Happy Monday, Charleston. Hope you had a great weekend and got out to enjoy some of what the Lowcountry had to offer.
Quick update on the All Things Charleston Dinner Club. Since we officially launched it last week, the response has been incredible. Readers have been signing up, taking the personality quiz, and booking their spots for Tuesday, April 28. If you missed the announcement, here's the quick version: we match you with 5 other locals who share your vibe, hand-pick a Charleston restaurant, and handle all the details. No awkward networking, just good food with people genuinely looking to meet new friends in Charleston. After dinner, there's a second spot for drinks where I'll be hanging out and meeting everyone in person.
Seats are $15.99 and going fast. If you've been on the fence, now's the time. Grab your spot here before they're gone.
Now, let’s get into your 5-minute read of everything you need to know happening in Charleston this week.
Here’s what we’re covering today:
Hidden Gems
Curated Events
Local Updates You Should Care About
🌮 Tucked into a small, unassuming spot on Remount Road in North Charleston, Las Lupitas is serving some of the most authentic, homemade Mexican food in the area. The menu is written on a whiteboard, and the whole place feels like a best-kept secret. Everything is made from scratch by mama in the kitchen, and you can taste the difference the moment the first plate hits the table. The chicken tacos and the pork tamale are standouts, but don't skip the pineapple horchata. Cash only, prices are unbelievable, and it's the kind of true hidden gem you're glad you found. Check out their Yelp for more info.
🏝️ Just a block off the sand on Folly Beach, Chico Feo has been the island's best laid-back outdoor hang since 2013. The whole spot sits perfectly under the shade of live oaks, which makes it the ideal move on a hot Folly afternoon. The menu is small but the flavors are big — think mahi and house-smoked pork tacos, Cuban sandwiches, black beans and rice bowls, and a rotating goat curry that regulars swear by. There's live music on the regular, plus local craft beer, natural wine, and their famous sake lemonade at the bar. It's the kind of place where you show up after the beach, end up staying for sunset, and leave planning your next visit. Here’s the Menu.
🍸 Hidden in plain sight on East Bay Street, The Gin Joint is Charleston's best pre-Prohibition-style cocktail bar. The bartenders are the real show here. Order the Bartender's Choice, pick two adjectives from the flavor list ("smoky, herbal" or "bright, bitter"), and they'll build something you couldn't order anywhere else. And even though it's a cocktail bar first, don't sleep on the burger — it holds its own against any dedicated burger spot in town. Intimate, dark, and exactly what a craft cocktail bar should feel like. Check out the Menu.
📚 On King Street in the heart of downtown, Buxton Books is the kind of independent bookshop every city wishes they had. Owned by Polly and Julian Buxton since 2016, this shop specializes in Lowcountry authors and hosts book events and author readings year-round. They also run book-based walking tours of Charleston, which is a criminally underrated way to see the city. The staff actually knows their stuff, and the curated selection is better than anything you'll find in a chain store. Check them out here.
📌Curated Events
Monday
$5 Mystery Movie (More Info) · 7pm · Terrace Theatre, James Island · $5 · Be the first to see new and innovative films before they are widely released. Witness a diverse range of cinema, including independent films, documentaries, foreign films, and more
Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band (More Info) · 8pm · Charleston Music Hall, Downtown · $66+ · Blues legend Taj Mahal performs with The Phantom Blues Band.
Tuesday
Mount Pleasant Farmers Market (More Info) · 3:30pm-7pm · Farmers Market Pavilion, Mount Pleasant · FREE · Local farm-fresh produce, meats, baked goods, prepared meals, and live music.
Charleston Riverdogs Game (More Info) · 7:05pm · Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Stadium, Downtown · $11+ · Enjoy great food and vibes with Charleston’ local minor-league baseball team. If you haven’t had the Homewrecker it’s worth a try - it’s a hot dog with pimento cheese, coleslaw, pulled pork, bacon, chili, onions, cheese, pickled okra, and bbq sauce.
Charleston Jazz Festival | The College of Charleston Faculty Jazz Ensemble (More Info) · 7:30-8:45pm · Albert Simons Center for the Arts Recital Hall, Downtown · $19 · A night of live jazz featuring the College of Charleston Faculty Jazz Ensemble — four of Charleston’s most celebrated jazz musicians coming together for a rare performance as a quintet.
Wednesday
West Ashley Farmers Market (More Info) · 3pm-7pm · Ackerman Park, West Ashley · FREE · Enjoy fresh local produce & homegrown creativity in a family/pet-friendly environment with live music, free parking, and plenty of space to run around and dance.
Dumpling Class (More Info) · 6:30pm-8:30pm · Edisto River Brewing Company, Johns Island · $66+ · Fold, fill and feast in this hands-on dumpling-making class.
Willamette Valley's Pinot in the City Charleston (More Info) · 5:30pm-9pm · The Cedar Room, Downtown · $35+ · Walk-around tasting with 40 Willamette Valley wineries and included food bites.
Thursday
Third Thursday (More Info) · 5:30-8:30pm · Hutchinson Square, Summerville · FREE · A special marketplace featuring local entertainment, craft vendors and artisans, to complement the extended hours of our eclectic shops, boutiques and restaurants.
Wine Stroll (More Info) · 6-8pm · Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, West Ashley · $55 · Sip and savor a curated selection of wines, discover new favorites, and gather with friends for a relaxed evening surrounded by the timeless beauty of the gardens.
📰Local Updates You Should Care About
🏥 MUSC's Board of Trustees approved a major downtown Charleston campus master plan that will reshape the medical district over the coming years. The plan outlines significant expansion and development around the existing medical facilities, which could impact traffic, parking, and neighborhood character in the downtown area. This follows earlier news about MUSC's expansion into Citadel Mall, showing the health system's aggressive growth strategy across the city.
🏘️ Charleston is offering six townhomes for under $289,000 through a new city subsidy program aimed at first-time homebuyers. The program represents the city's latest effort to address housing affordability in a market where median home prices have soared well beyond many residents' budgets. This could be a game-changer for qualifying buyers who've been priced out of Charleston's housing market.
📋 The City of Charleston has successfully cut its permit backlog while improving efficiency and customer service. The announcement suggests residents and contractors should see faster turnaround times for building permits, renovations, and other city approvals that have historically caused project delays. This could mean smoother sailing for home improvement projects and new construction across the city.
That's a wrap for today. As always, thanks for spending a few minutes with us. We'll see you back here Friday morning.
- Ryan from All Things Charleston
How did we do this week?
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