Happy Friday, Charleston! The calendar turned to October 4 days ago, but Charleston started getting ready for Halloween a while back. Some people take this stuff seriously! Including the lady who puts on a MAJOR production, The Skelly Show, every year at 605 Pitt Street in the Old Village! It runs every night until Halloween from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. If you haven’t seen it, it’s SO worth your time. 🎃

Last week’s “Where Are We” photo was a tough one! It was taken from Magnolia Cemetery, one of the oldest in Charleston. With winding pathways, picturesque ponds, and elegant ironwork complementing sculpted monuments and aged headstones of prominent South Carolinians, Magnolia is a fine example of a Victorian era cemetery.

In today’s newsletter:

• Imagine being an entrepreneur from the age of 15. Haley Holzworth has built something impressive in Mount Pleasant and downtown. 💎

• Chef who helped put Charleston on the culinary map is coming back to town. And there can never be too many great burgers in CHS. 🍔 

• ICYMI. Chock full this week. 😁

Friday 81° / 70° ⛅ 💧13%

Saturday 81° / 70° ☁️ 💧14%

Sunday 80° / 67° ⛅ 💧14%

Friday, October 4

• Chef Shin Omakase Experience | 5 - 10 PM | Thoroughbred Club, 205 Meeting Street, Charleston | Immerse yourself in the culinary magic of Chef Shin, as he personally hand-rolls omakase sushi to order. Engage with the mastermind behind the sushi artistry, ask questions, and witness the creation of each masterpiece. Our commitment to excellence is evident with every bite, with the freshest ingredients meticulously flown in from Japan to ensure an authentic culinary experience.This exclusive event is available for 10 nights only. Seize the opportunity to be part of this culinary celebration, where music, and Chef Shin's artistry converge to create an unforgettable evening.

• Whitney Cummings: Big Baby I 7 PM Charleston | Doors will open at 6:00 pm and the show will begin at 7:00 pm. The Charleston Music Hall does NOT have an elevator. Please take that into consideration when buying balcony tickets (Sections F, G, H, I & J). There are no COVID restrictions on this event currently. Please note we are a cashless facility & are no longer able to accept cash as a form of payment at the box office and bar. Bags up to 12"x6"x12" are allowed in the venue. All bags will be searched prior to entry. Bags that are not clear will be subject to additional search. We hope you enjoy the show!

• Shovels & Rope: Something is Working Up Above My Head Tour I 9 PM | Music Farm, 32 Ann St, Charleston | Please Note: Doors will open at 8:00 pm and the show will begin at 9:00 pm. There are no COVID restrictions on this event currently. Please note we are a cashless facility & are no longer able to accept cash as a form of payment at the box office and bar. Bags up to 12"x6"x12" are allowed in the venue. All bags will be searched prior to entry. Bags that are not clear will be subject to additional search. We hope you enjoy the show!

Saturday, October 5

• Lowcountry Trail Half Marathon & 5K | 8 AM - 12:30 PM | Johns Island County Park, 2662 Mullet Hall Road, Johns Island | Take to the trails of Johns Island County Park during the Lowcountry Trail Half Marathon & 5K. Beautiful fall foliage, moss-draped oaks, and native wildlife provide a scenic backdrop to the perfect trail run.

• Holy City Halloween | 5 PM - 12 AM | Holy City Halloween, 34 Woolfe St, Charleston | Experience the Haunt: Join us nightly as we transform the old Woolfe Street Play House into a realm of terror. Wednesday- Sunday From 5-7 PM, enjoy a Family-Friendly Spooktacular, celebrating all things spooky and fun. But beware—from 7:30 PM until the late-night bewitching hours, the haunt becomes Charleston’s most terrifying attraction. The experience is so intense you’ll need to sign a waiver to enter! Tickets are $25.00 per person for general admission.

