Charleston Daily Seeking all the beauty that is Charleston, South Carolina

Tickets are now on sale for one of the Lowcountry’s most anticipated holiday traditions

The holiday season will once again glow across the Lowcountry as Brookgreen Gardens’ Nights of a Thousand Candles returns in 2026, transforming the historic gardens into a spectacular nighttime celebration illuminated by thousands of candles and millions of lights.

Tickets are now available for this year’s event, giving visitors an opportunity to begin planning one of the region’s most memorable holiday outings.

Located in Murrells Inlet, Brookgreen Gardens is a longtime Lowcountry destination known for its sculpture gardens, historic significance, wildlife and expansive grounds. During Nights of a Thousand Candles, the gardens take on an entirely different atmosphere as pathways and landscapes are illuminated after dark.

Brookgreen describes the event as its largest seasonal affair and one of the most popular holiday events in the Lowcountry. The preparation begins months in advance, with Brookgreen’s teams working throughout the year on the lighting installations and event experience.

2026 Dates

Nights of a Thousand Candles will be presented on select evenings from November 27, 2026, through January 3, 2027.

The 2026 schedule includes:

• November 27–29
• December 3–6
• December 10–13
• December 17–20
• December 29–31
• January 1–3

The event runs from 4 to 9 p.m. on scheduled evenings.

The extended holiday run also gives visitors the opportunity to experience the gardens after Christmas and into the New Year.

What to Expect

The centerpiece of the evening is the illuminated landscape, where thousands of hand-lit candles and millions of lights create a completely different experience from a daytime visit to Brookgreen.

Guests can stroll through the gardens after sunset while taking in the elaborate lighting displays, decorated trees and illuminated sculptures.

The event has become an annual tradition for families, couples, friends and visitors looking to experience the holiday season in a distinctly Lowcountry setting.

2026 Ticket Prices

Tickets are currently available through Brookgreen Gardens.

For Brookgreen members, admission is:

Adults: $35
Children ages 4–12: $15

For non-members:

Adults: $40
Children ages 4–12: $20

Children age 3 and younger are not listed among the paid ticket categories.

Brookgreen also offers special pricing information for groups of 20 or more adults.

Plan Ahead

Because Nights of a Thousand Candles is one of the Lowcountry’s most popular holiday events, visitors planning to attend a particular evening should purchase tickets in advance.

Brookgreen also cautions visitors to purchase tickets only through its official website or authorized ticketing company. The gardens specifically warn that tickets purchased elsewhere may not be valid.

Parking is complimentary, including accessible parking in the main lot. Visitors should also be aware that the Lowcountry Zoo and Floyd Family Farm are closed during Nights of a Thousand Candles.

A Lowcountry Holiday Tradition

For generations of Lowcountry visitors, Brookgreen Gardens has been a place to experience art, nature and history. During the holiday season, Nights of a Thousand Candles adds another dimension to the gardens — one filled with candlelight, glowing trees and the unmistakable feeling of Christmas in the South.

With tickets now on sale, the countdown to the 2026 holiday season has officially begun.

Nights of a Thousand Candles
📍 Brookgreen Gardens
1931 Brookgreen Drive, Murrells Inlet, SC
📅 November 27, 2026 – January 3, 2027, select evenings
⏰ 4–9 p.m.
🎟️ Tickets: $35–$40 for adults; $15–$20 for children ages 4–12

Purchase tickets and see the complete 2026 schedule at Brookgreen Gardens⁠

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Los Angeles indie-pop trio Cannons will bring their “The Everything Glows Tour” to Charleston Music Hall on Monday, October 12, 2026, with special guest Caroline Kingsbury.

The concert is scheduled for 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. The show is all ages. 

Tickets and event information — Charleston Music Hall⁠

A new chapter for Cannons

Cannons — Michelle Joy, Ryan Clapham and Paul Davis — have built a following around their atmospheric blend of indie pop, electronic production, hypnotic synths and Joy’s distinctive vocals.

