🌴 Mount P Snubs Redevelopment Pitch

Welcome to CHS Happenings, the weekly newsletter that keeps you in the know about Charleston events, restaurants & retail.

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Happy Friday morning, Charleston! We’re used to accolades from Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure. Even though Travel & Leisure’s readers had the audacity to break our 12-years-running streak recently and award Santa Fe the #1 spot on their list of America’s favorite cities. Santa Fe?!#!?

So if T&L created a list of the 11 best places to live in South Carolina—and 3 were in the Charleston area—which would be tops on YOUR list?

Congrats to KellyAnn M. of Johns Island and Ann D. of Goose Creek, both of whom guessed correctly in our “Where Are We” segment last week! Our photo was at the corner of Cunnington Street and Huguenin Avenue, adjacent to the historic Magnolia Cemetery. I’m being so precise this week because I was initially going to say I was at Magnolia Cemetery, but my camera view was actually facing Bethany Cemetery.

WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday 82° / 74° ⛈️ 💧57%

Saturday 81° / 72° ⛈️ 💧54%

Sunday 85° / 73° ⛈️ 💧40%

CURATED HAPPENINGS

Friday, August 22

Author Luncheon with Victoria Benton Frank -- The Violet Hour I 12 PM | The Joe | Join Blue Bicycle Books at the Segra Club at Joe Riley Park for an author luncheon with Victoria Benton Frank, celebrating the release of The Violet Hour, the highly-anticipated follow-up to the smash hit My Magnolia Summer.

Opening Reception for Kenny Nguyen & Raheleh Filsoofi | 6:30 - 8 PM | Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art | Join us for the opening reception for two concurrent solo exhibitions, Kenny Nguyen: The Divine Eye & Raheleh Filsoofi: At the Edge of Arrival.  Kenny Nguyen creates expansive, dimensional, mixed-media paintings that center ideas of cultural identity, displacement, and integration. Drawing from his background in fashion design, Nguyen has developed a distinctive technique that he describes as deconstructed paintings.

CABARET | 7:30 - 10 PM | Queen Street Playhouse | Willkommen to the world of 1930 Berlin during the twilight era of the jazz age and the hedonistic lifestyle of the inhabitants of the seedy Kit Kat Klub.

Saturday, August 23

The 26th Annual McElveen Race For The ARK | 7:30 - 11 AM | St. Luke's Lutheran Church | This race includes a 5K run/walk and 1-mile fun run - both races begin and end at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 206 Central Avenue in Summerville. The USATF-certified course winds through historic downtown Summerville.

OluKai Grand Opening Event | 12 - 3 PM | OluKai | Join OluKai for a celebration of the opening of their new Charleston store! Enjoy complimentary Hawaiian-inspired bites from local chef Michael Toscano, live music from local musician T.D. McMurry and exclusive giveaways–including free totes with purchase and complimentary koozies and croakies!

The Citadel Football vs Meet the Bulldogs | 12 - 3 PM | The Citadel, 171 Moultrie St, Charleston | The Citadel Football vs Meet the Bulldogs

Sunday, August 24

CML Superstars! | 10 AM - 12 PM | Children's Museum of the Lowcountry | The Children’s Museum is open from 10:00am – 12:00pm on the second and fourth Sundays of every month exclusively for children with special needs and their families to visit the Museum for FREE.

Wellness Event @ The Waverly | 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | The Waverly | Redefine the weekend -fitness, wellness, vendors & community vibes with Charleston Wellness Club x Hot Girl Cycle Club x The Sweat Sanctuary.

Uptown Social Drag Brunch- Sabrina vs Charlie vs Chapel | 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM | Uptown Social, 587 King Street, Charleston | Join us for a fabulous Uptown Social Drag Brunch featuring drag performances by Sabrina Carpenter, Charlie XCX, and Chapel Roan - QUEENS!

For a COMPLETE list of events in the Charleston area, bookmark the site below!

Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Owner Likely Has Whiplash

The big news around town a week ago was Mount Pleasant Town Council voting 7-1 to deny approval of a redevelopment plan put forward by the owner of Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. I wanted to wait a week or so before I weighed in on this, which I’ve done previously.

To see whether, after the proverbial smoke cleared, I’d feel differently.

I don’t.

Mount Pleasant caved to NIMBYs.

IN THE COMMUNITY

• A Charleston small business was featured in one of the summer’s most popular shows. The Summer I Turned Pretty filmed a notecard set designed by Soirée All Day.

• A Chinese game played since the mid-1800s is having its moment in Charleston. Mahjong is developing a devoted community around town.

• If you’re a CHS-area kayaker, these tips on what to do when encountering an alligator may prove helpful. Just remember they were here before us.

• The Cainhoy peninsula just east of Daniel Island is growing. A new apartment project is planned.

• An exclusive landscaping piece that’s been made in France since 1670 will soon have its first US-based assembly plant in North Charleston. The planters have been displayed at the Palace of Versailles to shops on Rodeo Drive.

3 MOST-CLICKED FROM LAST WEEK

• Our events calendar. Planning your own event? Add it to our calendar with this super-easy form.

• Baking Italy: Focaccia, Artisan Loaves & Bomboloni Baking Class. What’d you learn?

• Best Housing Markets for Home Buyers Currently in 2025. Should CHS be in the top 10?

