Porch Construction in Downtown Charleston, SC

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The Holy City, aptly named for its skyline dotted with towering church steeples, is home to an array of historic worship sites. Here’s a list of some of Charleston’s most famous churches that are holding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.

Grace Church Cathedral / 98 Wentworth Street, Charleston

Grace Church Cathedral is an Episcopal church first consecrated for worship in 1848 by Bishop Christopher Gadsden. Over the years, the structure has weathered damage from earthquakes, hurricanes, and Civil War shelling. Although it has undergone extensive repairs, Grace Church stands today as a gathering space for worshippers.

Here are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service times:

Wednesday, Dec. 24 – 6 pm and 11 pmThursday, Dec. 25 – 10 am

Bethel United Methodist Church / 57 Pitt Street, Charleston

Bethel United Methodist Church is a self-described open faith community with a rich history. Established at the corner of Calhoun and Pitt Street in 1797, the church served both Black and white members until 1852. The first building, a National Historic Landmark, is Charleston’s oldest standing Methodist church.

The current house of worship was created in 1882 across the street from the previous site.

Here are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service times:

Wednesday, Dec. 24 – The Tableaux: A Bethel Tradition at 6 pm.

The Cathedral of St. John The Baptist / 120 Broad Street, Charleston

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist began in a temporary chapel blessed by Bishop John England, Charleston’s first bishop, in 1821, and was named in honor of St. Finbar, the patron saint of Cork, Ireland. In 1850, the foundation for the first cathedral was laid, but a fire broke out in 1861 that destroyed the structure.

The cathedral was later rebuilt on the site of the burned-down foundation and remains the only Catholic cathedral in South Carolina.

Here are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service times:

Wednesday, Dec. 24 – 7 pm Candlelight Vigil Mass, 9 pm Spanish Mass, 11:15 pm Christmas Choral Prelude followed by Midnight Mass

Thursday, Dec. 25 – 10 am Solemn Mass

St. Michael’s Church / 71 Broad Street, Charleston

St. Michael’s Church is part of the Anglican tradition and is housed in the oldest church edifice in the City of Charleston. Its cornerstone was laid in 1752, with the site open for service by 1761. Since its original opening, the cathedral hasn’t changed much except for the addition of a sacristy in 1883.

Notably, a scar can be seen at the base of the pulpit left after a shell burst near the chancel during the Federal bombardment of Charleston in 1865.

Here are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service times:

Wednesday, Dec. 24 – 6 pm Christmas Eve service with Holy Communion, 11 pm Christmas Eve service with Holy Communion

Thursday, Dec. 25 -10 am Christmas Day service with Holy Communion

Charleston's dining scene continued to flourish throughout the last 12 months.

The three Michelin stars the city received in the inaugural American South Guide showcased the Lowcountry as a restaurant destination sought out by travelers worldwide. Meanwhile, locals flocked to places on the Charleston peninsula and beyond, where growth continues to create new dining neighborhoods.

This list of the area's top five new restaurants to debut in 2025 underscores the trend of standout spots operating farther from the historically crowded dining corridors along King and East Bay streets. Find them tucked away on quiet downtown streets or in strip malls in Hanahan.

Visit each for gnudi, square pizzas, beef Wellington, chicken parmesan, lumpia and much more.

Cane Pazzo

Cane Pazzo (1276 Yeamans Hall Road), located in a strip center between North Charleston and Goose Creek, might not be on diners’ radar as much as other Italian newcomers, such as Pelato and Allora.

But it should be, for the food Mark Bolchoz is cooking in his first independent venture has personality, nuance and plenty of intrigue, with vegetables and heritage meats shining just as bright as the hand-rolled pastas.

Tantalizing aromas and an intense heat drift from Cane Pazzo’s open kitchen to the dining room, which has an elegance that might catch you by surprise. Servers well-versed in the selections likely will recommend starting with the sourdough bread, toasted until its crust crackles and center steams.

From there, guests can enjoy sharing pork and beef meatballs, gnudi with sweet potato and balsamic, truffle-showered fettuccine and more. The menu changes often, with Bolchoz relying on local ingredients to drive his modern Italian offering.

