up.

You’ll notice some design tweaks today.

Why:

One thing I’m debating:

Congrats to Melody M. of somewhere in CHS who guessed correctly in last week’s “Where Are We?” This was a tough one! I I was on Queen Street downtown, just west of Church Street. The door may have been used at one point to get into Dock Street Theatre.

Friday 56° / 38° ⛅ 💧8%

Saturday 43° / 22° 🌨️ 💧47%

Sunday 35° / 23° ⛅ 💧2%

Dinner Club launched last night — and wow, did you show up.

Our inaugural evening across the French Quarter was a flat-out success. I met many of you at Henry’s after dinner, and the verdict was clear:

We’re onto something.

Early wins:
• 7:00 PM start = just right. Not rushed, not too late.

What we’re tuning:
• Pricing. Some restaurants skewed higher than ideal — and I’m listening. The goal has always been a smart mix: elevated nights out paired with more approachable spots. Charleston dining isn’t cheap, but balance is the name of the game.

Building a community like this comes with a few learning curves… and honestly, that’s part of the fun.

Next Dinner Club: March 4
Where: Cannonborough/Elliotborough

If last night was any indication, seats won’t last long.

Grab yours below.

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!

You may notice a shift in how events show up now.

I’m moving away from my 3rd-party events platform and taking full ownership of how events are curated and shared here. The goal: fewer listings, better picks, and way less noise. If it’s going to take up your time, it should actually be worth it.

Here’s the important part 👇
If you’re hosting an event — or know about one that deserves a bigger audience — this is now the way in.

👉 Submit an event here →

I review submissions weekly. Not everything makes the cut. That’s intentional.

Thanks for rolling with me on this — I think you’re going to like where this lands.

East Cooper Luxury Home Tour | 11 AM - 5 PM , 3209 Marshall Blvd, Sullivans Island | A self-guided look inside select custom homes in the Charleston area, each showcasing the work of top local builders, architects, and interior designers.

Ringleaders of Rebellion | 6 - 8 PM | The Charleston Museum, Downtown | The Charleston Museum invites the community to join in a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution on Friday January 30th, 2026.

SC Stingrays vs. Jacksonville Icemen I 7:05 PM | North Charleston Coliseum | Power up for Video Game Night! Gaming-inspired fun, specialty entertainment, and hockey action combine to create an interactive experience for fans of all ages.

NIGHT OF A BAZILLION IMPROVISERS I 7:30 PM | Theatre 99, Downtown | How many improvisers can perform at Theatre 99 on one night??

Candlelight: Tribute to Coldplay | The Unitarian Church, Downtown | Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Charleston.

Taste of New England Food Truck Festival | 12 - 5 PM | Firefly Distillery, Park Circle | Taste of New England returns bringing the flavors, traditions, and charm of New England to the

The Citadel The Citadel Men's Basketball vs UNCG | 1 - 3 PM | The Citadel, 171 Moultrie St, Charleston | The Citadel Men's Basketball vs UNCG.

The Day Club Party | 2:00 - 6:00 PM I The Rickhouse at Cannon Distillery, Charleston | Welcome to Day Club - the ultimate daytime dance party for the 30+ crowd who still love to party but also love their sleep.

Seussical JR. Presented by Charleston Academy of Musical Theatre | 5 - 6 PM | Lucy Beckham High School Performing Arts Center, Mount Pleasant | Charleston Academy of Musical Theatre (CAMT) students will unlock the imaginations of Charlestonians when they bring the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant and others to the stage.

Garden Lights at Middleton Place | Dusk I Middleton Place, 4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston | Event Details Come see Garden Lights at Middleton Place!

Lowcountry Oyster Fest | 10 AM - 5 PM I Boone Hall Plantation, Mount Pleasant | Who's ready to do some oyster shucking?

The LEGO® Botanicals Bloom Bar Opens in Charleston Ahead of Valentine's Day | 11 AM - 7 PM | Mudhouse Charleston, Downtown | A pop-up experience where guests discover their perfect botanical match through an interactive quiz, then build and take home personalized LEGO roses.

Shucked & Sauced 2026 | 1 - 4 PM | Rose Pavilion at Hampton Park, Downtown | The Charleston Parks Conservancy is bringing back this beloved lowcounty experience, celebrating the best of local seafood and pitmasters.

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