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Happy Thursday, Charleston. On this day in 1861, the Union Navy quietly dropped anchor off Charleston and started the blockade that would choke the city for the next four years. It was one of the first acts of the Civil War after Fort Sumter, and the slow strangulation of Charleston's port did more to break the Confederacy than most of the famous battles ever did. The siege itself wouldn't get loud until 1863. The squeeze started right here.
First heat wave is here. How's your AC holding up?
Down to 8.
Eight field-level seats left in the CHS Happenings block — right beside the supporters' section, where the drums hit your chest and the flags never stop. Not the nosebleeds. The seats.
Charleston Battery vs. Detroit City FC, Saturday. Military Appreciation Night, 6 PM at Patriots Point.
Kim and I will be in it. A whole section of CHS Happenings people too. Five of you can still get in.
After that, the block's closed.
If you’ve already bought your ticket and haven’t received an email from me, please check your inbox and spam—all have been assigned.
Your table's set, West Ashley.
Wednesday, June 10th, 6:45 PM — Dinner Club hits the west side for the first time. West Ashley and James Island.
Here's the drill: quick vibe quiz, we match you with 5 locals. Several groups, several restaurants, one night. Then everyone reconvenes at a single after-spot.
No agenda. No name tags. Just good food and the strangers-to-friends thing this town pulls off better than anywhere.
Downtown filled. Mount Pleasant filled. Your side's up.
Congrats to Chris M. of Moncks Corner who guessed correctly in last week’s “Where Are We?” I was in front of TD Arena downtown, home of College of Charleston basketball, snapping the cougar.
There’s a special shout-out in next week’s issue if anyone can share how the cougar was chosen as C of C’s mascot. Bonus points if you know what the athletic teams were called before Clyde The Cougar started roaming the hardwood.
WEATHER
Thursday 88° / 72° ☁️ 💧24%
Friday 84° / 71° ☁️ 💧24%
Saturday 83° / 70° ☔ 💧42%
Sunday 79° / 69° ☔ 💧41%
RESTAURANTS
The owner of Husk will open a seafood restaurant downtown in the Fall.
The Husk People Have Another Idea. It's Called Cheeky.
Seafood, bubbles, and a patio aimed straight at Meeting Street — opening this fall next to the Gibbes
The Neighborhood Dining Group doesn't really miss.
Husk. Minero. Delaney Oyster House. The James (one of our Dinner Club restaurants in June). Marbled & Fin. Now a sixth concept — and their third new spot in three years.
It's called Cheeky. And yes, the name is doing some work.
The pitch: "bright seafood, bold flavors, plenty of bubbles." Lunch and dinner, a long bar, crisp wines, and a 5,300-square-foot room with open-air windows. The patio looks out over Meeting Street, steps from the Gibbes Museum.
"We wanted to create a restaurant that feels polished but still knows how to have fun," NDG president Kenny Lyons said in the Post & Courier.
Polished but fun is a hard line to walk. This group has walked it before.
The address — 151 Meeting St. — drops Cheeky into the busiest stretch downtown. A front-row seat, as Lyons put it. That's the whole idea.
Menu and chef are still under wraps. Opening's targeted for fall 2026.
We'll be there. Probably for the bubbles.
WHERE ARE WE?
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!
HAPPENINGS
Thursday
North Charleston Farmers Market | 3 - 7 PM | Park Circle Pavilion, North Charleston | Park Circle's Thursday-evening ritual: produce, crafts, and people-watching.
Huk Charleston Cobia Cup Kick-Off Party | 4:30 - 8:30 PM | Saltwater Cowboys, Mount Pleasant | World's biggest Cobia purse kicks off creekside. Free, open, loud.
Leveling the Fields Turns 2! | 5 - 8 PM | Hyatt Place Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, Mount Pleasant | Birthday bash for the nonprofit putting Charleston girls in the game.