The Charleston appearance comes as the band tours behind its fifth studio album, Everything Glows, released March 27, 2026. The 11-track album represents a new creative chapter for the group, exploring themes including heartbreak, codependence, personal struggles and liberation. 

The band has described the period surrounding the album as an opportunity to rethink the way it works, writes and records. The result is a record centered on the group’s connection and its experience navigating difficult personal and professional periods.

From “Fire for You” to

Everything Glows

Cannons’ rise has included international touring, festival appearances, television performances and billions of global streams. The band’s 2019 song “Fire for You” became a major streaming success and remains one of its best-known tracks.

According to the Charleston Music Hall, Cannons have accumulated more than 1.4 billion global streams and have performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as well as major festival stages. 

The band’s current set is expected to draw from Everything Glows while incorporating songs from its earlier catalog.

Caroline Kingsbury opens

Joining Cannons in Charleston is Caroline Kingsbury, whose synth-driven pop incorporates elements of 1980s maximalism and New Romantic influences. 

Event Details

Cannons: The Everything Glows Tour
📅 Monday, October 12, 2026
📍 Charleston Music Hall
37 John Street, Charleston, SC 29403
🕖 Doors: 7 p.m.
🎵 Show: 8 p.m.
🎤 With: Caroline Kingsbury
👥 All ages

Official Event Page and Ticket Sales

The Charleston Music Hall is a cashless venue, and bags larger than 12” × 6” × 12” are not permitted. The venue also notes that it does not have an elevator, which is important for guests considering balcony seating. 

Listen to Cannons — Everything Glows⁠

Cannons official website⁠

For Charleston fans of dreamy synth-pop, atmospheric indie music and live electronic-infused performances, October 12 brings Cannons to the Charleston Music Hall for an evening built around the band’s latest musical chapter.

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

By Mark A Leon

There’s something about fall in the Lowcountry that makes even the warm weather feel a little more festive.

Pumpkins begin appearing at roadside stands and farms, corn mazes open their gates, hayrides return, and families start looking for the perfect place to spend an autumn afternoon.

From Charleston and James Island to Johns Island, Mount Pleasant, Summerville and Moncks Corner, there are plenty of places to find pumpkins and enjoy a little fall farm fun.

Here is the Charleston Daily 2026 Pumpkin Patch Guide for Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties.

Dates, hours, admission prices and activities can change during the season. We recommend checking directly with each location before heading out.

🎃 CHARLESTON COUNTY

Dreaming Farms — James Island

📍 1540 Camp Road, Charleston, SC 29412

Dreaming Farms returns for the 2026 season with its pumpkin patch opening September 19.

The family-owned farm offers pumpkins in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors, along with seasonal decorations, mums, local honey, jams, cider and other fall goods.

2026 Pumpkin Patch Hours:

• Sunday–Friday: 11 AM–7 PM
• Saturday: 10 AM–8 PM

Admission and parking are free, with pumpkins available for purchase.

The farm also features live music on Saturdays and Sundays and offers its Dreamscape service for creating elaborate fall pumpkin displays at homes, businesses and events. (Dreaming Farms⁠)

Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch — Mount Pleasant

📍 2434 N. Highway 17, Mount Pleasant

One of the Lowcountry’s largest fall traditions returns in 2026 for its 30th year.

The Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch combines pumpkin shopping with an extensive fall festival featuring a corn maze, family-friendly Halloween tractor tour, petting zoo, pig races, giant inflatables, rubber duck races, live performances, a HoneyBee exhibit, magic shows and LED mini-golf.

Pumpkins are sold by the pound in the pumpkin patch area.

Admission: $15 for ages 3 and up; children 2 and under are free with an accompanying adult.

2026 Dates

The festival runs select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from September 25 through November 1, generally from 10 AM–7 PM.

The Pumpkin Patch has a separate entrance from Boone Hall Plantation. Visitors should enter from 2434 N. Highway 17 rather than using the plantation’s Long Point Road entrance. Pumpkin Patch admission is also separate from admission to Boone Hall Plantation. (Boone Hall Plantation⁠)

Hibben UMC Pumpkin Patch — Mount Pleasant

📍 690 Coleman Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Hibben United Methodist Church traditionally operates its annual pumpkin patch throughout October, with pumpkins of various sizes available for purchase.

