City Market District

Keeping Up With King St. From the Charleston Mercury

by Susan Lucas

From The Charleston Mercury

Wonderful C. Wonder.

I can’t wait for C. Wonder to open. It’s Christopher Burch’s design-forward everything-under-the-sun shopping concept. And I do mean everything. Clothing, footwear, jewelry and accessories, housewares, home décor, gifts and “delightful surprises at every turn.” When a company uses the phrase “our design teams create…” it’s original and I’m there!

C. Wonder replaced Puma at 285 King Street. Puma was never my first choice for athletic shoes because Mike at The Extra Mile is so nice, has what I need and never steers me wrong. Plus he doesn’t ask the obvious question, which is why do I need running shoes.

C. Wonder will open at 10:00 am on Friday, September 13 to much fanfare. You might want to cue up early, but just in case you miss it, they’ll do it again on Saturday. There are gifts for the first hundred customers each day, gifts with purchase, refreshments and something called a Wheel of Wonder that I want to spin. I’d like to buy an O, Pat, as in “Oh how nice, I won something wonderful!”

Keeping Up With King St. from the Charleston Mercury

by Susan Lucas

From The Charleston Mercury

Welcome Cariloha. It’s not a typo. Cariloha (from the words Caribbean and Aloha) is a recently opened King Street shop that features a unique assortment of products all made from bamboo. If you’re thinking fishing poles and flower arrangements, think again.

According to Cariloha’s website, “Bamboo is largely considered a woody plant; however, it's really a true grass. It can be found in many parts of the world but is primarily grown in East Asia and South East Asia, where it’s used for everything from building materials to food sources! Bamboo’s soft, silky feel, its antimicrobial qualities, its ability to take colors well and its breathability are designed to appeal to those who seek the very best in natural luxury. Bamboo means soft, cool and clean.”

And green. Bamboo is cut and soaked in an environmentally friendly solution that breaks down the fibers, which are dried into parchment-like sheets. They are milled into fluffiness, spun into threads and voilá, cloth twice as soft as cotton and nicely comparable to cashmere and silk.

The beautifully appointed, compact and charming space at 341 King Street is now filled with soft apparel, bath items, handbags, bedding, blankets, towels and robes. They even have those ubiquitous second skin yoga tanks and pants seen everywhere on people with perfect bodies. And some that aren’t. ‘nuff said. Stop in, look around and say hello to husband/wife managers Ryan and Ashley Porter. It’s a friendly, pretty place. And soft. Very soft.

Congratulations to Spoleto Festival USA

Spoleto Festival USA 2013 concluded a memorable season with the Festival Finale on Sunday, June 9. It featured Zydeco band Red Stick Ramblers under a beaming sun and gentle breeze at Charleston's Middleton Place.

The festival comprised a diverse representation of the musical, theatrical, dance, and visual arts. 63,000 ticket-holders took in 160 shows this year, with $2.8 million in box office receipts. Patrons traveled from 19 countries to experience Spoleto Festival USA—an increase from past seasons—and from 48 states within the United States. Congratulations to the Spoleto Festival for yet another successful year!

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Ted's Butcherblock Announces 3rd Annual Big Green Egg Giveaway Fundraiser for "Feed the Need"

Once again, Ted's Butcherblock is teaming up with Mt Pleasant's Firehouse Casual Living to raffle off a Big Green Egg to benefit local non-profit organization "Feed the Need". Charleston Grill has generously offered up a second prize, Dinner for Four at the Charleston Grill, to help raise more money for this great cause. Tickets will be available for purchase at Ted's Butcherblock for $5 each (or 5 for $20) through June 22, when a winner will be drawn at Ted's annual Backyard BBQ Bash.

The Big Egg is used exclusively for the popular ribs, barbecue pork and smoked salmon on the menu at Ted's Butcherblock, as well as for weekly events such as the shop's Friday Night Cookouts and Ultimate Burger & Beer Saturdays. A top-selling smoker and grill, "The Egg" is exceptionally durable and provides precise temperature control due to its patented design.

