With its schedule of mostly intimate events, the Charleston Insiders’ Weekend (May 1 – 3, 2015) will be an incredible lightning-in-a-bottle experience for visitors who truly love Charleston and want to experience the destination from the perspective of Departures, Coastal Living, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Southern Living magazines.
Throughout the Charleston Insiders’ Weekend, a variety of editors will host more than 20 one-of-a-kind experiences designed to celebrate the local culinary scene, shopping, history, culture, and lifestyle—all from an insider’s point of view.
“Charleston is a world-class destination that the audiences across all five participating Time Inc. brands love, “says Jay Meyer, Vice President/Publisher of Travel + Leisure. “Charleston continues to up the ante with new restaurants, hotels, and cultural experiences offering everyone reasons to visit.”
Tickets are now on sale via www.travelandleisure.com/charleston.
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Highlights of the weekend’s activities include the following:
FRIDAY, MAY 1
CHEF + EDITOR DINNER SERIES
Take your pick! Dine at Charleston Grill with Chef Michelle Weaver and Coastal Living Editor-in-Chief Antonia van de Meer; The Macintosh with Chef Jeremiah Bacon and Travel + Leisure Editor Nathan Lump; The Ordinary with Chef Mike Lata and Food & Wine Editor-in-Chief Dana Cowin; or Peninsula Grill with Chef Graham Dailey and Southern Living Editor-in-Chief Sid Evans. {TICKETS}
“AROUND THE CORNER” LATE NIGHT PARTY
Join Food & Wine and Southern Living at The Cocktail Club for a late night party featuring specialty cocktails featuring High Wire Distillery spirits, beer, wine and late night snacks. {TICKETS}
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SATURDAY, MAY 2 – INSIDER ADVENTURES
GOLF AT THE OCEAN COURSE ON KIAWAH ISLAND
In 2012, the world tuned in to watch Rory McIlroy win the PGA Championship by record margin at The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island. During Charleston Insiders’ Weekend, Departures magazine is hosting a special opportunity to play this elite course with a private warm-up session led by Kiawah Golf Resort’s Director of Instruction and special lunch afterward. {TICKETS}
MORNING JOE + CITY BIKE RIDE
Start the day with coffee on the terrace at Kudu Coffee before exploring scenic Charleston with Afford-a-Bike. Hosted by Food & Wine and Southern Living. {TICKETS}
EAT + DRINK LIVE A LOCAL
Spend two days completing a sip-and-nibble passport across the Charleston peninsula with stops (during each restaurant’s normal business hours) at ten places. Hosted by Travel + Leisure. Participating restaurants include:
The Park Café
Butcher & Bee
Craftsmen
Fleet Landing
Artisan Meat Share
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
Zero George
Indaco
Hall’s Chophouse
The Victor Social Club
SULLIVAN’S ISLAND TOUR OF HOMES
Discover the architecture, charm and style of three private Sullivan’s Island homes during an intimate tour led by Coastal Living Homes Editor Ellen McGauley, Charleston designers Jenny Keenan and Cortney Bishop, and Charleston architect Beau Clowney. This tour includes transportation, light refreshments, cocktails and a gift. {TICKETS}
GULLAH EXPERIENCE
Learn about the fascinating art, language and cuisine of Charleston’s Gullah culture during an interactive tour, wrought iron workshop demo, and food experience led by Alphonso Brown, Carlton Simmons, Chef Charlotte Jenkins and Chef Kevin Mitchell. This experience is hosted by Coastal Living and includes transportation, tour, tasting and a gift. {TICKETS}
MAGNOLIA CEMETERY TOUR