Proceeds support the church’s mission programs.

The church also hosts family-oriented activities in the pumpkin patch during the season.

2026 details: Check with Hibben UMC for this year’s exact operating dates and hours before visiting. (Charleston Moms⁠)

John Wesley United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch — West Ashley

📍 626 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407

The John Wesley UMC pumpkin patch is another longtime Charleston fall tradition.

Pumpkin sales support youth mission projects, including local and international mission efforts.

2026: Seasonal dates and hours should be confirmed directly with the church before visiting. (JWUMC⁠)

Carolina Pumpkins — North Charleston

📍 5140 Ashley Phosphate Road, North Charleston

Carolina Pumpkins offers pumpkins and a variety of fall decorating supplies, including:

• Cornstalks
• Wheat straw
• Mums
• Carving kits
• Seasonal decorations
• Build-a-Buddy activities

It is a convenient stop for families looking to decorate their homes for Halloween and fall.

The 2026 seasonal schedule should be confirmed directly with Carolina Pumpkins before visiting. (Charleston Moms⁠)

🎃 JOHNS ISLAND

Legare Farms

📍 2620 Hanscombe Point Road, Johns Island, SC 29455

One of the Lowcountry’s oldest working farms, Legare Farms has been operating continuously since 1725.

The farm’s fall season includes its popular pumpkin patch, hayrides, farm animals and other agricultural experiences.

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture lists the pumpkin patch as a seasonal October attraction, with typical operating hours:

• Friday: 3–6 PM
• Saturday: 10 AM–6 PM
• Sunday: 12–6 PM

Visitors should contact Legare Farms for specific 2026 pumpkin-patch dates and activities. (ACC⁠)

New for Halloween 2026

Legare Farms is also bringing back a haunted Halloween experience with Galloween Farm Event: Timber Scares, a nighttime haunted forest experience running on select Fridays and Saturdays beginning October 16 and continuing through Halloween.

The experience features five scare zones and live scare actors. (https://www.live5news.com⁠)

🎃 DORCHESTER COUNTY

The Pumpkin Patch at Mistletoe Lane — Summerville

📍 3408 Mistletoe Lane, Summerville, SC 29485

The Pumpkin Patch at Mistletoe Lane is back for the 2026 season, opening September 19.

The family-friendly seasonal destination features pumpkins in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, along with:

• Gourds
• Hay bales
• Cornstalks
• Seasonal flowers
• Carving kits
• Cider
• Kettle corn
• Cotton candy

2026 Hours:

• Sunday–Thursday: 12–7 PM
• Friday–Saturday: 10 AM–8 PM

Admission is free, although hours may vary. (What’s Up Summerville⁠)

Westbury Farms Pumpkin Patch — Summerville

📍 1005 North Gum Street, Summerville, SC 29483

New to the Charleston Daily 2026 guide, Westbury Farms offers a fall pumpkin experience with both U-pick and we-pick pumpkins.

The 2026 pumpkin season runs approximately September 13 through November 1.

The farm’s fall kickoff weekend includes pumpkins, a corn maze, market vendors, food trucks, live music and family farm activities.

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture lists Westbury Farms as a year-round agritourism farm with a fall U-pick pumpkin patch. (What’s Up Summerville⁠)

Knightsville Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch — Summerville

📍 1505 Central Avenue, Summerville, SC 29483

The Knightsville Methodist Church pumpkin patch returns in 2026 for its 25th year.

Pumpkins are expected to arrive October 3, with proceeds supporting the church’s mission projects.

Additional 2026 hours and activities are still being announced. (What’s Up Summerville⁠)

Hometown Roots Farm — Summerville

📍 1640 Calamus Pond Road, Summerville, SC 29486

Hometown Roots Farm offers a more traditional farm experience with seasonal pumpkin-patch activities, corn maze fun and hayrides.

