Happy Friday morning, Charleston! There’s something big going on in town this weekend, and it’s called SEWE. Check out all the things you can do.

Congrats goes to…no one! ‘Cause not a soul guessed correctly what the photo was in our “Where Are We” segment last week! It was the mural wall at Share House, the bar/restaurant located in a former train depot downtown. I’m gonna make it just a tad easier this time. 👇🏼

Follow us on Instagram! When we get to 1,000 followers, we’ll do a $50 giveaway to a local restaurant.

In today’s newsletter:

• Is it thinkable one person put Charleston on the culinary map? This guy certainly did, and after some time away, he’s coming back to town. 🏢

• Just in time for Mardi Gras. The former Basil space downtown becomes a daiquiri bar. 🍹

• ICYMI. Goodbye motor lodge, best CHS Italian restaurants, and gorgeous Airbnbs for your Charleston visitors. 😁

Friday 54° / 46° ⛅ 💧1%

Saturday 69° / 61° ☁️ 💧24%

Sunday 67° / 38° ☔ 💧92%

Friday, February 14

• Southeastern Wildlife Exposition | ALL WEEKEND LONG) | Downtown Charleston, 205 Meeting St, Charleston | SEWE celebrates its 43rd showcase February 14-16, 2025, at multiple venues throughout downtown Charleston. As a cornerstone of Charleston’s cultural calendar and the Southeast’s premier wildlife art and outdoor event, SEWE will host attractions across five major exhibit sites: The Charleston Place, Brittlebank Park, Gaillard Center, Charleston Marriott and Marion Square.

• Love Stinks: Anti-Valentine’s Day Celebration | 6 - 11 PM | Commonhouse Aleworks, 4831 O'Hear Ave, North Charleston | Join us for Love Stinks: An “Anti-Valentine’s Event". Hosted by Ava Clear, this 21+ event is all about celebrating love's… let's say, less-than-perfect side. No roses, no romance, and definitely no kids—just good drinks and unapologetic fun. This is sure to be anything but your typical Valentine’s celebration. Enjoy retro dance hits from DJ DJ, competitions, and grand prizes - see you lonely hearts there!

• Old Soul W/ Jared Pettey & The Headliners on the Inside stage I 9 PM | The Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms.

Saturday, February 15

• Pop-Up with Local Children's Book Author Dawn Burns | 11 AM - 1 PM | The Pink Chicken New York, 225 King Street, Charleston | Local children's book author, Dawn Burns, will be popping up at The Pink Chicken New York on King Street. She will be promoting copies of her new book "This is Charleston" while providing light snacks and refreshments.

• 2nd Annual Bluegrass Fest Oyster Roast at Rita's | 12 PM - 5 PM I Rita's Seaside Grill, 2 Center Street, Folly Beach | Event Details Oysters, craft beer, live music. You can't get more Folly than that. See you here! Admission is free.

• American Aquarium I 7 PM | Music Farm, 32 Ann St, Charleston | “Country music was the voice of the people. It wasn’t always the prettiest voice, but it was an honest voice,” says American Aquarium founder and frontman BJ Barham. “I think that’s where country music has lost its way.” He pauses, then adds, North Carolina accent thick and voice steady: “I operate in the dark shadows of what we don’t want to talk about in the South.”

• TAKE THE FUNNY AND RUN I 8 PM | Theatre 99, 280 Meeting St Ste B, Charleston | Live improv comedy at Theatre 99 is a Charleston tradition, improv parties where audience members laugh until it hurts. Come loaded with suggestions for the quick witted Theatre 99 ensemble members who will take your suggestions…and rock out hilarious unscripted scenes. Show is appropriate for 15 years and older.

Sunday, February 16

• 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! Shop local makers, artists, farmers and enjoy live music with the community!

• Industry Night | 4 - 9 PM | The Watch Rooftop Kitchen + Spirits, 75 Wentworth Street, Charleston | Our fellow friends in the restaurant industry, this one’s for you. Enjoy half-off appetizers and select drinks every Sunday at the bar with proof of employment. Cheers!

• Garden Lights at Middleton Place | 6 PM - 8:30 PM I Middleton Place, 4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston | Event Details Step into a unique experience this February as Middleton Place invites guests to explore its renowned gardens in a completely new light. The historic site will host Garden Lights, a breathtaking after-hours event that transforms the gardens with vibrant, colorful lighting. This rare opportunity allows guests to experience America's Oldest Landscaped Gardens in a whole new way just in time for the famed camellia season.

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

RESTAURANTS

Sean Brock Is Returning to Charleston

Imagine being spoken of like this:

Or like this:

And for good measure, this description of his stewardship of Husk:

I don’t think I’m being too melodramatic when I say Sean Brock put Charleston on the culinary map.

Brock redefined Southern cooking when he helped open Husk in 2010 as the Executive Chef. His talent was almost immediately recognized when he won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef Southeast the same year.

Bon Appétit Magazine named Husk the “Best New Restaurant in America” in 2011.

He later went on to open 3 other Husk restaurants in Nashville, Greenville and Savannah.

Brock was also a partner in the celebrated McCrady’s as well as Minero.

He left Charleston in 2018 to open restaurants in East Nashville.

After 7 years, he’s coming back to open his Joyland concept. It’s described as “inspired by the original fast-food restaurants of yesteryear.”

From what I’ve heard, his Crustburger is world-class. It may supplant Commonhouse Aleworks as “Best Smashburger In Charleston” for me.

I’ll let you know. Joyland opens today.

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!

GUESS WHERE THIS CHARLESTON HOME IS?

Kim and I were floored this week when we saw a new home come on the market. Not because it’s special.

There’s plenty of unique, lovely homes in the Charleston area. But even in a region where home prices in certain areas approach the ridiculous, this struck us.

$11,875,000.

Here’s a few details, and I’d like you to guess where it’s located:

• 4,956 SF

• 5BR, 5.5BA

• Private dock

• Infinity pool

• 2,300 SF of covered porches & decks

At time of publication, the Polls feature wasn’t working (AAAAAARRRGH!), so to compel you, I’m going to give the first 3 people to guess correctly a $10 gift card to your favorite local coffee shop!

Here’s your choices, and send me an email with your answer:

• Kiawah Island

• Sullivans Island

• Old Village

• Isle of Palms

BARS/RESTAURANTS

Corner Of Ann & King Will Soon Be Dark No More

We’ve written about this before.

Another installment of “Why is that prime space dark for so long?” will soon be over. A storefront that’s been vacant since 2021.

The former Basil space at Ann and King Streets will welcome customers soon. Zachary’s Daiquiris, which proclaimed it was “Opening Soon” last spring, is finally opening on February 28.

The bar comes from Republic Hospitality. They own several pretty successful concepts in town: Republic Garden & Lounge, Bourbon ‘N Bubbles, Mesu and Lamar’s Sporting Club.

HELP ME SPREAD THE WORD!

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

🤌🏼 It’s hard to pick a Charleston favorite for Italian food. Eater Carolinas gives some options. What’s your favorite?

🏨 A new(ish) local resort gets the Travel & Leisure treatment. Here’s what their writer thought of The Dunlin.

🍸 Charleston locals who’ve experienced Chubby Fish know it’s special. Early buzz on the new adjacent cocktail bar is hyped, too.

🛏️ Bet guests are always visiting? Here’s some gorgeous Charleston Airbnbs to suggest for next time.

🏨 Once a downtown motor lodge, soon to be pure elegance. The former Days Inn on Meeting Street may soon be razed to make way for the Four Seasons luxury resort and condos.

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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 even faster than a SEWE bird of prey circles Marion Square this weekend). 👇