Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

You had me at hello

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Find out more about our city. | Photo by @svonmarschall

Did you know you can connect with the City of Charleston via text? Citibot, headquartered in Charleston, offers an interactive text messaging and customer service tool for civic engagement.

The service empowers residents to solve city problems and get questions answered immediately.

Residents and visitors can use Citibot to:

Report potholes, broken street signs, and missed trash pickups
View analytics
Access information on business licenses, garbage collection, permits, and public meetings
Search the City of Charleston website
Get text alerts on emergency preparedness, COVID-19, and other city topics

To start a conversation with Citibot, text “hello” to 833-990-2427.
The interactive chatbot instantly responds to text messages and follows up once the issue has been resolved.

The city began using Citibot in 2021. We spoke with Citibot CEO Bratton Riley, son of longtime Charleston mayor Joe Riley, who shared that the company is currently expanding throughout the nation.

Citibot is also utilized in the Lowcountry by the City of North Charleston, the Town of Sullivan’s Island, and Charleston County. Sullivan’s Island uses a web chat feature in addition to the text service.

Affinity Healthcare dba Palmetto Primary Care

EVENTS

Click here to have your event featured.

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Coffee and Conversation | Wednesday, Jan. 11 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | John’s Island Library, 3531 Maybank Hwy., Johns Island | Free | Socialize with other older adults and enjoy some coffee.

Thursday, Jan. 12

TOMP Public Input Matters: 17 North District | Thursday, Jan. 12 | 6-8 p.m. | Laing Middle School, 2705 Bulrush Basket Ln., Mount Pleasant | Free | The Town of Mount Pleasant is hosting a series of open houses to continue to define the unique challenges and character of different parts of the town.

Friday, Jan. 13

Concurrent Solo Exhibitions | Friday, Jan. 13-Saturday, Jan. 28 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Park Circle Gallery, 4820 Jenkins Ave., North Charleston | Free | Explore collections of watercolor paintings by Laurie Candelaria and glass works by Stacey Green.
Paint & Sip Event: Reflection Pond | Friday, Jan. 13 | 7-9 p.m. | The Inn at Middleton Place, 4290 Ashley River Rd., Charleston | $35 | Join the first of four Middleton-exclusive painting events with step-by-step guidance from a professional artist — enjoy beer, wine, and light snacks from the cash bar.

Saturday, Jan. 14

Taste of Folly | Saturday, Jan. 14 | 10 a.m. | Center Street, Folly Beach | $10-$15 | Center Street will shut down for a festival featuring food, local art vendors, carnival games, activities, and cocktails.
Stingrays Hockey: Military Appreciation Night + Jersey Auction | Saturday, Jan. 14 | 6-9 p.m. | North Charleston Coliseum, 5001 Coliseum Dr., North Charleston | $21 | The Stingrays will wear specialty jerseys for Military Appreciation Night and game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off to benefit Palmetto Military Support Group.

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

SEASONAL

What’s your best pickup line?

Do you think you have the best local pickup line? | Graphic by 6AM City

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we’ve got love on the brain.

To usher in the month of love, we want to hear the best pickup lines in the city. The pickup line must include the name of our beloved city, something that our city is known for, or a local landmark. It can be so sweet that it almost gives us a cavity.

We’ll use these pickup lines for something fun soon — keep your (heart) eyes peeled. 😍

So, let’s hear it…

DROP YOUR BEST LINE

NEWS NOTES

Weather

66º | Mostly sunny | 4% chance of rain

Sunrise + sunset

Rise: 7:21 a.m.
Set: 5:34 p.m.

Tide

Low: 4:17 a.m. + 4:49 p.m.
High: 10:25 a.m. + 10:47 p.m.