Kultura 2.0

Kultura opened in October at 267 Rutledge Ave., the former home of Chasing Sage. It moved in after operating its first two years at 73 Spring St. As the Filipino restaurant settles into its new and improved location, it's a great time to revisit the James Beard Award finalist’s cooking.

The new space has the same layout as its predecessor, but the vibe is completely different. Lit by Capiz chandeliers, the room features a standing counter set next to a colorful, roomy bar, clad in Spanish tiles and fit for a full meal.

The restaurant offers many of the top hits that helped earn Nikko Cagalanan a James Beard Award finalist nod in the Emerging Chef category — such as his comforting arroz caldo and braised duck adobo — with multiple key additions.

Lumpia, for instance, arrives in a banana leaf-lined basket looking like long, thin breadsticks. Golden fried breading wraps around a coil of ground pork laced with aromatic herbs, carrots and cabbage.

Other fun bites include hipon, the Filipino word for shrimp. Cagalanan’s are sourced from Tarvin Seafood and served head-on as part of a do-it-yourself platter. Grab a piece of nori, coat it in garlicky sticky rice and add a piece of shrimp. Roll it up and dunk it in a sticky wasabi soy for a Lowcountry spin on Filipino cooking.

Merci

Merci has been on the tip of locals’ tongues since it debuted in March. The restaurant’s stylish setting, precise plating and elegant emulations of French cuisine make this a place you'll want to visit regularly.

Depending on what’s ordered, four to six items should satisfy a party of two at Michael and Courtney Zentner's first restaurant, which they debuted after introducing themselves to Charleston through their private events company, The Drifter.

Some dishes arrive on their own, while others might be delivered as a pair. Plates and silverware are whisked away when each round is finished, readying the table for the next perfectly paced course.

No matter the night, Michael Zentner typically highlights some type of crudo, whether it’s tuna draped over green tomato and watermelon or snapper resting in a cucumber bath that could be likened to gazpacho. And the beef Wellington, whose soft, buttery meat is separated from flaky pastry by a traditional mushroom duxelle, has emerged as a signature dish.

Tutti Pizza

Some of the Charleston-area's best pizza right now is coming out of the deck ovens inside Tutti Pizza (700 King St.), owned by Femi Oyediran and Miles White of next-door wine bar Graft.

The new venture is a partnership with Anthony Guerra of Oakwood Pizza Box. The pies at his Raleigh restaurant, and now Tutti, are a nod to New York City pizzerias, like Di Fara and Umberto’s, that Guerra frequented as a kid.

Tutti operates a bustling takeout program, but these pizzas are best when enjoyed inside the well-lit dining room, which has an energy that's relaxed but upbeat. Guests who sit in one of the swivel stools at the bar can feel the heat from the deck ovens as they watch the restaurant’s chefs place dollops of mozzarella, pepperoni rounds and bits of sausage atop fresh-rolled dough.

Tutti offers traditional circular pies, as well as ones shaped into thick squares. The latter slices deliver everything I like in a pizza: a crisp but cushiony crust adorned in sesame seeds and a layer of melty cheese, slightly burnished from the high heat.

Volpe

Ken Vedrinski's new restaurant has remarkably remained under the radar since opening in the spring. Those who seek it out will find that it serves some of the very best Italian food in downtown Charleston.

Volpe's format highlights family-style dining. Diners receive multiple small appetizers, one pasta, a fish and meat course and dessert. What sounds like an imposing amount of food is actually just right, at least in my experience.

The parade of plates might start with tuna crudo, brown butter cauliflower, burrata and an exemplary Caesar salad. After an appropriate amount of downtime, pastas with duck sausage, crispy pork and flounder — breaded, pan-fried and topped with a sauce sweetened by warmed grapes — might arrive next.

Living just over the state line in North Carolina, I've visited Charleston more times than I can count. Most of my memories there are from spring and summer, when the temperature is hot and the azaleas are in bloom. But last December, my family planned a Christmas weekend in Charleston for the first time, and needless to say, it won’t be our last.

The Yuletide season is an amazing time to visit the Holy City—it isn't too cold, the crowds are smaller, and there are so many activities to enjoy. Here are my favorite things to do during a holiday weekend in Charleston.

