Happy Friday morning, Charleston! Holiday events and pop-ups are coming fast and furious, and we profile some today. But here’s the best place for you to figure out what’s happening in town this weekend.

Congrats to Kendyll B. of North Charleston who guessed correctly that last week’s photo in our Where Are We segment was of the festive patio just outside The Charleston Place hotel. They really do up their lobby area with Christmas decorations. Check it out this holiday season.

In today’s newsletter:

• Mount Pleasant drops proposed tourism development fee. At record speed. 🏃🏼‍♀️

• Think you know the region that’s sending the most transplants to CHS? . Test your intuition in today’s poll. 🚐

• ICYMI. A bakery, a wine bar, a pizzeria, oh my! 🍴

Friday 60° / 48° ⛅ 💧1%

Saturday 61° / 51° ⛅ 💧6%

Sunday 65° / 53° ⛅ 💧17%

Friday, December 13

• 2024 Holiday Party & Oyster Roast | Cotton Dock, Boone Hall Plantation | 5 - 8 PM | Boone Hall Plantation, 1235 Long Point Rd, Mount Pleasant | Description SAVE THE DATE! The annual "Not Just an Oyster Roast - Holiday Party!!" will be Friday, December 13th from 5 to 8 PM at the beautiful Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantation! Tickets: Suggested Donation for Members: $60 Suggested Donation for Guests: $80 Tickets include all you can eat oysters, barbeque with all the fixings, beer, wine, and live music.

• Charleston Caroling Company at the Holiday Festival of Lights | 5:30 - 10 PM | James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Dr, Charleston | It’s the most wonderful time of the year at the Holiday Festival of Lights! Open nightly starting Nov. 10, this driving tour features three miles of magical twinkling lights. Guests can also park the car and explore the grounds at Santa’s Village and Winter Wonderland, featuring mouth-watering treats, festival gift shops, visits with Santa and much more. Advance tickets are available at a discounted rate.

• Sesame Street Live! Say Hello I 6 PM | North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr, North Charleston | Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their friends from Sesame Street are coming to your neighborhood to say hello! At Sesame Street Live! Say Hello, sing, dance, and play alongside your favorite furry friends, all while you follow Elmo's puppy, Tango, in a fun game of hide & seek. So put on your dancing shoes and make your way to where the air is sweet for this all-new celebration on Sesame Street! This show contains Flashing Lights, Haze (Fog), and Confetti.

Saturday, December 14

• 33rd Annual Reindeer Run/Walk , 137 N Market Street, Charleston | 8:00 AM I Presented by The Charleston Place, is a family-oriented, pet-friendly 5k run/walk located in downtown Charleston. This year we celebrate our 33rd year of the annual race!

• Folly Beach Christmas Parade , Center Street, Folly Beach | 12:00 PM I Join us in Santa's favorite beach town for The Annual Christmas Parade! Line up along Center Street as floats, marching bands, and community associations show their holiday spirit. Visitors and locals are all welcome. Join Santa at Folly River Park to receive goodies after the parade!

• Holiday Parade of Boats Charleston | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM I Join another Lowcountry tradition at the Holiday Parade of Boats. This display of lighted and festive boats proceeds from the Cooper River, through the Charleston Harbor and into the Ashley River. This family-friendly event is sure to become a holiday tradition for everyone. View the procession along Charleston's waterfront or decorate your own boat and join the parade (advance registration required).

• Holiday Outdoor Movie Series | 6:00 PM I Freshfields Village, 165 Village Green Ln, Kiawah Island | Join Freshfields Village in December for a special holiday edition of the Starlight Cinema! The outdoor movie series will be held on Saturday, December 7th and Saturday, December 14th. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and picnics to enjoy the family-friendly movie: Elf After accidentally falling into Santa Claus' gift sack, a human baby is raised at the North Pole, growing up to believe he is an elf.

Sunday, December 15

• Rewined Gourmet Holiday Market | 11 AM - 5 PM , 71 Wentworth St, Charleston | Rewined Candles is thrilled to announce the first annual Rewined Gourmet Holiday Market. This pop-up market will feature Rewined’s full collection of candles and holiday fragrances, along with a selection of local gourmet vendors including Deluxe Special, Eat Milled, Garden & Gun FieldShop, Plot to Pot, Spicewalla, and Surcee Box. Inspired by European gourmet markets, it’s the perfect spot to pick up everything you need for entertaining and gifting this holiday season!

• Deck the Paws at Hotel Bennett | 11 AM - 3 PM | Hotel Bennett, 404 King Street, Charleston | Get ready for a heartwarming celebration of the season with a special Deck the Paws Dog Adoption Event in partnership with the Charleston Animal Society. Join us on the Gabrielle Plaza to meet and greet with a few precious pups in need of a forever home this Christmas. Unwrap the enchantment of the Sweetest Season and give the greatest gift of kindness this holiday season by opening your heart and home to a furry friend in need.

• 29th Annual Town of Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade I 5:30 PM | Mt Pleasant, 645 Coleman Blvd, Mount Pleasant | Lit floats and community groups will march up West Coleman Boulevard as the community ignites holiday spirit at the Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade. The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with a spectacular Pyrotecnico fireworks show, immediately followed by the start of the parade at Live Oak Dr. traveling south and ending at the intersection of West Coleman Blvd.

