December 2023 News

Monopoly’s “Charleston-style” Board Unveiled, Featuring Many Local Landmarks
Top Trumps, in collaboration with Hasbro, has finally unveiled the Charleston edition of Monopoly, featuring iconic local landmarks suggested by Lowcountry residents! Some of the selected locations include the Pineapple Fountain, Angel Oak tree, Rainbow Row, Isle of Palms, and notable institutions like the Charleston Library Society and Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. Charities such as Charleston Animal Society and Lowcountry Food Bank are also featured, adding a charitable aspect to the game. The edition is the only licensed version in the state and is available in various stores and...

International Resources:

1. World Health Organization Video Explanation of COVID19

Federal Government Resources:

1. Center for Disease Control (CDC)
2. IRS Tax Payment Extension & More
3. Veterans Affairs
4. Social Security Administration
5. Medicare
6. Federal Student Aid: Coronavirus Student Loan Forbearance
7. SBA Economic Disaster Loan Assistance
8. FEMA Extends Deadline to Renew Flood Insurance Policies

South Carolina Government Resources:

1. DHEC Coronavirus Testing & Data by County
2. DHEC News Releases & Videos
3. SC Schools News
4. SC Office of Rural Health
5. SC Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Updates

Charleston Metro (Tri-county) Government Resources:

1. MUSC Health Coronavirus Resource P...

A Taller Wall or a New Drain?

Recently, Charleston City Council officials have been in a debate about asking the State to reopen the Spring-Fishburne project, which would help with drainage in the lowcountry, since Mayor Tecklenburg recently has proposed to ask the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) for more funding for the Low Battery Wall project.

Council members are trying to convince the City that any extra funding currently should go towards the Spring-Fishburne project which is to create a new drainage tunnel to hopefully end the constant flooding that happens on Septima Clark Parkway, or as we call it, the Crosstown, and not towards the Low Battery project, which would build the low...

Hello, 2019!  We hope you welcome in the new year ... not just with resolutions that you are determined to keep ... but by also enjoying some of the many activities and events planned for the Charleston area this month.  Check out our January 2019 calendar of events:

1: Christmas at Boone Hall Plantation, Mount Pleasant
1: Dunleavy’s Pub Polar Plunge,  Sullivan’s Island
1: Bill Murray Look-A-Like Polar Bear Plunge, Folly Beach
1: "2019 Race The Landing" 5K Pajama Run, Charles Towne Landing, West Ashley
1: Hangover Race, Charleston Harbor
1: Lowcountry Kwanzaa: IMANI (Faith) Freedom Breakfast, McLeod Plantation, James Island
1: Emancipation Day Parade, Burke High School, Downtown Charleston
1: W...

SINGLE-USE PLASTICS BANS SPREADING ACROSS THE LOWCOUNTRY

The City of Charleston is the latest municipality in the Lowcountry (and largest in South Carolina) to approve a ban on the use of single-use plastics by local businesses.  

The City passed an ordinance on November 27th that will include plastic bags, straws and foam containers and will go into effect on January 1, 2020. It joins Folly Beach, the Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant and Sullivan’s Island in the Charleston metro area and the Town of Hilton Head and Beaufort County to our south. Read more …

NEW INTERNATIONAL AIR SERVICE COMES TO CHARLESTON!

The Charleston region is home to over 140 international businesses...

CHARLESTON IN THE NEWS

CHARLESTON CONTINUES TO RANK HIGH AMONG TRAVELERS

Charleston's historic charm, hospitality, food and entertainment scene, and area beaches continue to attract visitors! Each year, Travel + Leisure magazine asks its readers to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, resorts, hotels and more in its World's Best Awards survey. In 2018, Charleston retained its #1 position among US cities for the 6th year in a row and was the only US city (ranked 10th) included among the World's Top 15 Cities. Conde Nast Traveler magazine also polls its readers for its Readers' Choice Awards and they rated Charleston as the best small US city this year for the 8th consecut...

NOVEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER - EVENTS CALENDAR

Clocks turn back an hour this Sunday, November 4th and Thanksgiving will be celebrated on November 22nd! The weather continues to be mild so try to get out and enjoy some of the many events scheduled for the Charleston area this month:

1: Toto: 40 Trips Around The Sun, Charleston Music Hall, Charleston

1-4: Of Mice and Men, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston

1-4: Coastal Carolina Fair, Exchange Club Park, Ladson

1-4: Disney on Ice Presents Worlds of Enchantment, North Charleston Coliseum

1-11/25: Charleston Art Festival's "Down Into Folds”: Paul Christina Solo Show, Beresford Studios, Charleston

2: TobyMac & DiverseCity Band: The Thea...

October has arrived and, after a close call with Hurricane Florence last month, the fall weather is looking very nice for all kinds of activities in the Charleston area. Here is our October calendar of events:

1-7: 35th Annual MOJA Arts Festival, multiple Charleston area venues

1-31: Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch & 103.5 WEZL Corn Maze, Highway 17N, Mount Pleasant

3: Garden Concert Series: Amythyst Kiah and the Marshgrass Mamas, The Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston

3-7: 35th Annual Alan Fleming Senior Open Clay State Championship Tennis Tournament, Seabrook Island

4-28: Preservation Society of Charleston's The Fall Tours: Homes, History & Architecture, multiple Charleston area venue...

Events & Activities in Charleston for August

Charleston area public schools start back on August 20th. August will also see the Ball Park Festival of Beers and several other festivals and events. Get in some beach runs and enjoy the hot days on your boat, or at the pool.

Here is your August Calendar of Events: 

1 & 8: Brooklyn Brewery and Bar Mash Brews & Bags Corn Hole Tournament
2: Todd Snider & Josh Morningstar, Charleston Music Hall
3: Reggae Nights, James Island County Park
3: Carolina Surf Film Festival, Charleston Music Hall
3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28: Grits Milling Demonstration, Millers All Day
3-5: 13th Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement FestivalTM, Charle...

Get your sunscreen out. June is here, school is out, and summer is officially upon us...well almost! Summer officially starts on June 21st, but we'll still be enjoying those fun summer activities like beach days, cultural festivals, boating, and rooftop movie nights. Here is your June calendar of events:

1: Spoleto Festival Continued

2: 13th Annual Sweetgrass Cultural Festival, Mt P Waterfront Park

2,3: Wahini Surf Contest, Folly Beach Washout

4: Negroni Week

7: Grass in the Hall, Chas Music Hall

8: 12th Annual Charleston Duck Race

8: Friday Night Boogie Series

9: Guided Paddle Trip- Edisto River Canoe & Kayak Trail

10: Second Sunday, King Street

13: The Illusionists, N Chas PAC...

This article by David Slade from The Post and Courier was very interesting. 

"Seattle, the rainy Pacific Northwest city that's the other home of Boeing, has seen the most rapid population growth among America’s largest cities since 2010. 

( Photo By Andrew Whitaker [email protected])

"Add up all the population gains since 2010 and Seattle has grown by a staggering 18.7 percent," Gene Balk of the Seattle Times said in a May 24 column, when new census estimates were made public.

It's easy to imagine Mount Pleasant saying, "Hah, hold my beer."

 Mount Pleasant is nowhere near the size of Seattle, but the Census Bureau also counts it as a large city, and Mount Pleasant has ...

In the video below Alan discusses the hyperlocal nature of Charleston's real estate market and the impact that the rise in prices and mortgage interest rates may have on affordability.

One of the most common questions we as realtors receive is 'How is the real estate market?'. That question has many different ways of answering it. 

In the U.S., the market is healthy and overall, the local Charleston market is pretty hot. However, once delving deeper into the market and examining at a "hyperlocal" level, we see that there are some pockets within the Charleston market that are behaving differently.

While Zillow® may not be a fully trustworthy tool for pricing individual homes, we bel...

The Post and Courier writes, "MOUNT PLEASANT — South Carolina's fourth-largest city has decided to prohibit most single-use plastic bags, foam food containers and more, setting up a potential showdown with state lawmakers.

The town's regulations would change the way more than 85,000 people shop, take home leftovers, and even keep their drinks cold. Businesses that rely on foam food packaging and single-use plastic bags would have to switch, and some have warned that packaging cost increases would be passed along.