Stay in the French Quarter Inn's Sleigh Bell Suite.

Staying in the French Quarter Inn's Sleigh Bell Suite is the perfect way for families with small children (or couples simply wanting to get away) to get in the festive spirit. From the moment you walk through the wreath-adorned door, it feels as if you're entering a Christmas fairy tale. Hand-decorated cookies and an en suite eggnog bar beckon guests to unwind by a fireplace decorated with stockings. And if you want to take some of that holiday charm home, you're in luck—suite guests receive a complimentary copy of Charleston native Darius Rucker's "Home for the Holidays" album. Best of all, for every Sleigh Bell Suite reservation, the inn will donate $100 to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Shop at the Marion Square holiday market.

On Saturdays and Sundays in December leading up to Christmas, Marion Square transforms into a holiday market. It's the ideal place to find handmade stocking stuffers created by local farmers, artisans, and crafters.

Indulge in a festive hotel tea.

At some of the city's top hotels, you don't have to spend the night to soak up the festive decor and indulge in seasonal treats. During the Nutcracker Tea at The Charleston Place, you can feast on Christmas-themed delights such as Sugar Plum pâté de fruit and Nutcracker mille-feuille, with the option to add a glass of bubbly. Due to hotel renovations, this year's Let it Snow event is exclusive to guests, but if the kiddos aren't quite ready to go home yet, check out the Letters to Santa station. The Loutrel hosts its own Holiday Tea Experience with optional mulled wine or hot toddies, plus other events like a cocktail crawl to help you discover the city.

See "A Christmas Carol" at the historic Dock Street Theatre.

There’s nothing quite like watching Charles Dickens' classic holiday story, "A Christmas Carol," performed live at the Dock Street Theatre, one of America's oldest (it dates back to 1736). This lively musical production, an annual tradition in Charleston, features more than 50 performers portraying the story's well-known cast of characters from Ebenezer Scrooge to Tiny Tim. Performances are likely to sell out, so order tickets (prices start at $63 per person) well in advance.

Eat fried seafood and fresh oysters at Fleet Landing.

When in the Lowcountry, good seafood is a must, and Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar is one of my family’s favorite stops. The waterfront restaurant is housed in a retired naval building and boasts a raw bar. With an ocean view, Christmas decor aplenty, and seasonal cocktails, spending an afternoon at Fleet is the perfect addition to any holiday itinerary.

Try the barbecue.

My husband and I never leave Charleston without dining at one of the many barbecue restaurants in town. Lewis Barbecue in downtown Charleston specializes in Texas-style barbecue and has fun options like green chile cheddar sausage, corn pudding, and nachos. James Beard Award-winning Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ is always on our list, too, along with Home Team BBQ (they have my husband’s favorite on the menu—burnt ends). And with winter's cooler weather, the holidays are the perfect time to indulge in Swig & Swine BBQ's hefty family platter, which comes with pulled pork, brisket, turkey, pork belly, sausage, ribs, chicken wings, and your choice of three sides. Can’t make it to Charleston? Lewis Barbecue offers nationwide shipping.

Drive through the Holiday Festival of Lights.

Make the short drive to James Island County Park, just 15 minutes from the heart of Charleston, for the annual Holiday Festival of Lights. Visitors can expect more than 750 light displays along a three-mile drive around the park. Allow plenty of time to park your car and explore the festival grounds, which offer snack stands, lots of shopping opportunities, a miniature train ride, and a carousel.

If you’re like us, one drive isn’t enough. Thankfully, cars have the option of making multiple passes through the displays. Be sure to purchase tickets (from $15 per vehicle) in advance to minimize wait times at the park.

Dive with elves at the South Carolina Aquarium.

The family-friendly South Carolina Aquarium is home to more than 5,000 animals. Here, visitors can observe American kestrels, barracudas, Goliath groupers, and even rehabbing turtles at the Sea Turtle Care Center. During the holiday season, activities include an interactive dive show with elves, Santa meet and greets, and hand-feeding a "ray-ndeer" (a.k.a. a cownose ray). But the space really shines at night, when the main lights go out during Aquarium Aglow, which features larger-than-life light installations and many photo opportunities with Santa.

