charleston

Eight Years And Counting As The #1 City in America

Charleston, South Carolina has been named the #1 City in The United States by Travel + Leisure Magazine for eight years in a row now. This coveted award is voted on by Travel + Leisure readers through an annual survey based on the readers’ experiences in cities across the world.

Travel + Leisure thinks it’s no surprise Charleston made the top spot due to the city’s “history, architecture, culture, pleasant weather, gracious locals, and even proximity to the beach. But chances are, if you were to ask T+L readers for their top reason for their obsession with this genteel city, they’d say the food.”

In addition to being named the top city in the United States, Charleston’s infamous Wentworth Mansion made the list of Top 15 City Hotels in the Continental United States.

Some other cities that made a spot on the list of the best cities in the United States include New Orleans, Chicago, Savannah, New York City, and Honolulu.

Looking to check out some of the best spots to grab a bite to eat in the Holy City? Click here.

Events

Charleston Farmers Market Reopens With Limited Vendors

The Charleston Farmers Market reopened on September 26th at Marion Square.

The farmers market looks different than usual, operating only as an “essentials market” with limited vendors. While all of the farmers and growers have been invited to participate in the market, artisans and prepared food vendors are not allowed to participate yet.

In addition to the limited vendors, there is also a limited capacity and social distancing required of all who attend and participate in the market.

Numerous vendors, who have always relied on the income received at the market, have taken a significant hit due to the pandemic and subsequent closing of the market.

Amanda McLenon, a longtime market vendor, created a petition to get the Marion Square market running again and has over 800 signatures.

“For a while, we understood it wasn’t safe to be there, so we sat back and sacrificed our livelihoods to keep people healthy,” Amanda explained. “But if people are in the bars now, we can certainly be safely open providing local produce and handmade goods outside in Marion Square.”

The Charleston Essentials Market will operate on Saturday mornings from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. In addition, the West Ashley Essentials Market will operate on Saturday mornings from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the West Ashley Greenway.

News

Charleston Becomes First Southern City To Sue Big Oil

On September 9th, the city of Charleston, SC filed a lawsuit against fossil fuel companies, claiming they have been misleading the public on the realities of climate change and caused devastating flooding throughout the city.

The lawsuit was filed in the S.C. Court of Common Pleas in Charleston and named 24 fossil fuel companies including Exxon Mobil Corporation, Hess Corporation, Shell Oil Company, BP America Inc., and Chevron Corporation.

Charleston has been plagued with frequent flooding for quite some time that experts predict will only get worse overtime – a problem that the city says is due to the effects of fossil fuel companies and the rising sea level.

“As this lawsuit shows, these companies have known for more than 50 years that their products were going to cause the worst flooding the world has seen since Noah built the Ark,” Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg explained in a statement regarding the lawsuit. “And instead of warning us, they covered up the truth and turned our flooding problems into their profits. That was wrong, and this lawsuit is all about holding them accountable for that multi-decade campaign of deception.”

Charleston is now the first southern city to sue oil companies for their alleged role in climate change.

While there has not been a direct response from the defendants listed in the lawsuit, Shell officials have stated they “do not believe the courtroom is the right venue to address climate change.”

News

Folly Beach Pier to Begin 24-month Renovation

The infamous Folly Beach pier is getting a facelift!

The iconic wooden pier that offers visitors stunning views of the beach, as well as a place to reel in a fresh catch, is being renovated.

Starting on October 19th, the current pier will be closed to visitors as renovations get underway. The pier, which first opened in 1995, has seen over 6 million visitors in 25 years. Understandably, it has undergone a substantial amount of wear and tear over the years prompting this much-needed renovation.

While the new pier will be similar in layout, it will now be composed of concrete piles instead of wood in hopes that it will be more durable. The project is expected to cost around $13.8 million and will be open to the public in the Spring of 2023.

Health and Wellness

MUSC Chosen for Phase III of Vaccine Trials

As the race to find a cure for Coronavirus continues, MUSC Health joins researches through a vaccine trial. Because one of MUSC’s potential vaccines has shown promising signs fighting the virus, they were selected as part of a Phase III trial.