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

DEVELOPMENT

Mount Pleasant Backs Off On Plan To Increase Sales Tax

Well, that was quick.

In last week’s issue, I wrote about Mount Pleasant’s plans to fund improvements for Patriots Point projects. The proposal was to increase the sales tax by 1%, pushing the total to 10%.

By the time I finished editing the issue last Thursday, there was already an undercurrent of “What?!?” from Mount Pleasant residents.

People felt it was a rushed process without public input. Kind of like when the skids seemed to be greased on the massive redevelopment of Union Pier.

By Monday, Mayor Will Haynie announced Mount Pleasant was dropping the idea.

It’s Easy To Pile On

In several articles immediately following the news of Mount Pleasant’s tax increase plan, Mayor Haynie was quoted. I don’t recall his exact statements, but I was struck by how testy he seemed.

People were accusing him of a lack of transparency, as if he should own the process entirely. There is a town council, by the way.

He reacted in a way that made him seem defensive, and from what I’ve heard of him, a bit out of character.

I would have reacted the same way. Everyone seemed to be piling on.

What followed, though, is something you NEVER see from a politician in today’s environment.

Mayor Apologizes In Announcement

I posted on our Instagram earlier this week how struck I was by the grace and humility Mayor Haynie showed in an apology he offered the same day he made the announcement.

In what amounts to warp speed in politician-time, he owned up to a process that could have been more transparent and measured.

And then he shared a personal story. One that revealed why he was under a serious amount of stress.

It made me want to pull for him. I could relate, since my Mom lost her home to fire on Halloween.

I suggest the Post & Courier and some Mount Pleasant residents accept Mayor Haynie’s apology and stop piling on.

RETAIL

Homesense Will Join New Trader Joe’s In Mount Pleasant

You OK if I toot my horn a bit?

Excellent, thank you (that was quick).

In a story loyal CHS Happenings subscribers would regard as anti-cIimactic, the Post & Courier reported Homesense and Golf Galaxy will join the new Trader Joe’s in the Sweetgrass Corner shopping center.

That’s ‘cause I reported it on October 11. 🤣

A great reason for y’all to spread the word through our brand new referral reward program!

All you need to do is recommend us to 3 friends who sign up, and you’ll get a gift card to a locally-owned coffee shop near you.

Check it out. 👇🏼👇🏼

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 THE CHARLIE POST CLASSIC

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 40th year, the annual Charlie Post Classic 15K/5K takes place on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 8:30 AM at the Sullivan’s Island Fish Fry Shack, located at 1424 Hennessy Street.

This race honors the memory of Dr. Charlie Post, a well-known Charleston runner, triathlete, and family physician who volunteered his time and medical talents to the running community. Dr. Post served as head of the College of Charleston’s student health services and was the team’s sports physician.

I plan on running this race for the first time this year. I don’t know what’s been keeping me. ALL my running buddies say it’s a great course and a fun time.

 Registration includes a chip-timed 15K run or 5K run/walk, finisher’s medal, shirt, refreshments, and the satisfaction of knowing that you helped College of Charleston student athletes.

Race options include a 5K run and walk, and for you longer distance athletes, a 15K route. That’s 9.3 miles on our imperial system. 😆

Sign up at this link.

Where Are People Moving From To CHS?

Ok, time for a little group participation.

Charleston continues to draw relocators in big numbers. Some reports have it at 34 new people per day.

What region is CHS drawing the most transplants from? Answer will be revealed after you vote.

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA!

6:33 Physical Therapy Offering Perfect Gift For The Fitness Enthusiast In Your Life

One of the great things about Charleston is our fantastic year-round weather. Which allows all kinds of options if you’re into fitness.

Running, tennis, pickleball, golf, hiking, a walking program…

Whatever your choice, it’s easy to do here in Charleston. But sometimes you get slowed down by nagging aches or muscle issues that just won’t go away.

And I guarantee you know someone that’s experiencing this right now.

My friend, fellow runner and top physical therapist in Charleston has the perfect holiday gift.

Dr. Alison Berglund, owner of 6:33 Physical Therapy, is offering 75% off a Complete Performance Evaluation.

Dr. Berglund has fixed (my word, not hers 😁) at least 5 of my running buddies’ ailments. But the beautiful thing about her performance evaluation is your giftee doesn’t have to be ailing to get HUGE benefit from Alison’s expertise.

Email Dr. Berglund for complete details on what the evaluation includes, and how to buy your seriously discounted gift card.

ICYMI

🎂 There can never be too many bakeries. Park Circle is getting a new one.

🍽️ This restaurant just didn’t connect. And its owner, Steve Palmer, was self-aware enough to know when to call it quits.

🤌🏼 Charleston’s Indigo Road Hospitality Group—owner of Indaco, Oak Steakhouse & O-Ku—proves to be a great training ground. A chef is leaving to create his own Italian restaurant in Hanahan.

🍷 The cool little house on Line Street that formerly housed Sightsee Shop attracts a wine bar. Roseline makes the space look different.

🍕 New York comes to Summerville. In the form of a new pizzeria.

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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). 👇