The farm is located in the Cane Bay/Summerville area.

2026 public fall dates have not yet been announced, so check with the farm before making plans. (What’s Up Summerville⁠)

🎃 BERKELEY COUNTY

West Farm Corn Maze — Moncks Corner

📍 1542 Cooper Store Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461

West Farm returns in 2026 with its annual fall corn maze and farm experience.

The attraction includes:

• Two corn mazes
• Pumpkin Barn
• Hayrides
• Farm animals
• Children’s play areas
• Corn pits
• Hay bale maze
• Food trucks
• Picnic areas
• Special events

The 2026 season runs October 3 through November 1, with public hours generally Wednesday through Sunday, 10 AM–8 PM.

Admission is $10 for ages 3 and up on weekdays and $15 on weekends. Children 2 and under are free. Military, first responders and seniors receive a $2 discount with valid ID.

The farm’s 2026 corn maze theme is “USA 250!” (West Farm Corn Maze⁠)

🍂 MORE LOWCOUNTRY FALL FUN

The pumpkin-patch experience is only part of the Lowcountry’s fall season.

Families can also find seasonal markets, farm activities, hayrides, corn mazes, Halloween events and community festivals throughout Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties.

For those looking for a quieter farm experience, Full Circle Farm on Johns Island also offers seasonal pumpkin activities and farm experiences.

And for families who want to combine pumpkins with a broader fall outing, West Farm, Boone Hall and the various Summerville-area farms offer opportunities to turn pumpkin shopping into an entire afternoon.

🎃 PLAN YOUR FALL ADVENTURE

Whether you’re looking for the perfect carving pumpkin, a family photo backdrop, a corn maze, a hayride or simply an excuse to spend an October afternoon outside, the Lowcountry has plenty of options.

From James Island to Mount Pleasant, Johns Island to Summerville, and Moncks Corner to West Ashley, pumpkin season is another reminder that fall in Charleston has a character all its own.

Know of a 2026 pumpkin patch or fall farm experience we missed?

Send Charleston Daily the information and we’ll continue updating this guide throughout the season.

🍂 Happy Fall, Charleston! 🎃

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

By Mark A Leon

From locally made gifts and custom hats to the Gibbes Museum, a new seafood restaurant and a hidden urban garden, lower Meeting Street is becoming one of downtown Charleston’s most interesting places to spend an afternoon.

There is a certain magic to walking through Charleston’s French Quarter.

The architecture is familiar. The streets are historic. The church steeples and galleries have been part of the city’s visual landscape for generations.

But look a little closer — and especially look down lower Meeting Street — and a newer Charleston begins to emerge.

Here, local makers, artists, designers, museums, restaurants and gathering spaces are creating a walkable experience that feels both distinctly Charleston and very much of the moment.

It is a stretch where you can shop for something made by a Charleston artist, design a custom hat, spend an hour surrounded by American art, sit down for a seafood dinner and find a quiet garden to escape the pace of downtown — all within a few blocks.

Look Up Charleston: Local Creativity on Display

At 128 Meeting Street, upstairs, Look Up Charleston has evolved from a traditional gift-focused concept into something closer to an art collective, gallery and local marketplace under one roof.

The space brings together dozens of Charleston-area artists, artisans, photographers and designers, offering everything from fine art and photography to jewelry, fashion, handmade gifts and unexpected pieces that are difficult to find anywhere else.

For visitors, the appeal is discovery.

There is no single aesthetic or price point. A shopper might walk in looking for a small Charleston gift and leave with a piece of original art. Someone else might come looking for a painting and discover handmade jewelry, fashion or a locally designed keepsake.

With working artist studios incorporated into the space, Look Up Charleston also offers a glimpse into the creative process behind the merchandise.

The philosophy is simple: local artists, local makers and locally created goods — all in one place.

Southern Ruetz: Shopping Becomes an Experience

At 128 Meeting Street, Southern Ruetz adds another distinctly Charleston experience.

