For Immediate Release, May 2014
What's new in the Charleston area: Spring 2014
WHAT’S NEW IN THE CHARLESTON, S.C. AREA: SPRING 2014Welcome to springtime in Charleston, where the scent of Carolina Jessamine, honeysuckle, and Lady Banksia rose mingles with briny Atlantic Ocean breezes. In 2013, Charleston was named the #1 U.S. City by Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards and #1 City in U.S. and Canada by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. With spring temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees, the Charleston area is a pleasant and picturesque setting for festivals, special events, and exploring one of the best preserved historic districts in America. While indeed a veritable living museum, the Charleston area is also a bustling epicenter of hospitality as illustrated by the following news.
I. Accolades
II. Restaurants
III. Restaurant News
IV. Retail & Specialty Products
V. Tours & Activities
VI. Transportation
VII. Event Planning & Venues
VIII. Accommodations
IX. Upcoming Events
X. Exhibits
I. RECENT ACCOLADES
#8 Shopping City in the U.S.
Condé Nast Traveller
November 2013
Outstanding Restaurants and Dining Cities Fewer Than 800,000
SAVEUR Culinary Travel Awards
November 2013
Top 14 Destinations for your 2014 Bucket List
Huffingtonpost.com
January 2014
#2 Best Girls’ Trip
10Best.com
April 2014
#13 Best Destinations in the United States
TripAdvisor
April 2014
II. RESTAURANTS
Bohemian Bull
1531 Folly Road, bohemianbull.com
Bohemian Bull is a tavern-meets-beer-garden that showcases local vendors, including Normandy Farms bread, GrowFood Carolina produce, Holy City Brewing beers, and Striped Pig Distillery spirits. Opened November 2013.
Brasserie Gigi
102 North Market Street, brasseriegigi.com
Chef Frank McMahon of Hank’s Seafood (voted Best Seafood Restaurant in Charleston for 15 consecutive years), opened Brasserie Gigi. Housed in a historic building overlooking the Charleston City Market, Brasserie Gigi serves classic French cuisine in a lively, casual atmosphere. Opened April 2014.
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
476 ½ King Street, calliesbiscuits.com
Carrie Morey of the award-winning brand Callie’s Charleston Biscuits is opening Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, a carry-out café that will serve all seven varieties of Callie’s Biscuits. Opening late summer 2014.
Charleston Distilling Co.
501 King Street, charlestondistilling.com
The Charleston Distilling Company will offer tours and tastings of liquors made from South Carolina products, including vodka distilled from local corn and Carolina gold rice. Opening Summer 2014.
Chez Nous
6 Payne Court, facebook.com/cheznouscharleston
Named one of Eater.com’s six most highly anticipated winter openings for 2014, Chez Nous is an intimate restaurant that serves French comfort food in a restored circa 1835 home. Opened March 2014.
Edmund’s Oast
1081 Morrison Drive, edmundsoast.com
Named after Edmund Egan, an English-born brewer who arrived to Charleston in the 1760s, Edmund’s Oast features 46 beers on tap, including made in-house brews. 2013 Eater.com Young Gun Jayce McConnell leads the innovative cocktail program, while Executive Chef Andy Henderson specializes in charcuterie, which is aged onsite. Opened February 2014.
Egan’s & Sons
5 Cumberland Street, eganscharleston.com
Egan’s & Sons is a pub that serves Irish specialties with Lowcountry influences. Menu items include fish and chips and beef stew made with Pluff Mud Porter beer from Charleston’s Holy City Brewery. Opened October 2013.
Freehouse Brewery
2895 Pringle Street Suite B, North Charleston, freehousebeer.com
Located in North Charleston, Freehouse Brewery sits on the banks of the Ashley River. In addition to offering great views, Freehouse Brewery serves organic beers crafted in the Belgian and Anglo-American brewing-style. The brewery is also outfitted with a tasting room. Opened September 2013.
Lee Lee’s Hot Kitchen
218 President Street, leeleeshotkitchen.com
Karalee Nielsen, one of the partners that opened several Charleston restaurants including Taco Boy, Monza, Poe’s, and Closed For Business, recently opened Lee Lee’s Hot Kitchen. It serves traditional Chinese dishes family-style, such as General Tso’s chicken, in a whimsical, hip enclave. Opened January 2014.
Leon’s Oyster Shop
698 King Street, leonsoystershop.com
Brooks Reitz, former general manager of The Ordinary and founder of Jack Rudy Cocktail Company, plans to open Leon’s Oyster Shop in a restored auto garage on upper King Street. The restaurant will serve fried chicken and fried fish with a raw bar. Opening Spring 2014.
Leyla Fine Lebanese Cuisine
298 King Street, leyla-charleston.com
Opened by an Arabic language professor at the College of Charleston, Leyla Fine Lebanese Cuisine brings Middle-Eastern dining to downtown Charleston. The menu offers five types of hummus in addition to traditional Lebanese favorites like falafel. Opened September 2013.
Michael’s on the Alley
39-E John Street, michaelsonthealley.com
Michael’s on the Alley is the Charleston area’s newest steakhouse, serving high quality cuts as well as prime rib and tableside Caesar Salad presentation. Opened February 2014.
