Cheers to 175 years 🥂

The Town of Summerville celebrates 175 years this month

We never regret a day trip to Summerville. | Photo by @eastlynphotography

Happy (almost) 175th birthday to The Flower Town in the Pines — you don’t look a day over 20.

If you haven’t already heard, the Town of Summerville is commemorating its 175th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 17, with an afternoon chock-full of family-friendly celebrations.

Head to Gahagan Park from 3-7 p.m. to enjoy live music from local artist Vinyl Daze, food, and fireworks at 6:30 p.m. We can’t think of a better way to honor the occasion.

So, what have the last 175 years looked like for the town? Let’s dive into a quick history lesson.

Late 1700s: Lowcountry locals settled in what was recognized as a pine-forested ridge to escape the summer heat.
Early 1800s: The railroad arrives and modernization begins in the area.
1847: The village becomes an official town and a law is passed to prevent certain trees from being cut without permission. Pssst: This is recognized as one of the oldest ordinances of its kind in the US.
1886: The town is struck during the Charleston Earthquake and a fire destroys most town square buildings.
Late 1970s: The town population reaches 6,000 after sitting at 3,000 for a century.
1980s: The population continues to grow + doubles in size.

Today, Summerville’s population is recognized as 52,419. Can you imagine what the town would be like with just 3,000 residents?

To continue this walk down memory lane, here are a few ways that we’ve covered the “Birthplace of Sweet Tea” through the years.

There’s clearly lots to celebrate between 1847 and today, and we’re proud of the growth and expansion that the Town of Summerville has seen. Happy anniversary.

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Friday, Dec. 9

Holiday Pub Crawl With The Original Pub & Brewery Tours of Charleston | Friday, Dec. 9 | 4 p.m. | Tommy Condon’s Irish Pub, 160 Church St., Charleston | $50 | Celebrate the season visiting historic taverns and pubs + enjoy local craft beer, cider, and spirits, hors d’oeuvres, and treats.
Stingrays Hockey: Veteran Appreciation and Aviation Night | Friday, Dec. 9 | 7:05 p.m. | North Charleston Coliseum, 5001 Coliseum Dr., North Charleston | $21+ | Watch the Stingrays face the Greenville Swamp Rabbits + honor veterans on Veteran Appreciation Night.

Saturday, Dec. 10

Dessert with Death | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 7 + 9 p.m. | Charleston Culinary Tours, 46B State St., Charleston | $60 | Explore local ghost stories and enjoy a five-course dessert menu.
Oysters on the Point | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 2-6 p.m. | Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, 20 Patriots Point Rd., Mount Pleasant | $10 | Celebrate oyster season on the beach with live music, drink specials, and buckets of oysters.
Dorchester Paws Adoption Event | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 12-3 p.m. | Summerville Library, 76 Old Trolley Rd., Summerville | Free | Meet some pups in need of a forever home.

Sunday, Dec. 11

Karaoke Sunday | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 9 p.m.-12 a.m. | Tin Roof, 1117 Magnolia Rd., Charleston | Free | Round off the weekend and sing your favorite tunes with DJ Wild Bill at this local karaoke event held every Sunday night.
Mosquito Beach Oyster Roast & Craft Market | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 2-5 p.m. | Mosquito Beach, 2206 Mosquito Beach Road, James Island | $40.00-$60.00 | Enjoy all-you-can-eat oysters and a Lowcountry Buffet (think: mac and cheese, chili + sides) and two drink samples (beer, wine, or tequila), plus holiday shopping from local vendors.*

Monday, Dec. 12

Mayor’s Financial Empowerment Roundtable | Monday, Dec. 12 | 2:30-4 p.m. | Council Chamber at City Hall, 80 Broad St. | Free | Register to join personal finance professionals, Mayor Tecklenburg, and Charleston County Treasurer Mary Tinkler to discuss financial resources + services available.

Tuesday, Dec. 13

Learn about turmoil in Iran | Tuesday, Dec. 13 | 5:15-7 p.m. | The Citadel Alumni Center, 69 Hagood Ave., Charleston | $30 | Listen to a distinguished speaker with the World Affairs Council of Charleston describe how recent protests of young people, especially women, in Iran are challenging the country’s traditional regime.*

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

63º | Cloudy | 24% chance of rain

Sunrise + sunset

Rise: 7:09 a.m.
Set: 5:15 p.m.

Tide

Low: 2:07 a.m. + 2:48 p.m.
High: 8:32 a.m. + 8:49 p.m.