Its hat bar turns shopping into an activity, allowing customers to build and personalize their own hat with different bands, accessories and embellishments.

It is part retail store, part creative experience and part souvenir-making opportunity.

For visitors, that means leaving Charleston with something more personal than a typical souvenir — something they helped create themselves.

And for the French Quarter, it represents a broader shift toward retail experiences that encourage visitors to participate rather than simply browse.

The Gibbes Museum: A Cultural Anchor on Meeting Street

A short walk away, the Gibbes Museum of Art provides one of the area’s most important cultural stops.

The museum’s galleries offer an opportunity to explore American art while also gaining a deeper understanding of Charleston’s own artistic history and influence.

For anyone spending an afternoon on lower Meeting Street, the Gibbes provides an easy transition from shopping to culture — a reminder that Charleston’s identity has always been closely tied to creativity.

The museum also regularly brings art, food and community together through special events and programming.

In other words, you don’t have to spend an entire day at a museum to make the Gibbes part of your Charleston itinerary. It can easily become one stop in a larger French Quarter experience.

Cheeky Brings a New Dining Chapter

Then there is food.

The arrival of Cheeky adds another reason to explore the area, bringing the Neighborhood Dining Group’s newest concept to Meeting Street.

The seafood-focused restaurant is designed around coastal dining, with a menu expected to include oysters, sashimi, seafood towers, whole fish and other seafood-driven dishes alongside cocktails, wine and bubbles.

Its location places it squarely in the middle of a neighborhood already filled with galleries, shops and cultural attractions.

For visitors, that creates an appealing itinerary: shop, explore, see some art, have a drink and stay for dinner.

And for locals, it gives another reason to revisit a part of downtown that continues to evolve.

American Gardens: An Urban Pause

Then, perhaps unexpectedly, there is a garden.

At 174 King Street, American Gardens offers nearly an acre of green space in the middle of downtown Charleston.

Mature trees, open lawn, fountains and pathways create a place to slow down — something that can be surprisingly difficult to find during a busy day in the heart of the city.

It is the kind of place that doesn’t necessarily require an itinerary.

You can sit. Walk. Meet a friend. Attend an event. Have a quiet moment beneath the trees.

And then continue exploring.

One Walk, Many Charleston Experiences

That may be what makes lower Meeting Street so compelling.

You don’t have to decide whether your Charleston afternoon will be about shopping, art, food or history.

It can be all of them.

Start upstairs at Look Up Charleston and explore work from local artists and makers. Stop into Southern Ruetz and create something of your own. Walk to the Gibbes and spend time with American art. Make your way to Cheeky for seafood and cocktails. Then wander over to American Gardens and take a few minutes beneath the trees.

It is a distinctly Charleston combination — historic streets, independent businesses, art, food and unexpected places to pause.

And while the French Quarter has never needed much help attracting visitors, lower Meeting Street is quietly becoming one of the places where Charleston’s past and present feel especially close together.

Sometimes, the best way to experience Charleston is simply to slow down, walk a few blocks and look around.

SEO Headline

Lower Meeting Street in Charleston: Shopping, Dining, Art and Attractions in the French Quarter

Suggested Meta Description

Explore lower Meeting Street in Charleston’s French Quarter, featuring Look Up Charleston, Southern Ruetz, the Gibbes Museum, Cheeky and American Gardens — all within a walkable downtown experience.

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

By Mark A Leon

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Sometimes a superhero really is in the right place at the right time.

On September 10, 2025, WYFF reported on an incident that recently unfolded at Falls Park on the Reedy in downtown Greenville, where an 18-year-old local known as the “Greenville Spider-Man” helped rescue two people who had become stuck near the waterfall. 

According to the teen, he saw one of the individuals nearly slip and immediately sprang into action. He climbed across the rocks, found a place to brace himself and helped pull the person to safety until emergency crews could arrive. 

The rescue was more than a one-time act for the young man behind the mask. He regularly patrols downtown Greenville in his Spider-Man costume, interacts with children and visitors, picks up litter and looks for opportunities to help people in need.