That is, unless the state Legislature prohibits such local bans, retroactive to Jan. 31, as the House has already voted to do. Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Surfside Beach and Hi...

April perfectly depicts why Charleston has been voted #1 Best City in the US and #2 Best City in the World by Travel and Leisure Magazine. This month has perfect weather, blooming flowers, and awesome events that all add to the Charleston charm. There are some very large and popular events happening this month, like the Cooper River Bridge Run and Volvo Car Open along with great outdoor events like movies on the roof and dancing on the Mount Pleasant Pier. Check them all out!

(PC:@Cooperriverbridgerun)

1-8: Volvo Car Open WTA women’s tennis tournament, Daniel Island

4: Shakespeare In Love, Dock Street Theater (Various Dates)

5-8: Masters Golf Tournament, Augusta GA

6: Jimmy Buffett...

Yelp’s Local Economic Outlook: American Diners Show Increasing Taste for Independent Restaurants Nationwide

The Yelp Article from the Yelp Official Blog by Carl Bialik, Data Editor writes, "Today we’re releasing the second edition of Yelp’s Local Economic Outlook, a program to rank U.S. metro areas by the pace of growth in their local-business population. This program is part of a larger, ongoing project surfacing insights from Yelp’s deep data stores to help businesses succeed and to arm policymakers with the information they need to make effective change that can boost local economies. 

The State of Restaurants in America
In an effort to look more closely at the health of the restauran...

Spring is coming up and we happily welcome the great weather and blooming flowers. March will bring warmer weather and longer days with Daylight Savings Time, which means more outside activities.

We are excited about the Food and Wine Festival continuing through March 4, St. Patrick’s Day, the last of the Oyster Roasts until fall, The Volvo Cup Tennis Open and some cool music performances happening throughout the month. 

1-4: Charleston Food and Wine Festival Continues

1: When We Were Kings, Chas Music Hall

1: Owls at Midnight: Center for Prey

2: Artwalk, downtown

3: Front Beach Fest, IOP

3: Darren Knight, Chas Music Hall

3-6: Colonial Athletic Association Basketball Champions...

International Space Station flies over Charleston skies

The Holiday Spirit has arrived to the Holy City!

December is officially here and that means hot chocolate, Christmas sweaters, and holiday lights everywhere. With the Holiday Spirit touching almost all parts of this city, December will keep you busy. Ranging from parades and tree lightings to music performances and celebratory parties, you are sure to find something for everyone. Take a look at some of the most popular events...

1: Colonial Lake Tree Lighting

1: Charleston Galleries Art Walk, downtown

1: Gaither Christmas Homecoming, N Chas Coliseum

1: N Chas Christmas Festival and Tree Lighting, Park Circle

2: N Chas Christmas Parade

2: IOP Christmas Street Festival, Front Beach...

Good News in Education

Five SC schools received Blue Ribbon status this year, and two are here in the Lowcountry.

Buist Academy for Advanced Studies and Palmetto Scholars Academy were recognized.

The College of Charleston is not only the most beautiful campus in the US (as recognized by T+L) but has another great ranking. Best Computer Science Schools Digital ranked the Top 35 Best Schools for Big Data Degrees in 2017. CofC ranked #5!! 

The Department of Computer Science at the College of Charleston has opened a new facility for computer science students at the college’s Harbor Walk campus in the Aquarium Wharf area.

The Computer Science Innovation Center includes a rapid prototypi...

November brings the Coastal Carolina Fair to Charleston and cooler weather always comes with it. Thanksgiving and the Holiday Festival of Lights at the James Island County Park open the holiday season!

Here is your November calendar of events for Charleston:

1-5: Coastal Carolina Fair, Ladson

3: 13th Annual Oyster Roast, Friends of the Hunley, Bus Shed

4: Rockabillique, Park Circle

4: Citadel Football vs Western Carolina

4: 16th Annual Harvest Festival, Johns Island County Park

4: 6th Annual Lowcountry Hoedown, Bus Shed

4: Kiawah Symphony Tour of Homes

4: Charleston Mac Off, Grove at Patriot’s Point

5: 4th Annual Charleston Coffee Cup, Memminger Auditorium

5: Charleston Hor...