• Chris Botti I 8 PM | Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. Charleston, SC 29403, Charleston | Doors will open at 7:00 pm and the show will begin at 8:00 pm. The Charleston Music Hall does NOT have an elevator. Please take that into consideration when buying balcony tickets (Sections F, G, H, I & J). There are no COVID restrictions on this event currently. Please note we are a cashless facility & are no longer able to accept cash as a form of payment at the box office and bar. Bags up to 12"x6"x12" are allowed in the venue. All bags will be searched prior to entry. Bags that are not clear will be subject to additional search. We hope you enjoy the show!

Sunday, October 6

• The Bays Grand Opening Indoor Golf Event | 10 AM - 3 PM | The Bays on Coleman, 736 Coleman Boulevard, Mount Pleasant | Swing by our grand opening event. Expect food, drinks, fanfare & some great golf! We'll be running a Closest to the Pin tournament. Players will have the chance to win a $1 month of membership and merch package from The Bays!

• The Pink Houses Tour | 10 AM - 12 PM | The Hat Man Mural, corner of Broad & Church Streets, 43 Broad St, Charleston | Step into a world where history is painted in shades of pink! Join us on a picturesque walking tour through Charleston's historic district, as we explore the city's charming pink houses. This unique walking tour will immerse you in the stories and secrets behind Charleston's rosy-hued architecture, showcasing how pink buildings span every architectural style and socioeconomic level. Discover the vibrant spectrum of pink houses, from quaint cottages to grand mansions. Each stop reveals a new layer of Charleston's rich architectural tapestry, adorned in pink!

• Annual CHS Lewis Hatch Chile Roast | 1 - 5 PM | Rancho Lewis, 1503 King St, Charleston | Returning for its seventh year, the Lewis Chile Roast celebrates acclaimed pitmaster John Lewis's favorite ingredient, the Hatch green chile, while honoring the annual chile harvest in New Mexico's Hatch Valley. Hosted at Rancho Lewis and the adjacent Pacific Box + Crate courtyard, the festival features a wide range of activities, including tasting tents with the area’s top chefs, live music from honky-tonk band Solid Country Gold, a chile-eating contest, a kiddie corral with children’s activities, and multiple bars offering plenty of cold beverages.

RETAILER SPOTLIGHT

Hermosa Jewelry Is An Overnight Success, 22 Years In The Making

chs.happenings

View more on Instagram

Imagine this…

You’re in middle school, and you realize you have a talent in creating handcrafted jewelry.

You hone that interest and get better at your craft. Friends, family and locals start buying your pieces.

You start exhibiting at local jewelry and craft shows.

You work hard, you’re super-creative, you open one store, then another…

22 years later, everyone in Charleston knows your stores are THE place to go for unique, beautiful jewelry and gifts.

Especially every guy who always waits ‘til the last minute to buy a gift for his significant other.

(Ummm. 👆🏼👆🏼That guy in the video).

Could you imagine being that focused and resilient?! That person is a unicorn, she can’t possibly exist!

Unicorns Do Exist

Yes they do. In the form of a talented entrepreneur named Haley Holzworth, the founder and creator behind Hermosa Jewelry.

She’s a Mount Pleasant native and her story started at Moultrie Middle School.

While at Wando High School, Haley worked after school at a local law firm, making the typical hourly wage one does at 15. The idea of making Hermosa Jewelry a business, her lightbulb moment, was when she made 3 necklaces for ladies at the law firm and profited $90!

Haley continued to pursue her passion while attending USC in Columbia. She even built a jewelry studio under her lofted bed in her dorm!

While at USC, Haley entered and won a schoolwide business competition, and was accepted into the Technology Incubator. She received start up capital, rent-free office space, and professional consulting.

It was at this point in her journey she rebranded her company to Hermosa Jewelry which means "beautiful" in Spanish.

Haley’s Bricks-And-Mortar Dreams

I met Haley when I started frequenting Brown Fox Coffee. She’d opened the first Hermosa Jewelry store next to the coffee shop in a 250 square foot space in 2017.

She grew that spot and opened a small store on Spring Street downtown in 2022.

Through Haley’s incredible hard work, Hermosa Jewelry moved both her Mount Pleasant and downtown stores to bigger spaces—within 2 months of each other—last summer!

