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Happy Friday, Charleston. The weather this weekend looks fantastic, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s and lows in the 60s. Enjoy it before things get blazing hot next month.
In the last edition, we talked about some of our favorite Charleston restaurants that have since closed. Local reader John had a great mention: Jestine's Kitchen, a southern staple in the Lowcountry for years. Sitting at the corner of Meeting and Wentworth from 1996 to 2020, Jestine's was known for its fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, okra gumbo, and the legendary Coca-Cola Cake topped with marshmallows and whipped cream. They closed during the pandemic and have been greatly missed by everyone who got the chance to dine there.
Now let’s get into your 5-minute read of everything you need to know happening in Charleston this weekend.
Here’s what we’re covering today:
New in Town
Curated Events
Local Updates You Should Care About
✨New in Town
🐟 Stono's Oyster House is coming to Johns Island. The new 5,700-sq-ft waterfront seafood restaurant is going up on Headquarters Island near St. Johns Yacht Harbor, with a two-story layout, a spacious outdoor deck, and brand-new docks that let diners arrive by boat or by car. The menu is being described as "approachable seafood forward," so think Lowcountry-friendly rather than ultra-fine-dining. It'll be one of the only true on-the-water restaurants on Johns Island when it opens. Details here.
☕ Luma is opening on Columbus Street as a new all-day cafe and bakery. The concept covers coffee, house-baked breads and pastries, sandwiches, and a real brunch program in an upscale-but-neighborhood format. A welcome daytime addition for the upper peninsula crowd looking for somewhere new to post up, eat well, and not feel rushed. Follow along for opening dates on their Instagram.
🦪 The Deckhouse is now open at 769 Folly Road on James Island. The new crudo and wine bar concept from the CudaCo team (Chef Shaun Brian and Chris John) lives in a building next to the main seafood house, with a focused menu of ceviche, dressed oysters, and a relaxed take on caviar service. A perfect post-work stop for James Islanders looking for something more refined than the usual. Check out the vibes here.
🍰 Roxa Dessert Bar has opened in the Hanahan. This new dessert destination serves globally-inspired sweets alongside espresso martinis and other cocktails. It's a perfect spot for those looking to end their evening with something sweet and sophisticated. Details here.
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📌Curated Events
Friday
Party at the Point 2026 (More Info) · 5pm-9 PM · Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina · The long-running beachfront concert series returns with live music, food, drinks, and a family-friendly waterfront atmosphere. This week features 20 Ride: America’s #1 Zac Brown tribute band.
Tiny Lawn Music Series (More Info) · 6pm-8pm · Darby Building Front Lawn, Mount Pleasant · FREE · Inaugural evening of live music, food, and community on the lawn.
Reedy River String Band (More Info) · 6pm-9pm · Pour House · $10 · Reedy River String Band performs on the deck stage.
Lowcountry Magic Jamboree (More Info) · 7pm · Cannon Street Art Center · $14 · Family friendly magic showcase by the Lowcountry Conjurrors with close-up magic in lobby.
Saturday
Cast Off Fishing Tournament 2026 (More Info) · 6am-2pm · Folly Beach Fishing Pier, Folly Beach · $12 · all-day fishing tournament at Folly Beach Fishing Pier where the biggest catch wins.
Dogs, Donuts, and Donations 2026 (More Info) · 10am-12pm · Broken Leash Dog Park & Bar, North Charleston · FREE · free Dunkin donuts, off-leash dog park, and beer with Pet Helpers benefiting from proceeds.
Firefly Vendor Village & Book Fair (More Info) · 12-4pm · Firefly Distillery, North Charleston · FREE · Local vendors and authors, food trucks, and live music.
South Carolina Aquarium Gala (More Info) · 6-11pm · South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston · $500 · Cocktail attire gala supporting conservation with Nat Geo's Joel Sartore as guest.
Sunday
Motown Throwdown (More Info) · 1:30pm-5pm · Pour House · $5+ · Motown Throwdown on the deck stage with $5 cash cover charge.
On Air SkyClub Sunday Market (More Info) · 2pm · On Air, Charleston · rooftop vendors, DJ sets, and King Street views on a Sunday.
Accordion Bookbinding Workshop (More Info) · 4-5:30pm · The Paper Canopy, Charleston · make your own tiny accordion book in this two-hour craft workshop.
📰Local Updates You Should Care About
🚲 Mount Pleasant broke ground this week on the Kenny Mile Trail, a 1.25-mile multi-use path that will stretch from the Park West Trail system to Porcher's Bluff Road and connect into the All American Boulevard shared-use path along the way. The trail runs mostly through the Mount Pleasant Waterworks easement, keeping it well separated from U.S. 17, and will include more than 360 feet of boardwalk (the first in the entire Mount Pleasant Way network) built to protect the freshwater wetlands underneath it.
🏖️ A house at 1 44th Avenue on Isle of Palms just sold for $15 million, breaking the residential sales record for both Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island. It tops the previous IOP record of $14.2M (8 54th Avenue, April 2025) and Sullivan's Island's $13.5M benchmark from last year. Built in 2017 by Sheppard Construction and designed by local architect Beau Clowney, the home packs 4 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms into 4,514 square feet. Check out the listing here.
🏭 The U.S. Coast Guard announced $212 million in improvements to Base Charleston, one of the largest federal infrastructure investments in the region. The upgrades will modernize facilities and expand operations at the North Charleston base, which plays a crucial role in regional maritime security and hurricane response. These improvements could also bring more federal jobs and economic activity to the area.
🏛️ Charleston will completely overhaul its Tourism Management Plan for the first time since 2015, promising community input on how the city balances tourism with resident quality of life. The updated plan will use data and expert recommendations to address ongoing concerns about overcrowding, traffic, and housing costs driven by tourism growth. This could lead to significant changes in how the city manages its 14+ million annual visitors.
🌊 Toxic plastic pellets called 'nurdles' are contaminating Charleston's waterways with heavy metals and pathogens, according to Charleston Waterkeeper. These small industrial plastic pellets have become a common sight along local waterways and pose environmental and health risks. The organization is asking residents to help document and report sightings as part of cleanup efforts.
That's everything for this Friday. Enjoy the weekend, Charleston. We'll be back in your inbox next week.
- Ryan from All Things Charleston
How did we do this week?
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