WHERE ARE WE?

Each week, watch this space for a random snap from somewhere in Charleston. Where are we? Just hit 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!

I created a nice and easy form where YOU can send me a photo. But only if you think it will stump our eagle-eyed community. Click the button below if you do! Landscape (horizontal) orientation works best.

LIVE MUSIC LOCALLY

Don’t forget, we post live music for your work-week on the website every Monday morning!

Friday, August 22

Colton Beasley I 3 PM | Hotel Indigo Mount Pleasant | Colton rocks the crowd at Eliza's - Hotel Indigo Mount Pleasant!

Super Reggae Man I 6 PM | Tavern & Table | 6-9pm

Folly Pirates Over 40 on the NÜTRL Beach Stage I 6 PM | The Windjammer

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes w/ Shelby Means | 6 - 9 PM | Pour House | Keith-Hynes' music blends high octane bluegrass sensibilities with the soul of country and American Roots music.

Sufferin' Moses I 6 PM | Henry's On The Market | Sufferin' Moses SOLO @ Henry's Ansonborough Lounge 6-9pm

Sinatra: Nothing But The Best | Joe Clarke & Forte Jazz Quartet | 7 - 9 PM | Forte Jazz Lounge | Join us for this fun and romantic evening full of great music.

The Dylan Affect: An All Star Bob Dylan Tribute I 9 PM | Pour House | 2 full sets of Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits.

The Dirt Road Disciples I 10 PM | Henry's On The Market | Just three amigos performing your country and delta blues favorites!

Saturday, August 23

Folly Beach Reggae Party I 1 PM | BLU Beach Bar & Grill | Using a looping device, Super Reggae Man creates, performs and records tunes from the ground up, on the fly, using one instrument at a time. 

Keidre Band | 2 - 5 PM | Henry's On The Market

Marcus King Band Family Reunion I 4 PM | Firefly Distillery | The Marcus King Band and their family and friends announce the lineup and venue for the 2025 edition of the Marcus King Band Family Reunion, a two-day festival featuring Jamey Johnson, Marcus King Band, Stephen Wilson, Jr., Molly Tuttle.

Sunset Sessions at The Backyard | 4 - 7 PM | The Backyard at Little Palm | Escape to a tropical paradise every Saturday from 4-7pm with a rotating lineup of DJs for Sunset Sessions at The Backyard. Let the music carry you away as the sun dips below the horizon, casting a glow over our open-air paradise.

Proxima Padrada on the NÜTRL Beach Stage I 6 PM | The Windjammer

Battery Brass Band: 1/2 Way to Mardi Gras | 6 - 9 PM | Pour House | The Battery Brass Band brings Charleston street beat vibes, NOLA flair & Caribbean spice to the stage.

Summer Jam at Miller Bridge | 7:30 - 10:30 PM | Come hang out at Miller Bridge for a chill Summer Jam with live music and good vibes!

Wildsound // The Polar In Between // Social Void - LIVE AT LOFI | 8 - 11:30 PM | LO-Fi Brewing | A night of pop/rock at LO-Fi

HILLS I 9 PM | Trio | HILLS are a dynamic house music duo making waves in the Tech House music scene. Consisting of two friends whose paths crossed due to a serendipitous meeting and their shared passion for music, HILLS has quickly become a name to watch.

Henry's Pocket feat. Members of Marcus King Band | 9:30 PM - 1:30 AM | Pour House | Henry's Pocket ft. Marcus King Band members w/ guests - Aug 23 at Charleston Pour House. $15 adv. 8:30PM doors.

Jared Petteys I 10 PM | Burns Alley Tavern | This isn’t nostalgia. This is a reckoning. Jared Petteys channels the raw spirit of vintage American rebellion through the firepower of modern rock energy.

Sunday, August 24

Sunday Brunch Farmers Market | 11 AM - 3 PM | Pour House | The Sunday Brunch Farmers Market is an all-local market, featuring more than 40 vendors that include local farmers, makers and artisans.

Motown Throwdown | 1:30 - 5 PM | Pour House |  Motown Throwdown on the Deck Stage. Patrons of the farmers market will have access to the deck bar and deck restrooms throughout the market.

Keidre Band | 2 - 5 PM | Henry's On The Market

Andy Frasco & The UN - Growing Pains Tour with Caleb Hawley on the NÜTRL Beach Stage I 6 PM | The Windjammer

ICYMI

The fabulous Sermet’s Courtyard recently served its last customer on Daniel Island. The owners of Nick’s German Kitchen will be opening a new concept in the space.

Eater Carolinas updated their Best New Restaurants list. I’ve heard excellent things about a Hanahan Italian restaurant newcomer on this list.

Southern Living just loves a Charleston-area restaurant with seafood that doesn’t come from our area. They call the Maine Line food truck the most underrated meal in CHS.

A home furnishings store described as having a “moody” design motif has done quite well downtown since opening a year ago. Wentworth is located not on King Street, but on…Wentworth.

If you’re vegetarian, you may not be shocked to hear Charleston has several excellent dining options. Eater Carolinas gives us the list.

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FEEDBACK

Got 15 seconds? Let us know what you thought about today’s newsletter by voting in the poll below (you’ll be done MUCH faster than cars on Johnnie Dodds at 4:00 PM on a Friday). 👇