He is also CPR-certified and says he listens to an EMS scanner so he can respond to emergencies and provide assistance while waiting for first responders. 

“My intention is to help the people of Greenville, protect and honestly spread kindness along the way.”

That philosophy has helped turn the Greenville Spider-Man into a local social-media sensation — but his most memorable appearances may be the ones where the costume becomes secondary to simply helping another person.

In a city known for its beautiful downtown and Falls Park, this particular Spider-Man is offering a reminder that sometimes being a hero isn’t about superpowers.

It’s about seeing someone who needs help — and stepping in.

📸 Photos courtesy of Greenville Spider-Man
– www.instagram.com/greenvillespiderman⁠

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

By Mark A Leon

Charleston’s restaurant industry is one of the city’s most recognizable economic engines — but behind the polished dining rooms, award-winning chefs and increasingly large restaurant groups, a number of businesses are also dealing with lawsuits, financial disputes, ownership battles and contract litigation.

A review of current Charleston County court records, federal court filings and recent court reporting identified several significant cases involving Charleston restaurants and restaurant groups.

The cases vary considerably. Some involve relatively ordinary contract disputes. Others reach into questions of ownership, millions of dollars in alleged financial transfers, unpaid loans and the financial collapse of a multi-state restaurant group.

Importantly, a lawsuit is an allegation, not a finding of wrongdoing, and several of the cases remain unresolved.

Church & Union: A restaurant caught in an ownership and financial dispute

Perhaps the most consequential current dispute involving a Charleston restaurant is the legal battle surrounding Church & Union Charleston and the 5th Street Group.

The downtown restaurant was established through 5Church Charleston LLC, involving Patrick Whalen and outside investors. Court records describe Whalen as the company’s manager and say he owns a 40% interest, while WP Church holds a 35% interest. Whalen also leads Fifth Street Group, which operates other restaurants under the Church & Union umbrella and related concepts. (North Carolina Courts⁠)

The dispute has centered on allegations by minority investors concerning the handling of money involving the Charleston restaurant and affiliated businesses.

The investors have alleged that millions of dollars were transferred to affiliated concepts without proper authorization and have raised breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims. Those allegations have been contested.

The litigation has now moved beyond a simple ownership disagreement.

In September 2026, a court ordered limited receivership involving Church & Union Charleston, with BDO Consulting Group overseeing restaurant expenditures and debt payments. The development represents an unusual level of court involvement in the operation of a functioning Charleston restaurant. (Bizjournals⁠)

The broader litigation has also produced extensive court findings concerning the ownership structure and relationship between the Charleston restaurant and Fifth Street’s other restaurants. (Midpage⁠)

Why this matters

This isn’t simply a disagreement between business partners.

It raises a larger question for Charleston’s increasingly consolidated restaurant industry:

What happens when a local restaurant’s finances become intertwined with a larger restaurant group and affiliated concepts in other cities?

That question is particularly relevant as Charleston continues to attract multi-concept hospitality companies.

Rodney Scott’s BBQ and the Pihakis collapse

Another major Charleston restaurant legal story involves Rodney Scott’s BBQ and the financially troubled Pihakis Restaurant Group.

A lender, Itria Ventures LLC, sued Rodney Scott’s BBQ Charleston LLC and several Pihakis-related companies in Charleston County in April 2026.

The lawsuit alleged that the defendants defaulted on a $350,000 loan. The loan documents called for payments of nearly $11,800 twice a month for 18 months and carried a 25.99% annual interest rate. (WCIV⁠)

The defendants included:

• Rodney Scott’s BBQ Charleston LLC
• RSBBQ Partners LLC
• Nick Pihakis
• Pihakis Restaurant Group LLC
• Pihakis Investment Group III LLC
• JER Spirits Investments LLC

A Charleston County judge subsequently entered a default judgment totaling approximately $391,425.39, including interest, costs and attorney fees. (https://www.wbrc.com⁠)

The lawsuit arrived just days before Rodney Scott’s Charleston restaurant abruptly closed in May.

