Pick up reads by local authors at Blue Bicycle Books downtown. | Photo by @thewellreadbonvivant
Welcome to your next favorite chapter, the one where we celebrate your favorite local bookstores. So before you click “add to cart” on Amazon (for any of your next reads), stop by one of these independently owned bookstores.
Blue Bicycle Books | Founded in 1995 as Boomer’s Books, it became Blue Bicycle Books in 2007 when local writer and longtime employee, Jonathan Sanchez, bought the store. Fun fact: The shop hosts 200+ authors each year.
Buxton Books | Located on King Street, this shop is a book lover’s dream. The elegant, yet cozy space is packed with titles that span from floor to ceiling. When it comes to events, it does that too — check out the shop’s calendar for signings, chats, and tours.
Philosophers & Fools | This Bogard Street store was created for those who love to sip wine or craft beer while they read. Did we mention there are snacks, too?
Introducing Irene Forte | 12-6 p.m. | The Charleston Place | Price of purchase | Enjoy drinks and light bites, and be among the first to experience Irene Forte Skincare.
Wine Tasting | 6-9 p.m. | Moxy Charleston Downtown | Price of purchase | Taste wines from around the world while listening to music and watching the sunset.
Saturday, Aug. 23
OluKai Grand Opening | 12-3 p.m. | OluKai | Price of purchase | Enjoy giveaways, Hawaiian-inspired bites, and music while browsing the newly opened show store — 100% of net proceeds from the day’s sales will go to Charleston Waterkeeper.
Meet The Citadel Football Team | 1-2 p.m. | McAlister Field House, The Citadel | Free | Meet the Bulldog fall athletes, then head to the free 2:30 pm volleyball scrimmage.
Summer Saturday Shopping Pop-Up | 2-6 p.m. | The Palmetto Hotel | Price of purchase | Stop in this hotel lobby to shop from local vendors.
K-Pop Dance Class (Open Level) | 3:30-5 p.m. | Park Circle Community Building, North Charleston | $10 | Learn the latest K-pop dances with Charleston-based dancer Hope Cornette.
Marcus King Band Family Reunion | Saturday, Aug. 23, Sunday, Aug. 24 | Times vary | Firefly Distillery, North Charleston | $48+ | Join this two-day festival featuring good eats and even better music.
Presented by Charleston Regional Development Alliance
With its vibrant economy and growing industries, Charleston is a great place to build your career. | Photo provided by Charleston Regional Development Alliance
Looking to advance your career or snag that pay raise? You don’t have to look far — some of the best opportunities are right here in Charleston.
The Church Creek drainage basin now drains over 10,000 acres west of the Ashley River.
Images provided by the City of Charleston
Civic
The Church Creek Flood Storage Project has wrapped up. The city developed land on the west side of the Ashley River to reduce flooding during storms and create walking trails and a green space for the community.
Closing
Cleats, a downtown sports bar, is set to close at the end of the month. The spot opened in Feburary of 2024, and the closure comes as the owners focus on their other businesses, Daps and Rudy Royale. (Eater Carolinas)
Drink
Mark your calendar, Beer From Here returns to the South Carolina Aquarium on Friday, Sept. 12, from 7 to 10 p.m. Think: bar crawl with aquatic animals, minus the miles of walking. Tickets include unlimited beer samples, light bites, and a souvenir tasting glass.
Number
99.31. That’s how many tons of discarded household items were collected by the city and Trident Waste during Operation Move-Out (when college students move out of their off-campus rentals). That’s up 19 tons from 2024.
State
Keep your hands at 9 and 3 — and off your phone. SC’s new hands-free law starts Sunday, Sept. 1, banning drivers from holding mobile devices to text, scroll, or stream. Expect warnings for 180 days, then tickets and points kick in.
Eat
What pairs perfectly with date night? Oysters on the half shell. Cozy up at Oyster House Seafood Restaurant on Market Street for fresh seafood, mouthwatering crab dishes, and a shuckin’ good time. See the full menu.*
Community
Looking for some family fun? Hunter Quinn Homes is hosting its first annual Battle of the Builders. On Friday, Sept. 12, head to RL Jones Field in Mount Pleasant from 12 to 6 p.m. to watch a kickball game, for food trucks, drinks, and music.
Seasonal
Christmas in ... August? If you’re a local business with a product or service you’d like to share with our readers this holiday season, consider securing your promo now before we sellout. Our Holiday Shopping Spotlight Bundle includes three newsletter inclusions discounted by 20%.
Category
Outdoors
A closer look at strand feeding
Dolphins strand feeding on Kiawah Island | Photo by @thewildstein
Have you ever seen a dolphin splashing and rolling along one of our shorelines or muddy marsh banks — like this? This practice is called strand feeding, a special technique that bottlenose dolphins have perfected to catch fish. You can see it in action right here in the Lowcountry.
So what is it? Strand feeding is when a group of dolphins herd fish into shallow waters, then use their bodies to create a large wave to push their prey and themselves onto shore to eat, before quickly returning to the water. Teamwork makes the dream work. Fun fact: this is a learned behavior that the animals learn from their mothers and isn’t commonly seen in areas outside of SC + GA.
You can spot dolphins strand feeding year-round, but for the best chances, keep an eye out during late August through November, especially when the tide is rising. This window is particularly active because mullet (the fish dolphins are after) migrate from rivers and creeks to the ocean, and dolphins look to load up as they prepare for winter.
The Buy
Psst. Is it too soon to say…boo? Look away, summer fans. If you’re ready for fall, read on for our top decor picks:
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
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