Development

This evening in the Gaillard Center, a new design for a mixed-use development at 295 Calhoun St. will be heard by the Board of Architectural Review. The apartment complex has previously been denied twice by the board. The new design is seven stories tall, reduced from eight. (WCIV)
The Peninsula of Charleston, a seven-story independent living facility for ages 62+, is coming to King Street. Offerings will include a spa and salon, fine and causal dining, art and cultural programs, and health care services. The facility is slated be completed in 2026 at 609 King St. 🏗️ (The Post and Courier)

Civic

The search continues for a new superintendent of the Charleston County School District. The school board plans to appoint three ad hoc committee members at the next board meeting on Monday, Jan. 23 to review information from the previous board’s search. (WCBD)
Gov. McMaster will be sworn in today, Jan. 11, in Columbia for a second full term and is set to make history. At the end of his second term, Gov. McMaster will be the longest-serving governor in SC. (WCSC)

Open

Refuel, a retail, fuel, and convenience store brand, has opened at 381 King St. where Moe’s Southwest Grill used to be. The ribbon-cutting event is set for Monday, Jan. 23. Did you know? The business was founded by Charleston local and Citadel grad Mark Jordan. ⛽ (Charleston Regional Business Journal)

Opening

Celebrate the grand opening of StretchLab at 151 Market St.
from Thursday, Jan. 26 to Saturday, Jan. 28. The assisted stretch center will be offering demo stretches, vendors, raffles and prizes, and discounted member rates. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 27.

Biz

Brrr, is it chilly in here? Cold storage company FlexCold is establishing operations in North Charleston. Here’s the impact: This $49.9 million investment will create 59 new jobs. The new facility is coming to Patriot Boulevard in late summer 2024. Keep an eye on the careers page. 🧊
The Post and Courier is celebrating its 220th anniversary. The Charleston Museum recently opened an exhibit to honor this local news hub as the oldest daily newspaper in the South. The Post and Courier’s predecessor The Charleston Post published its first edition in January 1803. (The Post and Courier)

Charlestonian

WCIV’s Scott Eisberg was recently named SC Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. This is the third time the local newscaster has received the award. Congratulations, Scott. Follow Scott on Facebook. 🎤 (WCIV)

Health

A new Alzheimer’s drug is on the scene following encouraging results from a research trial and is part of clinical trials at the South Carolina Institute for Brain Health in Charleston. The FDA recently granted the drug, Leqembi, fast-track approval. (The Post and Courier)
Got a crick in your neck (or back, or leg, or wrist… )? Palmetto Primary Care Physicians just opened a new Physical Therapy office in Nexton. Receive specialized care that relieves pain, improves mobility, and can help you avoid surgery. Schedule an appointment online or by calling (843) 879-4060.*

Learn

If one of your New Year’s resolutions includes learning a new language — now’s your time to shine. Babbel is offering 55% off subscriptions for a limited time. How does it work? Short, 10-minute lessons (designed by real language teachers) will make you conversational in as little as three weeks of consistent practice. First step: Pick a language. 🌏 *

Drink

Recharge from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season with this wild blueberry banana smoothie that delivers on protein and taste. Pro tip: Slice and freeze your bananas for quicker prep time… aka three more minutes in bed.🥤*

Finance

This Princeton grad’s startup raised $161 million to help people plan for retirement — and its free tool can match you with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area who can help you work towards financial freedom. Try it out for yourself. 💸 *

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

ARTS

Celebrate Gullah Geechee culture

Check out “Collectively Disconnected” by local Arun Drummond. | Image provided by Lou Hammond Group

A new art exhibit highlighting Gullah Geechee culture is on display in the Lowcountry. “Collectively Disconnected,” created by local artist Arun Drummond, is on view at Brookgreen Gardens until Friday, March 31.

This multimedia work features Gullah Geechee people and 3-D sweetgrass baskets. Arun is giving an artist talk on Saturday, Jan. 14 from 1-2 p.m. in the Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium for an inside look at his work and artistic process.

Check out more of Arun’s art in the outdoor section of the historic Charleston City Market.

SNAG TICKETS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Tatum.

Editor’s pick: As a Thin Mints fan, I have to share. Spotted on WCBD, the countdown is on for Girl Scout Cookies season in the Lowcountry, which begins this Saturday. 🍪

Head to the booth at 806 Orleans Rd. in West Ashley from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14 and Saturday, Jan. 28. Check out this year’s flavors.

The best part? Cookie sales are reinvested in local activities and projects. Learn more about the Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? See Charleston Restaurant Week deals, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Alexandra Garian, Tatum Jacaruso, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Stephanie Zapiecki | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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