The most inspiring part of Haley’s story to this old, grizzled real estate vet? Haley owns the real estate under her stores. 😁

Trust me when I tell you THAT is the unicorn, the exception, the rare instance!

Hermosa Jewelry’s stores don’t only sell Haley’s handcrafted jewelry. You’ll also find handbags and totes, homewares including candles and bath and body items, greeting cards, journals and notepads.

Many of these items are made by local Charleston artisans. And you’ll even find permanent jewelry, which Haley was the first to bring to Charleston oh those many years ago. 😁

Hermosa Jewelry stores even do fun parties commemorating milestone events like weddings, bachelorette get-togethers, anniversaries and special events.

If ALL this isn’t enough to get you to check out Hermosa Jewelry, Haley’s providing a gift to CHS Happenings subscribers!

Whenever you buy something at Hermosa Jewelry in October, a discount will be applied at checkout when you use this link: https://hermosajewelry.com/discount/CHSlove

I know my best-laid-plans this Christmas will be to make my lists and shop early.

And then I’ll find myself in Haley’s store on December 24, buying Kim’s gift. Oh, and did I say one of her expert team members will gift-wrap your purchases, guys!?

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!

SPONSORED BY JAMES ISLAND CONNECTOR RUN

Charleston Running Club is the O.G. of Chucktown running clubs. In the 70s, the club helped start two of our largest races, the Cooper River Bridge Run and the Kiawah Marathon.

And for the 26th straight year, the James Island Connector Run gets going at 7:00 AM on Saturday, October 26. But don’t be fooled by the name! 😁

Yes, there are 8K and 5K runs, but for walkers, there’s a 5K option for you, too!

Registration includes a chip-timed 8K run or 5K run/walk, finisher’s medals for ALL runners and walkers, a long-sleeved lightweight hoodie, running socks, and refreshments.

And while you’re enjoying this beautiful run, you’ll have the satisfaction of supporting Southern Tails for Precious Paws, a fantastic local nonprofit that rescues dogs from rural shelters and streets in the surrounding areas of Charleston!

Sign up at this link.

RESTAURANTS

Chef Sean Brock of Husk Fame Coming Back To Charleston

Restaurants come and restaurants go. It’s simply a natural evolution. Alas, the same holds true for donut shops. 😢

If one of my fave donut places—Hero Doughnuts on Marion Square downtown—had to give way, at least it’s doing so for a burger joint!

From a chef that did his part putting Charleston on the culinary map. Sean Brock of Husk, Minero and McCrady’s fame.

Brock announced at last weekend’s Food & Wine Classic he’ll be opening Joyland in the former donut shop.

The star of this show is what he calls the “crustburger”. It’s a smash burger that has been super smashed to create a patty that is all lacing/crust.

Brock calls it a combination of a grilled cheese, a patty melt, and a cheeseburger. Umm…hold my place in line.

Check out Joyland’s website for more info. I suggest after you’ve eaten lunch.

HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW?

Whether your jam is Toby Keith’s version, or the bluesy stylings from UK band The Heavy, or my personal favorite from 1980’s NYC-born rapper Kool Moe Dee, “How You Like Me Now?” is a…confident way of requesting a testimonial. 🤣

If you like what you’ve been reading, I’d be SUPER grateful if you click the button below and leave a testimonial. Make it as long or short as you’d like.

It’s a nice, easy, fast setup and should take you 30 seconds or less.

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

👹 Continuing with the spooky theme, there’s a new haunted house downtown. It’s a serious production which includes a butcher pig. Yes, a pig that turns the tables.

🍸 Proof becomes 100 Proof. And a lot more casual.

💪🏽 Basecamp Fitness opened last week. It’s downtown’s newest fitness studio.

🍽️ New “signature” restaurant opens at The Dunlin. Linnette’s is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

🏨 New boutique hotel planned for Daniel Island. And it’ll include an elevated-yet-casual dining spot.

Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here.

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 commercial real estate gets developed in Charleston). 👇