In 1850, Charleston’s Magnolia Cemetery opened on land formerly used as a rice plantation. It is the final resting place for many of South Carolina’s noted politicians, and plantation aristocracy, as well as 2,200 Civil War veterans. Noted architect Edward C. Jones designed Magnolia Cemetery, which is widely considered one of the nation’s premier repositories of funerary art, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District in 1978. Explore this lesser known cultural jewel with seasoned guide John Laverne and Coastal Living. {TICKETS}
FRANKLY SOUTHERN COOKING CLASS WITH FRANK LEE
Learn recipe tips and kitchen trips with noted chef Frank Lee during this interactive cooking experience hosted by Travel + Leisure. This experience includes a hands-on cooking less in addition to a five-course lunch with wine pairings. {TICKETS}
THE SOUTH TAKES ON THE WORLD COOKING DEMO & TASTING
A lively cooking demo and tasting at Le Creuset with Chef Stuart Tracy from Butcher & Bee along with Chef B.J. Dennis. This experience is hosted by Food & Wine and includes a cocktail and tastings from the cooking demonstration. {TICKETS}
SAILING + SPIRITS
See Charleston’s picturesque skyline from the water during an afternoon sail aboard the Schooner Pride with mixologist Rod Weaver of Husk preparing cocktails using Charleston Distilling Co. spirits. Hosted by Travel + Leisure. {TICKETS}
FRENCH QUARTER FORAY
Follow along as Departures leads guests on a tour through a select number of galleries to take a deeper look at Charleston’s high-end art scene. This experience includes a cocktail reception, a Q&A session led by Departures with gallery owner Helena Fox, as well as a limited-edition print as a gift. {TICKETS}
BARBEQUE AND BOURBON
Two of the South’s greatest passions come together during this Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon seminar hosted by pitmaster Jimmy Hagood and Southern Living Editor Jennifer Cole. {TICKETS}
SELFIES SOUTH OF BROAD
See the panoramic sights of Charleston’s famed Historic District through the camera lens during a walking photography tour led by Olivia Rae James. Hosted by Travel + Leisure. {TICKETS}
DRINK IN THE SOUTH
Cocktail demo and tasting with hosts Craig Nelson and Roger Gelis of Proof along with Food & Wine Deputy Editor Christine Quinlan. {TICKETS}
SOUTHERN LIVING PRESENTS BISCUITS & JAM
An outdoor concert, pig roast and Lowcountry boil hosted by Southern Living at Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. This music and food experience feature beers and spirits from Charleston’s craft breweries and distilleries, including Charleston Distilling Co., High Wire Distillery, Palmetto Brewery, Striped Pig Distillery, and Holy City Brewing (headline musical act TBA). {TICKETS}
“AROUND THE CORNER” LATE NIGHT PARTY
Join Coastal Living and Travel + Leisure at Edmund’s Oast for a late night party featuring specialty cocktails featuring specialty cocktails, beer, wine and late night snacks. {TICKETS}
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SUNDAY, MAY 3
MORNING JOE + CITY BIKE RIDE
Start the day with coffee on the terrace at Kudu Coffee before exploring scenic Charleston with Afford-a-Bike. Hosted by Travel + Leisure and Coastal Living. {TICKETS}
SUNDAY FUN-DAY BRUNCH SERIES
Take your pick! Dine at High Cotton with Coastal Living and Food & Wine, The Grocery with Southern Living, or Halls Chophouse with Travel + Leisure. {TICKETS}
CHARLESTON INSIDER’S WEEKEND HOTEL PARTNERS
Charleston exists as an arbiter of style and design. Visitors have the opportunity to experience the splendor of the city’s exquisitely-preserved history firsthand with a stay at one of the destination’s acclaimed hotels. The following properties are partnering with Charleston Insiders’ Weekend to offer special packages: {BOOK YOUR STAY}
Andrew Pinckney Hotel
Elliott House Inn
Francis Marion
French Quarter Inn
Fulton Lane Inn
Harbourview Inn
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mount Pleasant
Kings Courtyard
Mills House
Planters Inn
Restoration on King
The Palms Oceanfront Hotel
Wentworth Mansion
Zero George
