Local pick: Edisto Gold Honey and Soap Gift Set | $35 | Give the gift of local with a jar of honey harvested in the Lowcountry, soap, and a bath bomb.
Gifts for students
Fidget toy pen | $16.99 | A great stocking stuffer, this chromatic, magnetic pen can be stacked into various shapes.
Gifts for holiday parties and gift exchanges
Local pick:South Carolina Souvenir Cheese Plate | $19 | The lucky friend who is gifted this cheese plate will surely be the host with the most Palmetto State pride.
North Charleston staple Hood’s Florist is closing after 61 years in business. Following the retirement of its owner, Joyce Hood, the Ashley Acres store will close at the end of 2025. There’s still time to order a bouquet. (Post and Courier)
Gallery
Here’s a healthy dose of nostalgia. Charleston County Parks dug through their archives to find photos of the Holiday Festival of Lights from back in 2002. Fun fact: Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” was top of the charts at the time.
Holiday
This weekend marks the beginning of Chanukah — the Jewish Festival of Lights. You can celebrate by attending Chanukah in the Square on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. in Marion Square, where there will be hot food, live music, and seasonal spirit in abundance.
Cause
The Charleston County Public Library system is giving back to the community. It has now donated 182,000 lbs of food through its free produce program, with fridges stocked weekly at multiple libraries. In January, the Keith Summey Library will join their ranks. (WCSC)
Real Estate
The average home price in Charleston is around $578,602. In that range, you can get this Egrets Pointe home with a view of the lake. Psst — the kitchen is recently renovated.
Plan Ahead
45,000 lbs of oysters. We repeat. 45,000 lbs of oysters. That’s what awaits at the 2026 Lowcountry Oyster Festival, taking place in just 51 days. Get your tickets now so you don’t miss out.
On This Day
On December 12, 1915, Frank Sinatra was born. What better way to honor the occasion than hopping on a flight to New York, New York from Charleston International Airport? It’s meant to be nice this time of year.
Try This
Speaking of the Big Apple, New York-inspired coffee and brunch spot Bodega is hosting a day of DJ tunes tomorrow, Dec. 13. “House Blend” runs from 3 to 9 p.m. featuring local DJs, excellent eats + drinks, and unbeatable vibes on what is forecast to be a gorgeous, sunny day.
Charlestonian
“I was crazy when I was born, I can’t help it.” Read the story of Joseph “P-Nut tha Legend” Johnson, the Charleston-born poet and artist whose work reflects on a life lived in the Holy City. (Post and Courier)
Community
When you first subscribed to CHStoday, you may remember receiving an email asking for your favorite local restaurant. This week, Shiki, Husk, and Halls Chophouse were a few of our new subscribers’ picks. We always love seeing your favorites — make sure your friends are subscribed so we can find out more.
Shop
Your glasses called — they’re ready for retirement. Shop Zenni’s durable frames + advanced lenses for an upgrade, with most pairs under $80. Bonus: Take an extra 10% off with code TWW.*
Wellness
Feeling drained this season? We hear you. Modern Minds’ Recharge Circuit delivers energy, balance, and calm through compression therapy, a steam sauna, and a revitalizing cold plunge. Consider this your sign to treat yourself this season or surprise someone with a thoughtful gift.*
Older Adults
Are you taking advantage of these stellar senior discounts? From savings with Walgreens to a discounted Amazon Prime membership, we found 20 hacks all older adults should know about to continue saving and building wealth.*
The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network says this is the same dolphin, photographed 30 years later in the same Kiawah Island waters. The difference in color is due to the film used in the original photo from the 1990s.
Keep your eyes peeled the next time you’re nearby.
There’s a piece of beachfront real estate for sale in Folly Beach for just $10,000. Yep, you read that right.
Why is it so cheap? Well, you can’t build on it for the foreseeable future, but you could still use it for picnics, sunsets, and for literal immediate beach access.
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