Hey hey, Charleston! We’re used to decade-long streaks around here. We’re going on 10+ years being named the best small city in the US from both Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure. And for fans of watery hipster beer, the Rec Room has been the top seller of Pabst Blue Ribbon in the country for 10 years. Alas, their reign has ended. They’ve passed the torch to Robert’s Western World in Nashville. The Rec Room doesn’t plan on giving up the fight, though. Expect plenty of discounted PBR in our future.

Congrats to Ester P. of James Island, who was the 1st to guess correctly in our “Where Are We” segment last week! Our photo was Bowens Island Restaurant on the way to Folly Beach.

In today’s newsletter:

• The Post & Courier reported recently on the 5 “most shocking” restaurant closures in 2024. I can’t help but weigh in. 🍽️

• Everyone that knows Jimmy, knows he LOVES donuts. With apologies for the use of 3rd-person when referring to myself, I’ve got some GREAT scoop when it comes to this sweet treat. 🍩

• ICYMI. We’re #1 (again), who’s replacing Outback in MTP, and commercial real estate predictions. 🏢

Friday 56° / 42° ☀️ 💧4%

Saturday 55° / 50° ☔ 💧92%

Sunday 63° / 34° 🌧️ 💧57%

Friday, January 17

• Cool Authors with Hot New Books: Kickoff Party for Wild Dunes Author Event | 4 - 6 PM | Islander 71 Restaurant, 80 41st Avenue, Isle of Palms | BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!! Kickoff party for the Wild Dunes Author Event & Weekend! Join us dockside for “Cool Local Authors with Hot New Books” featuring popular local writers Susan Boyer, Caroline Cleveland, and Roger Jones. Isle of Palms’ author Mary Alice Monroe will introduce the authors and welcome you to the party. Tickets are just $10 and include light apps and a cash bar, a brief author book chat and signing. Books will be available for purchase at the Buxton Books pop-up shop.

• High-Energy Grateful Dead I 9 PM | Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston | Cosmic Charlie - High-Energy Grateful Dead. "Cosmic Charlie really is a great band - these guys do this music the way it should be done: having the conversation in their own voices.” ~David Gans, Grateful Dead Hour.

• Taste of Folly I 6 - 9 PM I Center Street, Folly Beach | The weekend will kick off with the Cocktail Competition at the Tides in the Pavilion Ballroom. This battle of the bartenders will showcase the beach's best mixologists making delicious craft cocktails! More information coming later this year. Cocktail Competition Entry Requirements: You must be 21 years old to enter. Savory Saturday: January 2025 Center Street will be closed on "Savory Saturday" and taken over by Folly establishments to serve up their best dishes and exhibit their skills through live demonstrations.

Saturday, January 18

• Johns Island Basketball Education: Ages 7 -12 | 11 AM - 12:30 PM | Basketball Gymnasium at St John's High School, 1518 Main Rd, Johns Island I Basketball Education Served Up by the DAE Foundation. Basketball Skill Development led by Jermel President. Learn and execute basketball techniques and develop skills while learning about the importance of Nutrition.

• Charleston Winter Wine Festival | 12 - 10 PM | Festival Hall, 56 Beaufain Street, Charleston | We’re excited to share that Charleston Wine Festivals has just announced the 2025 Winter Wine Festival, their first event of 2025, with one session from 12 - 4 p.m. and another from 6 - 10 p.m. Featuring 50+ varieties of beer, cider and of course, wine. All beverage tastings are included in the price of the ticket; food will also be available at an additional cost.

• Charleston Cougars Mens Basketball vs. Northeastern Huskies Mens Basketball I 5 PM | TD Arena, 301 Meeting Street, Charleston

• Electro Lust + Abby Bryant - "From Asheville with love" at Charleston Pour House I 9 PM | Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston | Welcome to the world of Electro Lust, where Electronic Funk pulses through the veins, entwined with a stampede of live Beats and Brass. This musical journey begins with a deep connection between electronics and live musicians, ignited by a passion for multi-cultural rhythms that echo across the festival scene

Sunday, January 19

• Sunday Brunch Farmers Market | 11 AM - 3 PM | Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston | Come see The Sparkle Bar every Sunday Funday at The Charleston Pour House. You can book an appointment for fairy hair and feathers on our website or just stop by our booth! https://thesparklebar.co. Shop local makers, artists, farmers and enjoy live music with the community!