In order for a vaccine to become safe and ready for mass manufacturing, it must first go through the three phases. Beginning with one, this phase is administered on small groups and geared toward the safety of the patients. They then collect data on the response to the vaccine. Phase two is typically administered on hundreds of people while fine-tuning the specific amount of regimen necessary. Phase three involves thousands of people while focusing on how it reacts to an entire population. Once all three have been successfully completed, the vaccine is on its way to becoming FDA approved.

At MUSC, emergency medicine physician Gary Headden, M.D., states that “the science behind [the vaccine] looks good, so I’d say I’m optimistic.”

In order to attract interested participants, MUSC is planning a webpage launch that will officially open the trial to new applicants. They’re seeking several hundred. Some patients within the trial will receive a placebo while others will receive the vaccine. Patients will remain overseen for a grand total of two years.

New In Charleston

Charleston County School District Hires 104 Full-Time Nurses

With the 2020 school year in full swing, the Charleston County School District (CCSD) has announced that every elementary, middle, and high school within their district will hire one full-time nurse. This comes as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 104 nurses will be placed in total.

The team at CCSD remains committed to the health and safety of the staff and students. Ellen Nitz, Director of Nursing Services at CCSD, explains that “the nurses took contract tracing courses to be versed in the procedures and can answer questions from parents and administrations.”

Protocols to reduce the spread of Coronavirus are also being put in place. CCSD has installed a plate of plexiglass in front of each nursing station, in addition to following social distancing guidelines. The clinics also feature an isolation area or bay with a cot and a curtain to act as protection. Nightly sanitation is in place as a means of following guidelines.

As their schools reopen and welcome students back in-person, CCSD is continuously working to keep all members safe and healthy.

Eat & Drink

Netflix’s “Chef’s Table” to Feature This Charleston BBQ Icon

You’ll soon be craving BBQ because Netflix’s “Chef’s Table” has decided to feature Charleston icon, Rodney Scott. For their seventh season, it’s all smoked and juicy barbeque. The local and fan-favorite, Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ will make its debut on the streaming service come Sept 2.

Scott will be highlighted alongside world-renowned names for BBQ. The fellow chefs and pitmasters hail from all different corners, each with a unique take on grilling. As the show airs, it will take you through their dishes as well as the stories behind them. Netflix is teasing viewers with a short preview.

Charleston’s Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ has been officially smoking hogs since 2017. Though Scott is no newbie when it comes to grilling. He’s been behind the smoke since he was 11-years-old. In the restaurant’s first year of operation, it was named one of the 50 Best New Restaurants by Bon Appetit Magazine. Come 2019, Scott had opened up a second location in Birmingham, AL. This isn’t Scott’s first time on screen, as he’s made appearances on The Today Show helping Al Roker feed folks affected by devastating tornadoes in Alabama.

Folks can taste the classic BBQ at the King Street locale, as well as classic sides like potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, collard greens, and hush puppies. Open for guests Monday – Sunday from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. The restaurant’s motto is that “Every day is a Good Day,” so there’s no wrong time to grab a plate of smoked BBQ.

Uncategorized

South Market Street Will Temporarily Stop Vehicle Traffic

In order to allow more outdoor social distancing space, a portion of South Market Street will temporarily stop vehicle traffic. Enforcement begins Saturday, August 15th between Church Street and State Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Because pedestrians convene at the downtown Charleston market, this sectioning off of streets better allows for social distancing.

“This project in the City Market, which was vetted by members of both the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Citizen’s Advisory Committee and City Council, will create a safer environment for pedestrians and allow for proper social distancing throughout the market area,” said Director of Traffic and Transportation, Keith Benjamin. “We are grateful to the City Market staff, vendors, and surrounding small businesses who worked on this project with us and look forward to continued collaboration.”

Come 5 p.m. each day, the South Market Street traffic lane re-opens for vehicles. This reconfiguration is set to remain throughout the 2020 calendar year. Loading zones are also impacted, as they’re now closed for pedestrian use only.

Charleston walkers can now enjoy the Market cobblestone streets with enough space to social distance during the coronavirus pandemic.