Friday
Chase Fest | 3 - 8 PM | Omar Shrine, Mount Pleasant | Pokémon and sports cards take over Mount Pleasant. Hunters welcome.
Kwei Fei x Low Tide Brewing Beer Release Party | 5 - 8 PM | Low Tide Brewing, Johns Island | Toasted sesame lager built for Sichuan heat. $10 = beer + bite.
Scottish Ballet: Mary, Queen of Scots | 6 PM | Gaillard Center, Charleston | Dance-theater takes on Mary Stuart's downfall. U.S. premiere territory.
Saturday
Floppin' Flounder 5K | 8 AM | Sullivans Island | 25-year Sullivan's tradition. Run it or walk it.
Piccolo Spoleto Sand Sculpting Competition | 9 AM - 1 PM | Front Beach, Isle of Palms | Beach goes full Michelangelo. Sculpt, compete, or just gawk.
The 2026 Charleston Duck Race | 10 AM - 2 PM | Daniel Island Waterfront Park, Daniel Island | 30,000 rubber ducks racing for charity. Adopt one, watch chaos unfold.
Feminist Magic Market | 11 AM - 4 PM | Park Circle, North Charleston | Charleston's best pop-up market takes over Park Circle. 80+ vendors strong.
Sunday
Motown Throwdown | 1:30 - 5 PM | Pour House, Charleston | Ten-year Pour House Sunday tradition. $5 cash, deck stage, no excuses.
The American Soldier | 3 - 4:30 PM | Queen Street Playhouse, Charleston | One actor. 15 soldiers. Real letters from Revolution to Afghanistan.
Mountain Goats with William Tyler and Yasmin Williams | 9 PM | College of Charleston, Charleston | John Darnielle's story-songs under the Cistern oaks. Spoleto must-see.
FEATURED EVENT
Leveling the Fields is throwing a trivia night — and it's for a great cause. Cocktails for a Cause raises funds to keep Charleston girls in the game through after-school sports and leadership programs. Light bites, cash bar, and a silent auction loaded with local prizes.
Purchase tickets here and bring your smartest friends.
Overpriced Is The New Vacant
Listings here behave differently than they did three summers ago. Active inventory is up about 14% over last May, which means buyers finally have a comparison set and they’re using it. The house that prices itself two percent above the comps doesn’t get a low offer anymore. It gets ignored. We’re seeing well prepared homes go quickly and well priced homes go almost as fast. Everything else is sitting, picking up scratches, and eventually selling for less than it would have at week one.
Jimmy Farrell
Broker, The Farrell Group
ICYMI
Reynolds Avenue's old XO Lounge has a new identity — and the groups behind Burns Alley and Legend Deli are pulling the strings.
→ See what's on the bar menuCharleston's about to get 70 million years older — for a few months, anyway, inside the South Carolina Aquarium.
→ See what's swimming in the deep endThe Refinery just got a moodier next-door neighbor — dim lighting, lobster bao buns, and concert-ticket dinner tables included.
→ Peek inside the new tavernWest Ashley finally stopped getting in its car for a doughnut — BkeDSHoP just opened its fourth shop off Bees Ferry.
→ See what's in the caseA New England seafood-and-butcher market is heading to Coleman Boulevard — and longtime readers may have heard about it first here.
→ Read about Nantucket’s Meat & Fish Market
LIVE MUSIC
FRI — Eli Young Band at The Refinery — gold-record country at the biggest Friday room. Or Campbell & Sons at The Royal American — local roots night the cult crowd will be at.
SAT — MGK at Credit One Stadium — Lost Americana Tour with Wiz Khalifa, the biggest room of the weekend. Or Buckethead at Music Farm — the cult shred legend you didn't think still toured.
SUN — New Ghost Town at Prohibition — Sunday brunch bluegrass locals plan around. Or Reggae Sundays at The Washout — Folly's slow-burn reggae afternoon.
FEEDBACK
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