• Beats of Brazil with Porto Seguro, Alva Anderson and Michael O'Brien | 3 - 4 PM | Gage Hall, 4 Archdale Street, Charleston | Embark on a musical journey to the vibrant streets of Brazil with Porto Seguro and guest artist, Michael O'Brien. O'Brien will add Brazilian folk percussion instruments to the mix including surdo (a batucada drum) and pandiero (Brazilian tamborine). Anderson's captivating and soulful voice is centerpiece that drive the group's heartfelt tribute to Brazilian music. The band is known for its impressive instrumentals and solid grooves, which perfectly complement their selection of Brazilian bossa nova, samba, choro, and MPB tunes.

• Charleston's O Happy Day Gospel Music Concert | 4 - 5:15 PM | Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting Street, Charleston | Join us for a captivating 75-minute performance featuring the Bright Family and Singers. The "O Happy Day" Gospel Concert Experience offers a powerful blend of timeless, soul-stirring spirituals to vibrant contemporary compositions with themes of faith, hope, and love, celebrating legends such as Thomas Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, Paul Robinson, Edwin Hawkins, Leontyne Price, and more. The concert is comprised of an ensemble of talented singers from the Charleston area.

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

RESTAURANTS

5 Most “Shocking” 2024 Restaurant Closures

Media can be accused of hyperbole. In my 7 short months publishing CHS Happenings, I’m probably guilty of it.

But a recent headline from the Post & Courier titled “5 Charleston restaurant closures that shocked the dining scene in 2024” immediately raised my skepticism meter.

Would I agree with their choices? Were they really going to be “shocking”, and why?

For me, it turns out P&C went 4 for 5 on the shocking meter. And not necessarily for the reasons you may think.

Here’s their list:

1. Chasing Sage

2. Colectivo

3. Cru Cafe

4. Harold’s Cabin

5. Makan

Makan and Colectivo were, by most accounts, well-run restaurants with high-quality cuisine.

Colectivo introduced a not-just-your-regular-Mexican-fare, was inventive but wasn’t able to gain traction on Johns Island. They were open less than a year.

Makan came from a celebrated DC chef, served Malaysian food you couldn’t find anywhere in town, and closed after 6 months.

Most shocking was how quickly they both pulled the plug.

Cru Cafe was a shock, but only because it was around for so long—22 years—and was consistently good the entire time. Harold’s Cabin, “only” 8 years old when it closed, was a neighborhood mainstay and most thought it had more runway left.

While we had our share of restaurant closures in 2024, did you notice none of them were barbecue? It seems that’s a cuisine that’s built to last in CHS.

So let’s end on an audience participation note. Since I’m not shy, I’ll give my vote for best BBQ in next week’s issue. What’s your favorite?

WHERE ARE WE?

Each week, watch this space for a random snap from somewhere in Charleston. Where are we? Only true locals will know. DM your guess on Instagram, or email me here. The first person to guess correctly will get a shout-out at the top of our issue next week!

SWEETS

Parlor Donuts Is Coming To Johns island

When most people travel, they usually make it a point to explore where the best restaurants are. Or maybe cultural attractions and other places of interest.

Me? I investigate where the best local coffee and donut shops are.

I appreciate great donuts so much—that doesn’t include you, Dunkin—I’ll drive for them.

Like 21 miles one way on a random Sunday morning. Thank you, Donut Connection.

When we went to Night Of A Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet a few years ago, we decided to stay over. So of course I consulted Yelp, and found a donut shop called Parlor Donuts nearby in Pawleys Island.

Take it from a donut aficionado: Parlor Donuts is QUALITY.

In a short while, we won’t have to travel quite so far to partake.

Stay tuned ‘cause y’all know I’m getting the Friends & Family invite.

HELP ME SPREAD THE WORD!

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I’ll add your testimonial to my subscription page. Think of it like a Yelp review which lets newbies know “This is definitely worth your time”.

It’ll help me grow CHS Happenings and keep bringing you cool new perks like our events calendar. 🙏🏼

ICYMI

🐔 The “Who’s replacing Outback in Mount Pleasant?” mystery is solved. The new tenant is…uninspiring.

🍛 Here’s your chance for really tasty butter chicken and Tikka Masala. This is the 2nd Charleston-area restaurant from this entrepreneur, and it’s getting great early reviews.

🚚 Wonder what we’re the latest to be #1 in? It has to do with moving vans and transplants.

🥣 Everyone has opinions about restaurants. Let me know if you agree with Eater’s “hottest” list.

🏢 There’s a bunch of see-through buildings in America’s big cities. How is Charleston’s commercial real estate market expected to fare in 2025?

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FEEDBACK

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