CHS

How to Support the Black Lives Matter Movement in Charleston

As the Country continues to fight against racism and injustice, there are many ways the Charleston community can support the Black Lives Matter movement. The Charleston City Paper has compiled a list of all the black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in the Lowcountry that you can support by following and purchasing. If you don’t see a business featured, they welcome edits and additions.

Many Charlestonians are gathering together to peacefully protest the death of George Floyd. If you aren’t able to safely participate in protests, you can join them by making a donation to dismantle systematic racism through the Black Lives Matter online forum. This is an easy way to fuel the campaign for justice.

Another option to assist the BLM movement is through sharing local black creators on social media. Other ways you can help is through signing petitions, educating yourself using online resources, and speaking out rather than remaining silent.

Silence is violence in this ongoing fight. We urge you to get involved in any way you are capable of.

What's Trending

Charleston Trivia! How well do you know your city?

Why is Charleston called the Holy City?

Turns out, there’s actually some debate about that. While Charleston certainly boasts an impressive collection of historic churches, the Post & Courier’s research indicates the phrase came from correspondence between a USC history professor and Charleston Renaissance author John Bennett in the early 1900s.

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What famous haunted restaurant in town is named after a dog?

That would be Poogan’s Porch, one of Charleston’s oldest independent culinary establishments. Formerly a historic home, Poogan’s is named after the owner’s original faithful pup and boasts a legacy of supernatural sightings. To this day, dogs of all kinds are welcome at the restaurant (#Pooganspups), though few get to try the infamous Lowcountry cuisine.

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How long is the Ravenel Bridge?

If you’ve spent any time in downtown Charleston you’ve seen the large, beautiful white arches of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge going across the Cooper River. The bridge is 13,200 feet total in length, connecting Charleston to Mount Pleasant, and is a popular destination to walk, run and bike!

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The South Carolina Aquarium has a special care center for which animals?

Boasting thousands of residents (from American alligators to fiddler crabs), Charleston’s aquarium facilities also include a Sea Turtle Care Center. Turtles come in, are given medical treatment, and eventually released back to the wild. Check the website to see ongoing status updates for these sweet animals, and donate if you can!

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Eat & Drink

How to Donate to Charleston Workers in the Service Industry

Following a mandatory suspension of dine-in services by Governor McMasters, many local restaurants are struggling and can use the community’s help. Charleston City Paper has been hard at work compiling resources that the public can use to give back, help local restaurants and service workers, and get a good bite to eat in the meantime.

For those looking to directly support restaurant staff that have been affected by reduced hours and closures, the website Serviceindustry.tips allows you to tip a random local worker in Charleston via Venmo or Cash App. Local blog Holy City Sinner has also started a “Virtual Tip Jar” to help Charleston food service workers where people can tip random workers via a spreadsheet.

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Additionally, multiple restaurants have created fundraisers to help staff and raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts. Local restaurant group The Midnight Society has created digital phone wallpapers available to purchase that benefit eateries like Early Bird Diner and Park Pizza Co. Butcher & Bee has created a “Pay It Forward” campaign making provision gift bags with essentials like eggs, milk, and vegetables. These bags, available with a $10 donation, will be given to unemployed restaurant employees.

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Those who are out of work can stop by Lewis Barbecue for something to eat. They will be serving 100 free meals every Thursday to displaced workers in the food and beverage industry (use the promo code “CHSstrong.”) Local hot sauce company Red Clay is also donating 15% of online sales to displaced industry employees, and providing provision bags to Butcher & Bee.

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For those self-distancing on an empty stomach, multiple local restaurants can also be enjoyed via take-out apps like UberEats, Doordash and Grubhub, as well as via curbside pickup to limit potential exposure. Click here for a continuously updated list of restaurants that are still open.

Events

6 Things To Do In Charleston This Month – March 2020

Charleston Wine + Food Festival (March 4-8)

The annual Charleston Wine + Food Festival is coming up! Check out their website for more information on the events and ticketing. Since the festival is less than a week away, tickets are limited and some events are already sold out. So, buy your tickets while they’re still available! This is one of the biggest events of the year in Charleston and is always a big success. So many amazing restaurants participate in the festival and some of the best chefs in Charleston are showcased. Don’t miss out!

Charleston Antiques Show (March 6-8)

The Gaillard Center will be hosting the annual Charleston Antiques Show for another year. The 3-day event will showcase 17th to mid-century modern English, European, and American period furnishing, decorative & fine art, architectural elements, garden furniture, vintage jewelry, silver and more. Tickets are $20, which includes unlimited entrance for the 3 days. On Sunday guests can enjoy a complimentary Bloody Mary while walking through the exhibits as well! Single day admission tickets are not available to purchase and all proceeds from the Charleston Antiques Show events benefit the preservation initiatives of the Historic Charleston Foundation. Checkout their website for more information!

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! (March 17)

Beginning at 10am at St. Patrick’s Church on King and Radcliffe, the parade will make its way down King St. to Broad. There will be Irish dancers, fiddlers, firetrucks and more! Come join the celebration!

Charleston Bluegrass Festival (March 20-21)

Located in the Charleston Woodlands, this 2-day festival features some of the best bluegrass artists. There will be local eats, vendors and full service bars. Single day tickets are available for purchase and camping is an option as well if you would like to stay for the weekend in the Woodlands.

Charleston Brunch Festival (March 21)

Head over to The Bend in North Charleston for the Charleston Brunch Festival, hosted by Charleston Wine Festivals! This event is a celebration of brunch, with brunch bites from local restaurants, mimosas, Bloody Mary’s, and live music! The Brunch Festival will be from 12-4pm, although early entrance tickets are available for an extra cost. You must be 21 to attend.

Pet Fest (March 21)

Bring your pets out for a day of fun at the Palmetto Islands County Park! This event is from 11am-4pm and is $8 for admission, and if you bring pet food or a pet supply donation you can save $3 on admission. There will be a dog parade, pet contests, dog show and more activities for you and your pet! Food and beverages will be available for purchase and there will even be an off-leash beer garden with live music from 12-4.