Magnifilous Toy Emporium Salutes The Spoleto Festival

Everyone at Magnifilous is practicing their special talents for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. It looks like some of their toys are having a little festival of their own, stop by to see them in action! The Magnifilous Toy Emporium is located at 525 King Street is downtown Charleston.

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The Alley Hosts 213 East Bay Fire Fundraiser, April 17

During the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 2nd, a devastating fire struck the building and businesses of 213 East Bay Street. The fire destroyed Charleston favorites The Brick, Squeeze, Speakeasy, & Club Light. As a result, the employees of these establishments now find themselves out of work. So, like any good Charlestonian would do, we're going to raise some money for them to help them get through these difficult time.

On Wednesday, April 17th from 5pm to midnight, The Alley is opening up its doors for the 213 East Bay Fire Fundraiser and a night of live music fun.

• 3 Bands playing live tunes: Caxton Beaty, Return of the Mac & The Louie D Project.
• Guest bartenders from The Brick, Squeeze, Speakeasy, and Light will bartend the party, working hard for your tips (100% donated to East Bay Fire Fund).
• A portion of all food and beverage sales will be donated to the Fire Fund.
• 4 free lanes of free bowling for employees/owners/close friends of the 213 businesses.
• 4 regular lanes open, with half of proceeds being donated to the fund (please e-mail Boomer@thebecketagency.com if your company would like to sponsor a lane with a cash donation).
• $12 buckets of Bud Light for your drinking pleasure

If you cannot make the event but would like to support the effort with a monetary donation, please visit: https://www.youcaring.com/other/helping-employees-out-of-work/51143.

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Charleston Restaurant Week: 3 for $30 at LB's

There's still time to get your fill of delicious lowcountry cuisine at Lowcountry Bistro during Charleston Restaurant Week! From January 10-20, LB's will be offering 3 mouth-watering courses for $30 from the menu below:

APPETIZER: (Choose one)

• Cornmeal Dusted Oysters with Goat Cheese & Tasso Fondue and Green Tomato Relish
• Tarragon Lobster Hushpuppies with Brown Butter Honey
• Crispy Smoked Prosciutto with Winter Greens, Herb Marinated Goat Cheese

ENTREES:

• Petite Grilled Filet with Black-Eyed Pea Ragout, Lobster Hushpuppies, and White Truffle
• Lump Crab Cake with Sweet corn, Arugula, Prosciutto, Shrimp and Meyer Lemon Remoulade
• Pan Seared Trout with Toasted pecans, Baby Spinach, Black Currants, Carolina Gold Rice, Warm Bacon & Apricot Vinaigrette

SWEETS: Ask your server for that night's selections

 Lowcountry Bistro (LB's) is located at 49 South Market Street in downtown Charleston. For reservations, call 843.302.0290. 

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Market Street Palmetto Christmas Tree Lighting on December 8th

10 Lords-a-leaping, 9 Ladies Dancing, 8 Palmetto Trees-a-lighting. That's the Market Street Hospitality Association's (MSHA) Lowcountry twist on a a holiday tree lighting ceremony. As traditional pine trees are being decorated throughout the country, the members of the recently founded MSHA decided that the group of eight Palmetto Trees already gracing the French Quarter Plaza would serve as the perfect Charleston version of the holiday standard. 

John Keener, Owner of Charleston Crab House and member of the MSHA says, "We're the Palmetto State so why not decorate our beautiful state tree for the holidays. It's a Lowcountry spin on the tradition." On Saturday, December 8 at 5:45pm, members of the association will gather in the French Quarter Plaza on South Market Street to light the eight trees adorned with thousands of Christmas lights. Also on hand will be carolers and snacks provided by members of the association.

The Market Street Hospitality Association is a newly formed business association comprised of restaurants and hotels in the Market Street area. The goal of the group is to promote business on and around Historic Market Street. The association will be releasing more details about the formation of the group and its goals during the tree lighting ceremony. 

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