The closure was part of a much larger financial crisis involving Pihakis Restaurant Group, which had restaurants and concepts in several states. (WCIV⁠)

The financial fallout has continued.

Nick Pihakis filed personal Chapter 7 bankruptcy in August 2026, listing more than $44 million in liabilities against approximately $10.6 million in assets, according to reporting based on the bankruptcy filing. (https://www.wbrc.com⁠)

The Itria judgment has also begun traveling beyond South Carolina. In September, the lender filed in Alabama seeking recognition of the South Carolina judgment so it could pursue assets there. (https://www.wbrc.com⁠)

The Charleston connection

This case illustrates how quickly financial problems at a regional restaurant group can become a Charleston story.

Rodney Scott’s was not simply another restaurant. It was a nationally recognized Charleston barbecue destination.

And while the lawsuit names multiple Pihakis-related entities, the legal claims should not be interpreted as allegations against pitmaster Rodney Scott personally beyond the parties specifically named in the litigation.

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

By Mark A Leon

A new restaurant is getting ready to add some energy to downtown Charleston’s Meeting Street dining scene. Cheeky, the newest concept from The Neighborhood Dining Group, is scheduled to open September 30 at 151 Meeting Street, just steps from the Gibbes Museum of Art. 

For Neighborhood Dining Group, Cheeky adds another concept to a Charleston portfolio that already includes Husk, Marbled & Fin, Delaney Oyster House, Minero and The James American Grill. The group operates seven restaurants across Charleston and other Southern markets and says hospitality is at the center of its mission. 

Cheeky takes a different approach from some of its sister restaurants, describing itself as a seafood restaurant inspired by the world’s great coastlines. The menu is expected to move from oysters and sashimi to a seafood tower, whole fish and fresh pasta, accompanied by bubbles, highballs and the restaurant’s signature mini cocktails known as “Cheekies.” 

The 151 Meeting Street location also puts Cheeky in the middle of one of downtown Charleston’s most walkable cultural and shopping corridors. Guests can pair dinner with a visit to the Gibbes Museum of Art, then explore nearby independent businesses including Look Up Charleston and Southern Ruetz at 128 Meeting Street. Just around the corner, American Gardens offers a nearly one-acre downtown greenspace between King and Meeting streets.

With Cheeky, Neighborhood Dining Group is adding another distinctive dining experience to a stretch of Meeting Street already filled with art, shopping, history and hospitality.

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

Photo Credit: Cheeky

Related: Look Up Charleston Indoor Downtown Art Collective: Where Local Art, Heart, and Community Converge

By Mark A Leon

A tiny Harleston Village bistro has earned a major national spotlight, with Merci in Charleston named to The New York Times’ 2026 Restaurant List — its annual collection of 50 favorite restaurants across the United States.

Merci, located at 28 Pitt Street in Harleston Village, opened in March 2025 and is owned by chef Michael Zentner and his wife, Courtney. The intimate restaurant occupies a former corner grocery and has just 24 seats. 

The Times describes Merci as a French and Lowcountry bistro, highlighting its changing menu, French technique, Lowcountry ingredients and what it calls clever twists on familiar dishes. Among the dishes specifically mentioned are housemade focaccia with stracciatella and Benton’s ham, leeks vinaigrette with Cheddar and mint, and a beef Wellington for two. 

The recognition is particularly notable because The New York Times does not rank the 50 restaurants. Instead, the publication calls them its “50 favorite places in America right now.” For the 2026 list, a team of 16 reporters and editors traveled throughout the country. The Times says its reviewers ate as regular diners would — making reservations, standing in lines and occasionally walking in unannounced — and paid for their meals rather than accepting complimentary food. 

Merci is the only South Carolina restaurant on the 2026 list. 

The Times’ Patrick Farrell wrote that the restaurant’s small size can make securing one of its 24 seats something of an “odyssey,” but characterized the welcome at the end as feeling like a homecoming. 