Traffic

Heads up, Holy City: Road closures have been announced ahead of the annual Christmas Light Parade in Mount Pleasant this Sunday, Dec. 11. The parade lineup area is scheduled to close at 4 p.m., and the parade route at 5 p.m. Learn more. 🚦 (WCBD)

Award

Nominations are now open for Charleston City Paper’s Best of Charleston 2023 awards, featuring all-new options like best sunset spot + best nail artist in addition to the returning categories. Cast your vote for your favorite local business or vendor before Wednesday, Dec. 28. 🏆
Congrats to Roper St. Francis Healthcare + MUSC Health for showing their commitment to the community by winning several South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) Zero Harm Awards. The awards recognize hospitals that demonstrate patient safety, reliable care, and error-free medical procedures. See the full list. 🏥

Open

Remember when we told you about Huriyali’s upcoming second location? The restaurant officially opened yesterday at 2016 Wappoo Dr., near Terrace Theater on James Island. Make room for a selection of salads, smoothies, and signature bowls — Lexa loves the avocado toast. (The Post and Courier)

Coming Soon

Culver’s plans to open its third location in the Charleston area in the former Steak & Shake at 4821 Tanger Outlet Blvd. Speaking of new digs, Chucktown Asian Restaurant Group LLC has leased a 3,600-sqft space in The Marketplace at Carnes Crossroads, and Sticky Fingers recently opened in the Shoppes at Montague Corners at 5060 Dorchester Rd. (The Post and Courier)

Number

$10,000. That’s the total prize that Christina Miller, owner of local bakery and creamery Bert and T’s Desserts, won in a competition sponsored by Lowcountry Local First last weekend. The prize money is expected to assist in purchasing a food truck for the business. Congrats, Christina. 🥂 (WCSC)
$1.2 million. That’s the total grant that has been awarded to create a living shoreline near Parris Island. The four-year project is expected to protect approximately 390 acres, with project sites along the Beaufort River, Battery Creek, and Archers Creek. Living shorelines help reduce the impact of storm surges + improve water quality. 💰 (WCBD)

Civic

Charleston Police Department is reminding the community that parking is not allowed on King Street between Spring + Calhoun streets from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday-Saturday. This restriction was implemented to allow emergency response vehicles to navigate the area freely. Alternate parking can be found at the Midtown, Marion Square, and Visitor’s Center garages. 🚘 (WCBD)

Community

Four local organizations have partnered to offer free legal services to residents in Charleston, Georgetown, and Horry counties that experienced storm-related damage from Hurricane Ian. The scope of available assistance includes FEMA + other government benefits, insurance claims, and home repair contracts. Request assistance. 📃 (WCSC)
Yesterday, 100 bicycles were built by local nonprofits, police officers, and community leaders at the Charleston Area Convention Center ahead of North Charleston’s Christmas at City Hall event tomorrow afternoon. Bikes, helmets, and locks plus 200 toys + 500 coats will be gifted to low-income families between 12-3 p.m. (WCBD)

Eat

Grab your pen, Charleston: This month’s highlight on Eater Carolinas’ list of The Hottest New Restaurants in Charleston, December 2022 is The Quinte. The new 40-seat oyster bar is located off the lobby of The Pinch hotel at 36 George St. and offers hyper-local seafood dishes like seafood towers. 🦪 (Eater Carolinas)

State

Airbnb has implemented additional restrictions for bookings in South Carolina during New Year’s Eve weekend. Account holders who do not have a positive account history and first-time users will not be allowed to book listings for entire homes for a one-night stay. This applies to local and state-wide listings. (WCBD)

Health

With an unprecedented number of people coming down with RSV, along with the flu and other viruses, MUSC Health is teaming up with local health systems to encourage people of all ages to take steps to reduce their risk. See the experts’ recommendations for staying healthy this season. 🦠 *

Shop

Our online store Six & Main is now featuring Grow Your Own Roots, an apparel company featuring Charleston + Greenville designs. The tote bags are perfect for Saturdays at the market. Start shopping now. 🛍️

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Events

Candle with care 🕯️

We briefly tapped into our high school chemistry skills during this workshop. | Photo by @chstoday

Lexa here. 👋

Our team recently had the opportunity to get crafty at a scented candle-making workshop at Candlefish, and I can’t remember the last time I had that much fun. Did you know Candlefish celebrated its eight-year anniversary in October?

The event was BYOB and taught us the ins and outs of candle making — all beginner-friendly. We drank champagne, learned about candle care, and took home two 9oz candles that we made from scratch (scent and all). I’ve been burning my candle every day since.

If you’re looking for your next friend’s night out or a holiday gift, I can guarantee this is the perfect fit. And that’s coming from one of the least crafty people you’ve ever met.

Schedule a workshop. Classes start at various times between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. depending on the day. Want an inside look? Peep our reel.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Alexandra.

Editor’s pick: One thing about me? I love to celebrate a local business.

Jalisco Taqueria is commemorating its three-year anniversary in style next week, offering specials like $3.50 tacos and $6 classic margaritas between Monday, Dec. 12 + Sunday, Dec. 18. Dare I say this sounds like the best deal in Charleston?

Head to the local restaurant at 1271 Folly Rd. on James Island to celebrate this milestone with Jalisco — I know I will be. 🌮

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Read about 2nd Sunday on King Street, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Alexandra Garian, Tatum Jacaruso, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Stephanie Zapiecki | Advertise with us.

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