🌴 Charleston’s brutal food math

Happy Friday morning, Charleston! On November 21, 1775, South Carolina’s first Revolutionary War land battle wrapped up in the Upstate town of Ninety Six — with a truce. Yes, a “battle” that basically said, “Alright, everybody take five.”

Patriot militia had slapped together a rough little fort to hold off a larger Loyalist force, and after three days of back-and-forth, both sides decided they’d had enough. No victory parade, just an early plot twist in South Carolina’s Revolution story.

Ninety Six would make headlines again in 1781 with the long, brutal Siege of Ninety Six — this time featuring the British, a star-shaped fort, and zero truce-vibes.

Today, you can wander it all at the Ninety Six National Historic Site.

Last week I asked if a quiz-matched dinner club sounded fun.

No spoiler on the results yet… but I need more data.

If you didn’t vote, hit the poll below. 👇🏼

I’ve picked up a few new tricks to stay on Gmail’s good side (and dodge that dreaded clipping). You’ll see some small tweaks in today’s issue to keep things running clean.

Short version: I’ve now had a master class in what causes email bloat.

I merged In The Community with ICYMI—fewer sections, same great stuff. Community news will still land right alongside the latest restaurants and retail.

The big behind-the-scenes change? It lets me keep all the curated happenings in one place—which is what so many of you say you value most. You’ve told me you appreciate how I mix venues, neighborhoods, and themes instead of dumping a giant, chaotic list on you.

If you ever want to dig through every event happening in Charleston, the full events calendar is still your best bet.

Congrats to Jake J. of Downtown, who guessed correctly in our “Where Are We” segment last week! I was in the parking lot next to Gene’s Haufbrau and The Roost in West Ashley.

Friday 75° / 61° ⛅ 💧10%

Saturday 77° / 58° ⛅ 💧24%

Sunday 72° / 58° ⛅ 💧8%

A Wicked Tea at Camellias | 11 AM - 5 PM | Camellias at Hotel Bennett | Defy gravity this season at Camellias with a spellbinding Wicked themed team, for one weekend only.

2025 Charleston Jazz Gala | 6 - 10 PM | American Theater | The iconic American Theater sets the stage for Charleston Jazz’s most dazzling celebration of the year.

The Charleston Classic | TD Arena| Big-time college hoops, loud crowds, and downtown energy all weekend. If you need a hype fix, TD Arena’s the move.

G&G Winter Market | 10 AM - 5 PM I Garden & Gun | One glorious weekend of Southern makers, cozy holiday vibes, and the kind of “I definitely meant to buy this for someone else” shopping we all excel at.

Aquarium Aglow at the South Carolina Aquarium | 5:30 - 9 PM | South Carolina Aquarium | Aquarium Aglow returns with immersive lights, after-hours magic, and that perfect “Charleston-in-the-holidays” vibe you can’t fake.

Lights Up: Mount Pleasant Towne Centre's Annual Tree Lighting | 6 - 8 PM | Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre, 1218 Belk Dr, Mount Pleasant | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre is ready to make spirits bright with its annual Lights Up celebration on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m.!

WALK TO MAT EVENT | 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Sweat Sanctuary, Downtown | Come join us for a Sunday walk, then finish with a with a mat class at Sweat Sanctuary followed by seasonal goodies to celebrate the season!

West Ashley Thanksgiving Farmers Market & Pumpkin Smash | 12 - 4 PM I Ackerman Park | A cozy Sunday pop-up packed with local makers, fall treats, and just enough holiday spirit to make you pretend you’re not procrastinating.

Take & Bake: Thanksgiving Pies & Rolls | 1 - 4 PM | Chef's Collective | Learn to make 2 of the season’s must-have classics: buttery, pull-apart dinner rolls and a flaky, made-from-scratch pie (choose from apple, pumpkin, or pecan).

For more events than you can imagine, click that button below.

Charleston’s restaurant scene is a beautiful, brutal beast — and The Select just became the latest reminder that in this town, being good isn’t nearly enough.

The downtown brasserie-inspired spot is closing after just 16 months on Meeting Street, despite a polished concept, a “Beat Bobby Flay” credential in the kitchen, and the weight of a respected Georgia namesake behind it. On paper, it had all the right pieces. In practice, it still wasn’t enough to survive Charleston’s relentless dining landscape.

To me, that’s the story here: the competition is so fierce, you have to be exceptional in every direction — food, service, vibe, location, timing, community relevance, all of it. One wobble in the mix, and the market moves on without hesitation.

Owner Dave Green called the restaurant a “labor of love,” and I don’t doubt that for a second. But love alone doesn’t pay Charleston rent. And in a sparkling new anchor space inside a $100 million development, expectations (and costs) climb fast.

The Select’s exit leaves a high-profile vacancy and an even higher bar for whoever tries next. Around here, the margin between buzz and closure keeps getting thinner — and the city’s culinary Darwinism isn’t slowing down.

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE FARRELL GROUP

Fully renovated 4-bed/3-bath Wild Dunes stunner just steps from the marina, pool, golf, and that 40-ft deeded boat slip. Inside: a Viking kitchen, quartzite counters, and a spa-style primary suite. Outside: the beach in minutes. Turnkey coastal living, dialed all the way up. more info

We’re somewhere in the Charleston area and it’s your job to guess where. 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!

Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here.

Plenty of great music in town this weekend. Check it out below.

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). 👇