The national recognition comes just 18 months after Merci opened, making the Charleston restaurant one of the newer establishments to receive a place on this year’s national list.

The New York Times’ Complete 2026 Restaurant List

The list is not ranked. Here are all 50 restaurants, organized alphabetically by state:

Alabama

1. Little Bird — Fairhope
2. Perennial — Montgomery

Arizona

3. Durant’s — Phoenix

Arkansas

4. Lasang Pinoy — Rogers

California

5. Yerord Mas Bakery and Deli — Glendale
6. Komal — Los Angeles
7. Jacaranda — Los Angeles
8. Restaurant Naides — San Francisco
9. Mesa Agricola — Escondido
10. Bar Panisse — Berkeley

Colorado

11. Heretik — Denver
12. Milpero — Denver

District of Columbia

13. Rye Bunny — Washington, D.C.
14. Albi — Washington, D.C.

Florida

15. Tin Tin — Miami
16. The Tides Market — Safety Harbor

Georgia

17. So. Fox — Atlanta

Hawaii

18. Māze — Honolulu

Illinois

19. Creepies — Chicago
20. Kouklas Greek Eatery — Niles

Louisiana

21. Dakar NOLA — New Orleans
22. Dolfy’s — New Orleans

Maine

23. Douro — Portland

Maryland

24. Chef’s Counter at Burnt Hill Farm — Clarksburg

Massachusetts

25. Dalia — Boston

Michigan

26. Tacos Wuey — Detroit
27. Roses — Detroit

Minnesota

28. Khue’s Kitchen — St. Paul

Missouri

29. Anjin — Kansas City

New Jersey

30. Korai Kitchen — Jersey City

New Mexico

31. Leo’s — Santa Fe

New York

32. Bistrot Ha — New York City
33. Meju — New York City
34. Yamada — New York City
35. Zoli — New York City

North Carolina

36. Big Cat — Raleigh

Ohio

37. Rosy — Cleveland

Oregon

38. Hayward — Carlton
39. OK Chicken and Khao Soi — Portland

Pennsylvania

40. Titusz — Pittsburgh
41. Bomb Bomb — Philadelphia

South Carolina

42. Merci — Charleston

Tennessee

43. Junior — Nashville
44. Cauponor — Nashville

Texas

45. Paprika — Austin
46. Elemi Taqueria — El Paso

Utah

47. Junah — Salt Lake City

Washington

48. Passage — Langley
49. Hama Hama Oyster Saloon — Lilliwaup

Wisconsin

50. La Sirena — Ephraim

The complete list and individual restaurant descriptions are published by The New York Times. 

For Charleston, the takeaway is simple: a 24-seat neighborhood bistro that opened only in March 2025 is now part of a national restaurant conversation — putting Merci and Charleston’s food scene in the spotlight alongside restaurants from 38 states and Washington, D.C. 

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

Photo Credit: Merci

By Mark A Leon

Mount Pleasant is about to get a whole lot closer to one of Charleston’s favorite dim sum destinations.

The team behind Chef Loong Dim Sum & Soup Dumplings in West Ashley is preparing to open Loong Yan, a new dim sum restaurant at 341 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, in the former White Duck Taco Shop space.

According to public notice information and details shared by the restaurant team, owners Emely Yan and Yupeng Lin are planning a restaurant with more than 150 seats, bringing many of Chef Loong’s popular offerings across the Cooper River.

The menu is expected to feature hand-rolled dumplings, noodles, scallion pancakes, bao and other dim sum favorites. One particularly fun feature planned for the new restaurant is a glass viewing area, allowing diners to watch dumplings being made.

The opening is currently being targeted for within the next month, giving Mount Pleasant diners a new option for soup dumplings and freshly prepared dim sum.

For fans who have been making the trip to West Ashley, Loong Yan could make that craving considerably easier to satisfy.

Loong Yan
📍 341 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, SC
🥟 Dim sum • Soup dumplings • Noodles • Bao
👥 150+ seats planned
👀 Open kitchen-style dumpling viewing area planned

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.