April is officially here, Charleston, and the city is not taking it easy. The Credit One Charleston Open is in full swing on Daniel Island, First Friday ArtWalk is downtown tonight, and the Charleston Festival continues through the historic peninsula. Happy Friday to our 4,000+ readers.
A few weeks ago we introduced the idea of an All Things Charleston Dinner Club, and the response was overwhelming. For those who missed it, here's the concept: you take a short personality quiz, we match you with 5 other readers at a dinner table, handle all the details, and you just show up ready to meet some great people. We've locked in the week of April 27th. Full details are coming in Monday's edition, but we want to get a head count now.
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 / Notable Updates
Curated Events
Local Updates You Should Care About
✨New in Town / Notable Updates
🏨The Cooper Hotel just opened this week at 176 Concord Street on Charleston's waterfront. This is a 191-room luxury property with harbor views, a rooftop infinity pool, a 7,000 sq ft spa, and even a private marina with yacht charters. Rooms start at $895/night, so this is squarely a luxury property. Here's what's inside:
CurrentBurger - A modern soda shop with smash burgers, milkshakes, and a walk-up window.
Cooper Coffee & Wine - Coffee by day, wine bar by night overlooking the marina.
Signature Restaurant - 196 seats, waterfront views, raw bar, and a chef's table.
Bar Marti - Rooftop poolside bar with harbor views (hotel guests only)
Check out their website here.
🧆 Terra just opened inside the new Live Oak Hotel at 425 Meeting Street, and it's already turning heads. Chef Eucepe Puntriano is serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired dishes using local farms and fishermen. The Joyce Farms Chicken Tagine and Lamb Rack Za'atar are early standouts, and the dimly lit 88-seat dining room has serious date night energy. Check out their menu here.
☕ Also at the Live Oak Hotel, Tracer Coffee is now open daily with single-origin Colombian beans and a full espresso bar. If you're looking for a new coffee spot on upper Meeting Street, this is a solid add to the rotation. Check out their website here.
🍽️Two Charleston restaurants have been named as James Beard finalists:
(1) Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop: Best Bakery
(2) Merci: Best New Restaurant
This is a huge accomplishment in the food world and both these establishments deserve all their flowers.
📌Curated Events
Plan Ahead
Lowcountry Cajun Festival (More Info) · 4/18 · James Island County Park · $30 per vehicle · Zydeco music, Cajun food, kids' activities, and all-around good times at one of the Lowcountry's most popular annual festivals.
Highwater Festival (More Info) · 4/18-4/19 · Riverfront Park, North Charleston · Starting at $99 · Two-day music and arts festival on the banks of the Cooper River featuring national headliners, local food vendors, and craft beer.
Friday
Nexton Nights (More Info) · 5-8pm · Nexton Square, Summerville · FREE · Live music, food trucks, and community fun at Nexton's popular outdoor spring concert series.
James Island Town Market (More Info) · 6pm-9pm · Town Hall Parking Lot, James Island · first Friday of the month featuring live music, crafts, lawn games, food trucks and fresh produce vendors.
Spring Music on the Green (More Info) · 6-9pm · Fresh Fields Village, Kiawah Island · FREE · Celebrate the arrival of spring with a special Music on the Green concert.
An All Star Tribute to Bob Dylan (More Info) · 8pm · Charleston Music Hall, Downtown · $29.50+ · Two full sets of Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits
Saturday
Spring Fling and Easter Egg Hunt at Meeting Green (More Info) · 9am-12pm · Meeting Green, Downtown · an Easter event featuring an egg hunt around the shop, crafts, games, the Easter Bunny for photos, and Livewire Coffee on site. Special discounts are hidden inside the eggs.
Outside Streetball Festival ft. Nappy Roots (More Info) · 12-9pm · The Refinery, Downtown · $30+ · Charleston’s 1st streetball & arts fest! 3v3 hoops, dunk contest, live art, & local vendors.
Spring Food Truck Feastival (More Info) · 12-4pm · Firefly Distillery, North Charleston · FREE · family-friendly event that takes over Firefly’s five-acre field along Noisette Creek for an afternoon of great food, live music, and laid-back spring vibes.
Sip & Stroll at Drayton Hall (More Info) · 2:30-4:30pm · Drayton Hall, West Ashley · $35 · Stroll the beautifully preserved grounds with a glass of wine or beer in hand, enjoy live music from Wildflower Station and immerse yourself in the rich stories of the Lowcountry
Sunday
Easter in Hampton Park (More Info) · 10:30am-11:30am · Rose Pavilion at Hampton Park · FREE · Bunny snuggles at 9:30 am. Easter egg hunt at 10 am. Easter service with communion at 10:30 am. Free baked goods and refreshments!
Hatha & Hops Yoga @ Two Blokes (More Info) · 11am-11:45pm · Two Blokes Brewing, Mount Pleasant · $15-$20 · Bending and breathing at a brewery with optional beer afterward.
Credit One Charleston Open: Finals (More Info) · 12:30pm (Doubles) / 3pm (Singles) · Credit One Stadium, Daniel Island · Starting at $86 · Championship Sunday - watch the world's top women's tennis players compete for the title on Daniel Island.
📰Local Updates You Should Care About
🏘️ A downtown Charleston parking lot that has long been a go-to for MUSC employees, patients, and RiverDogs fans is being converted into affordable housing units, and not everyone is happy about it. The lot has been a reliable option in an area where parking is already a constant frustration, and its loss will likely be felt by the hospital community that depends on it regularly. That said, the city is betting that adding affordable housing in the heart of downtown is worth the tradeoff, particularly as housing costs continue to price working families out of the area. It's the kind of decision that doesn't have a clean answer, and Charleston will be watching closely to see how it plays out.
🚧 Charleston Water System is installing a new water main near Bees Ferry Road as part of preparations for expected population growth in the area. This infrastructure upgrade will support the thousands of new residents moving to West Ashley and surrounding areas. If you live in the Bees Ferry corridor, expect some construction disruptions but better water service once complete.
🌳 Charleston Parks Conservancy has unveiled a comprehensive revitalization plan for Allan Park that will transform the neighborhood green space. The plan includes upgraded playground equipment, improved walking paths, and enhanced landscaping to better serve the surrounding community. Allan Park serves as a vital recreational space for residents, and these improvements will make it more accessible and family-friendly.
⚖️ Goose Creek Mayor Greg Habib is launching "Creek Conversations," a series of town hall meetings focused on managing the city's rapid growth and hearing directly from residents. The first of four scheduled community gatherings addresses concerns about development, traffic, and infrastructure as Goose Creek continues expanding. These meetings give residents a direct voice in shaping how their city handles ongoing growth pressures.
That's everything for this Friday. Enjoy the weekend, Charleston. We'll be back in your inbox Monday morning.
- Ryan from All Things Charleston
How did we do this week?
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