CHARLESTON — A clothing brand valued at $5 billion and founded by reality TV star Kim Kardashian is preparing to join the downtown retail lineup.

The future site for the entrepreneur's newest Skims store, a three-story Italianate building at 243 King St., was most recently home to Pauline Books & Media, a religious shop that sold Bibles and other faith-based publications. It sits directly across from The Charleston Place, which is undergoing a $150 million renovation.

Kardashian is now moving in along with a slew of other businesses “coming soon” to King Street, according to @KingStChs, the official Instagram account for Charleston’s most well-known shopping corridor.

Fellow incoming tenants include: Alo, a yoga store at 245 King, Tommy Bahama at 307 King, and Palmetto Row Collective at 401 King, according to a Dec. 11 post.

Co-founded in 2019 by Kardashian and Jens Grede, Skims sells women’s underwear, loungewear and shapewear, offering a wide range of sizes in multiple skin tones.

The brand quickly gained traction for its inclusive selection and viral marketing promotions. Skims is expected to exceed $1 billion in sales this year.

In November, the brand announced a $225 million fundraising round led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives to accelerate plans to expand its brick-and-mortar footprint.

In September, the city of Charleston’s Board of Architectural Review considered approval for repairs and modifications for the tenant fit-out for Skims.

Meeting documents show renderings of a future storefront featuring the brand’s signature bubble-style font and mannequins wearing Skims shapewear.

According to the application, outfitting the space would not alter the building’s footprint, with work limited to interior upgrades and needed exterior repairs.

The Skims logo would appear on the awning valances, while three-dimensional “bubble” logos would be applied to the storefront glass. Additional work includes repairs to the cast-iron entry step and masonry stoop along with new finish tile at the landing, according to the proposal.

The board voted to approve the application, with the stipulation that no window tint be applied.

In May, the entire property sold for $8.35 million from the Daughters of St. Paul Religious Trust to 243 King Street Owner LLC, according to public real estate records.

The Daughters of St. Paul, a Roman Catholic religious order, purchased the building for $750,000 in 1984, land records show.

Pauline Books & Media closed in January 2023, and the nuns who ran the shop and lived in the upstairs residence have since relocated.

Skims currently operates 18 company-owned U.S. stores and two franchise locations in Mexico with its flagship in West Hollywood. The business will become “a predominantly physical retail brand in the coming years,” Goldman Sachs announced in November.

In recent years, Skims has also rolled out high-profile collaborations expanding into clothing with brands The North Face and Nike and became the official underwear partner of the WNBA women’s basketball organization. Celebrity campaigns for the brand have included the likes of singers Tate McRae and Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Munn, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Nia Long and more.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — A six-story housing community is coming to one of the most-used streets in downtown Charleston.

Henderson Park and Landmark Properties purchased about 1.2 acres at 500 East Bay St. for $16.5 million to build the Mark Charleston, which will feature 99 units and 335 beds.

Ben Chase, a senior broker with Cowell Banker Commercial Atlantic and spokesperson for the buyer and seller of the property, said the Mark Charleston will be open to students as well as young adults, people in the food and beverage industry and working-class individuals.

“These projects look to be live-work-play projects,” Chase said. “Hopefully, people will be living and working and playing in the surrounding area where there can be less traffic, and not on the road with their cars all day.”

A historic building at 77 Washington St. sits around the corner from the development site and was built in the late 1850s. Washington Street was home to several other historic buildings as well, and this is one of the last.

“As Charleston evolves, we have to be prepared for really smart growth,” Chase said.

He said this will be an opportunity to preserve its history and Charleston’s integrity by relocating and repurposing its bones, while accommodating the locals and newcomers as best as possible.

This purchase has been in the works for three years, and as the College of Charleston continues to grow, this will provide new areas for students to live as well.

“It presents an opportunity to spread these students out instead of having them in a large dense area and in the residential neighborhoods, which we all know there’s a good bit of pushback on,” Chase said.

But he says this is on purpose to avoid having one designated student hub in one residential area, plus because it won’t be entirely students.

“It’s good to spread everything out. It just keeps everything more civil. I believe that this location provides all of that and more,” he said.

The construction is said to be starting soon, with them “shovel-ready.” The project is expected to be completed for the 2027-2028 school year.