Prohibition
547 King Street, prohibitioncharleston.com
Inspired by the Jazz Age, Prohibition brings live music, craft cocktails, and a creative menu to upper King Street in downtown Charleston. Opened September 2013.
The Park Café
730 Rutledge Avenue, facebook.com/parkcafechs
Located in the up-and-coming Wagener Terrace neighborhood, The Park Café is the new home of Chef John Amato, former sous chef at James Beard Award-winning FIG restaurant. The Park Café offers daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as Sunday brunch. The menu includes roasted cauliflower, mushroom and walnut pâté, and a Butcher’s Plate that changes daily. Opened February 2014.
Striped Pig Distillery
2225-A Old School Drive, North Charleston, stripedpigdistillery.com
Striped Pig Distillery, the Charleston area’s first modern-day distillery, makes moonshine, vodka, and rum using locally-grown ingredients and is open for tours and tastings. Make sure to meet Stonewall Jackson, the official mascot who hailed from Holy City Hogs. Opened September 2013.
Sweet Radish Bakeshop
207-A St. Phillip Street, sweetradishbakeshop.com
Sweet Radish Bakeshop is the Charleston area’s first gluten free bakery. The menu changes seasonally. A sampling of menu items includes peanut butter and jelly muffins and cinnamon rose donuts. Opened September 2013.
Vincent Chicco’s
26 Huston Alley, vincentchiccos.com
Vincent Chicco migrated to Charleston from Italy during the Prohibition Era and was heralded as a local hero for running several saloons. This restaurant honors its namesake’s Italian-American heritage with housemade pasta and sauces by Chef Aaron Lemieux. Opened February 2014.
Victor Social Club
39-F John Street, victorsocialclub.com
The cocktail menu at Victor Social Club pays homage to Prohibition Era literary authors with drinks such as The Old Man and The Sea and In Love and War. The menu of small plates includes caviar, clams casino, and foie gras. Opened February 2014.
III. RESTAURANT NEWS
High Cotton
199 East Bay Street, mavericksouthernkitchens.com
High Cotton now serves Saturday brunch. Dishes include crab cake Benedict and chicken and waffles. The restaurant also offers live jazz.
Sweet CeCe’s Frozen Yogurt + Juice Bar
99 South Market, sweetceces.com
Sweet CeCe’s has expanded to offer cold pressed juice in addition to frozen yogurt. A trip to the juice bar may include the “memory activator” or “supreme green.” Curbside service is now available.
The Ordinary
544 King Street, eattheordinary.com
The Ordinary, named one of Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants in 2013, now offers a $35 three course prix fixe menu called “The Ordinaries.” The options are day-specific: the lobster roll is served on Tuesday; Swordfish Schnitzel on Wednesday; Caribbean Fish Stew on Thursday; Steamed Maine Lobster on Friday; Beef Short Ribs on Saturday; and Southern Fish Fry on Sunday.
IV. RETAIL & SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
Bittermilk
bittermilk.com
Bittermilk is the brain-child of husband and wife team Joe and MariElena Raya, who want to simplify the art of creating craft cocktails at home. Bittermilk is a cocktail flavoring made in Charleston with natural and organic ingredients. It comes in three flavors: Smoked Honey Whiskey Sour, Tom Collins with Elderflower and Hops, and Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Fashioned.
Callie’s Cheese Crisps
calliesbiscuits.com
Callie’s Cheese Crisps are a traditional Charleston cocktail snack introduced by Carrie Morey of Callie’s Biscuits. Callie’s Cheese Crisps are an addictive blend of extra sharp Vermont cheddars, flour, butter, and black pepper all hand-rolled to crispy perfection.
Charleston Stitch
496 King Street, charlestonstitch.com
Charleston Stitch’s storefront overlooks Upper King Street and offers “custom, tailored threads” for men and women.
Grey Ghost Bakery’s Lemon Sugar Cookies
greyghostbakery.com
Zesty Lemon is the newest cookie flavor from family-owned baking company Grey Ghost Bakery. The cookies are made-from-scratch, baked with candied lemon zest, and hand-topped with pearlized sugar.
King Bean Coffee Roasters Capers Blend
kingbean.com
Brewed and served in some of Charleston’s most well-known restaurants, King Bean Coffee Roasters introduces its newest roast, Capers Blend. Capers Blend is a medium roast with floral undertones of Central and South American origin.
Big T’s Coastal Provision Shrimp Dip
bigtcoastalprovisions.com
Big T’s Coastal Provision now offers both crab and shrimp dip. Based on a family recipe, Big T’s shrimp dip combines fresh shrimp, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and signature seasonings. Its namesake, “Big T,” is a Sullivan’s Island, S.C. local who previously owned a clam farm and wholesale seafood market.
Produce Candles
producecandles.com
Rewined Candles introduces Produce Candles, which are handmade with natural soy wax in a reusable mason jar. Inspired by farmers’ markets across the Southeast, the candles come in various fragrances including cilantro, radish, and kale.
Virgil Kaine Bourbon
virgilkaine.com
Virgil Kaine Bourbon is literally rooted in the spirit of the South. This bourbon is infused with ginger grown locally on Wadmalaw Island and accented with a hint of vanilla.
V. TOURS & ACTIVITIES
Fort Sumter Tours
360 Concord Street, fortsumtertours.com
On Friday evenings through October, Fort Sumter Tours will offer a Sunset Tour. It departs from Liberty Square and includes a tour of the Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter. Light refreshments are served and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
Madeira Tasting at Drayton Hall
3380 Ashley River Road, West Ashley, draytonhall.org
Drayton Hall, a National Historic Landmark, has introduced a Madeira tasting to its popular
Connoisseur Tour. Madeira was once the signature wine of Charleston, and this tour explores the wine’s history and popularity among Southern planters.
Pluff Mud Sailing
10 Wharfside Street, (843) 607-3148
Experience the Charleston area from the water with a 2.5 hour captained sailing excursion that departs daily from the Charleston Maritime Center.
Wild Blue Ropes
Folly Road, wildblueropes.com
The Charleston area’s first open-air adventure ropes course is scheduled to open this spring with Wild Blue Ropes on James Island. The courses range from beginner to advanced with levels as low as 15 feet. and as high as 35 feet. Opening May 2014.
34 West Theatre Company
200 Meeting Street, 34West.org
The 50- seat theatre, West Theatre Company, is scheduled to open in May with the premiere of Doo Wops and Beauty Shops.
VI. TRANSPORTATION:
North Charleston Area Shuttle (NASH)
ridecarta.com
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) launched a new route bridging historic downtown Charleston with nearby North Charleston. NASH is a free-hop on, hop-off service that has a total of 16 stops including the Charleston International Airport, the Performing Arts Center at the Charleston Area Convention Center, Tanger Outlet Mall, and Boeing. NASH Express ($3/ride) offers service to downtown Charleston and the airport. It runs daily from 11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
VII. EVENT PLANNING + VENUES
Leo Events
306 Meeting Street, Suite 100, leoevents.com
Leo Events offers custom event planning for corporate events, special events, and live experiences. Leo Events is the only Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI) accredited destination management company in South Carolina.
No. 5 Faber
5 Faber Street, no5faber.com
The Neighborhood Dining Group introduces No. 5 Faber, a private event venue located in Charleston’s French Quarter. The renovated historic warehouse accommodates up to 255 guests and is equipped with a commercial kitchen, bar, and piano in the lobby. Opened January 2014.
VIII. ACCOMMODATIONS
Andell Inn
300 Farm Lake View Road, Kiawah Island, andellinn.com
The Andell Inn, a member of the Marriott International Network, is located in the Freshfields Village on Kiawah Island. This boutique hotel offers one and two bedroom floor plans, each with a living room and full kitchen. Hotel amenities include an outdoor salt water pool, complimentary breakfast, parking, a fitness club, and complimentary internet. Opened March 2014.
IX. UPCOMING EVENTS
Spoleto Festival USA, May 23 - June 8, 2014
Various locations, spoletousa.org
Spoleto Festival USA, Charleston’s internationally renowned arts festival, brings together dance, theatre, jazz, chamber music, and opera for 120 performances that illuminate traditional and unexpected performance spaces for 17 days.
Sweetgrass Festival, June 6 - 7, 2014
Cooper River Room, Mount Pleasant sweetgrassfestival.org
The Sweetgrass Festival is an immersion in Gullah, the indigenous culture that permeates cuisine, crafts, language, and traditions of the Lowcountry. Held at the Cooper River Room in Mount Pleasant’s Waterfront Park, the festival features heirloom recipes, artists weaving sweetgrass baskets, and the sounds of South Carolina’s sea islands.
X. EXHIBITS
Artist Guy Harvey’s Exhibit at the South Carolina Aquarium, now - July 2014
100 Aquarium Wharf, scaquarium.org
The South Carolina Aquarium is the first aquarium to display artist Guy Harvey’s exhibit “Canvases for Conservation”. This exhibit showcases wildlife found in South Carolina and is on display through July 2014.
The Big Adventure at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, May 15 - September 7, 2014
26 Ann Street, explorecml.org
Beginning May 15, an interactive exhibit that aims to test the mental and physical abilities of children will be on display at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. A six-foot rock climbing wall and child-friendly sized airplane that take visitors on a virtual adventure!
The Insistent Image: Recurrent Motifs in the Art of Shepard Fairey and Jasper Johns at The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, May 22 - July 5, 2014
161 Calhoun Street, halsey.cofc.edu
“The Insistent Image: Recurrent Motifs in the Art of Shepard Fairey and Jasper Johns” by South Carolina natives Shepard Fairey and Jasper Johns will be on display at The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston from May – June. The exhibit includes new art from Fairey and an assortment of prints by Johns dating from 1982 through 2012.
John Westmark, "Narratives" and "Beyond the Darkroom: Photography in the 21st Century" at the Gibbes Museum of Art, now – July 13, 2014
136 Meeting Street, gibbesmuseum.org
These two exhibits by John Westmark, winner of the 212 Factor Prize for Southern Art, examine the creative process of photography and painting in contemporary southern art.
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