Charleston Daily is a concept in community. Its mission is to promote, assist, and celebrate in everything Charleston, South Carolina. By partnering with businesses, community leaders, volunteers and events, we are spreading the love that is Charleston.
As this city continues to grow and prosper, we want to help spread the message to all about how wonderful this community is.
Charleston is about the people, community, water, land, history, heritage and the true southern warmth it brings with each and every day.
Forbes acknowledged South Carolina’s strategic initiatives in cultivating a diverse economy, particularly in automotive manufacturing, aerospace, and next-generation energy industries, with universities playing a pivotal role.
Here is what the article said specifically about South Carolina
South Carolina has been building a new economy anchored in partnerships with automotive manufacturing, aerospace, and next-generation energy industries. Electric vehicle and battery-related companies have announced billions of dollars of investments in the state.
Clemson University created five Innovation Campuses across South Carolina to take its research and expertise directly to industry, including centers on advanced automotive research, energy, human genetics, biomedical engineering, and advanced materials. The Army and Clemson are working together on a $40 million partnership to develop next generation autonomous ground vehicles.
Growing the workforce is a top issue for the state’s auto industry. To help, Clemson created a master’s in automotive engineering, and launched the nation’s first Ph.D. in automotive engineering and first bachelor of science in automotive engineering.
Further, Clemson’s energy research center is home to the $98 million Dominion Energy Innovation Center. The facility houses the world’s most advanced wind-turbine drivetrain testing facility, as well as the Duke Energy eGrid, which can simulate the electric grid of any country in the world.
The University of South Carolina’s Office for Innovation, Partnerships and Economic Engagement builds industry partnerships across its eight campuses, such as the McNair Aerospace Center’s partnerships with Siemens, Gulfstream, and Boeing. The University of South Carolina is one of only six institutions in the United States selected for Boeing’s Accelerated Leadership Program, which hosts students for two summer sessions within the company. The program also pays for students’ junior and senior year tuition in return for working at Boeing after graduation.
Both Clemson and the University of South Carolina came together with other partners from the state’s academic and industry community, including the Savannah River National Laboratory, to form the SC. Nexus advanced energy consortium. SC Nexus recently won federal designation as a high-tech hub in clean energy supply chain, making it eligible to compete for a federal grant worth $50 to $75 million.
The monument would become the first honoring a single Black person on the grounds
By Sylar Laird and Seanna Adcox
COLUMBIA — A bipartisan group of South Carolina legislators wants to add a statue on Statehouse grounds commemorating Civil War hero and lawmaker Robert Smalls.
If approved, the statue would be the first monument honoring an individual Black person at South Carolina’s capitol complex. A monument that honors the struggles and contributions of Black South Carolinians from the slave trade through the 20th century became part of a 2000 compromise that took the Confederate flag off the Statehouse dome. Black trailblazers are recognizable in the carved panels, but no one is identified.
Robert Smalls. (Library of Congress/Provided)
All of the stand-alone monuments, markers and statues memorializing specific South Carolinians on Statehouse grounds honor white men.
The bill advanced unanimously Thursday from a House subcommittee would create an 11-member commission to design and raise money for a monument to Smalls and decide where on Statehouse grounds to put it.
In 1862, Smalls hijacked a Confederate supply ship he worked on, steered his family to freedom and delivered the ammunition-laden vessel to the Union. He went on to become a state legislator and five-term congressman.
“I’m looking forward to bringing my children up here to see this monument so I can say, ‘Hey, listen, these are the people that represent you. This is an individual that looks like you, that came from the type of things that your ancestors come from and was able to overcome all of the obstacles that were set out against him,’” said Rep. Jermaine Johnson, a Black Democrat from Hopkins.
Smalls’ story resonates with people regardless of their race or political party, said Johnson, who joined with Rep. Brandon Cox, a white Republican from Goose Creek, to lead the effort.
“I think this is one we can all unite around,” Johnson said.
Thirty-three other legislators have signed on to the bill, including House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter. That suggests smooth passage through the House, where all proposals concerning changes to war-related monuments have been off limits since the 2015 debate that removed the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds for good.
A multi-pronged, years-long effort
Thursday’s vote comes a year after lawmakers designated every May 13th “Robert Smalls Day” in South Carolina: It was in the early morning of May 13, 1862, that Smalls carried out his daring plan to commandeer the steamship Planter and pilot past Confederate forts to the Union blockade in Charleston Harbor.
The state Senate has separate plans to recognize Smalls inside the Statehouse.
Legislation introduced by Majority Leader Shane Massey and co-sponsored by the entire Senate commissions a portrait of Smalls to hang in the chamber where he served from 1870 to 1874. Money is being raised for it. A vote on the Senate floor should be soon, Massey said. Since the resolution pertains only to the Senate’s walls, no House vote is even needed.
But Massey said he doesn’t have a problem with a monument to Smalls outside.
“If anyone is worthy of having a monument on the grounds, Robert Smalls would certainly be considered,” said the Edgefield Republican.
His only concern, he said, would be where to put another monument.
Moratorium
That question helps explain why the Legislature enacted a moratorium in 2007 against adding any more monuments on the capitol complex. It followed dedication of the Law Enforcement Memorial in 2006, the largest on Statehouse grounds, which came a few months after dedication of the Armed Forces of the U.S. Veterans Monument, the second largest. (The African American History Monument, dedicated in 2001, is the third largest.)
“We didn’t want it to turn into a Disney World-type thing,” Sen. Rex Rice, R-Easley, said about why he sponsored the moratorium. (He was in the House at the time.)
But the law putting on the brakes to more and bigger monuments allows for exceptions through a process.
Extra permission steps for a Smalls monument include supermajority approval by the joint House-Senate Statehouse Committee. Judging from the bill’s unanimous support Thursday and the leaders who have signed on, Johnson said he doesn’t expect a problem.
The vote shows a willingness that didn’t exist six years ago, when Sens. Greg Gregory (a white Republican) and Darrell Jackson (a Black Democrat) introduced legislation calling for a Statehouse monument to Smalls.
“Robert Smalls was both a warrior and peacemaker, both a combative and kind man who accomplished incredible feats,” Gregory, who didn’t seek re-election in 2020, said in a joint news conference with Jackson before filing the measure. “Unfortunately, few people know of this man — one of our greatest citizens — and we’re seeking to change that.”
But that legislation went nowhere.
It came amid an escalating national debate over statues honoring Confederates and historical figures with ties to slavery.
Unlike in other places around the country, no statue was toppled on Statehouse grounds. That’s partly due to a 2000 state law — part of the compromise that first took the rebel flag off the dome — that required supermajority approval from the Legislature to remove, rename or just generally disturb any war-related memorial on public property statewide.
After the contentious 2015 debate that removed the Confederate battle flag entirely from its perch on the Statehouse’s front lawn, then-House Speaker Jay Lucas vowed there would be no further debate over any exemptions to the so-called Heritage Act under his watch.
A crowd cheers as a South Carolina state police honor guard lowers the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds on July 10, 2015, in Columbia. (John Moore/Getty Images)
And Lucas, who left office in 2022, followed through with that pledge. No legislation to add, subtract or alter monuments came up while Lucas was at the helm, even after the state Supreme Court overturned the requirement for supermajority approval.
But legislators’ opposition to debating monuments is generally over their removal, rather than additions, Massey said.
Even calls for the removal of former governor (1890-94) and U.S. Sen. Ben “Pitchfork” Tillman, an avowed white supremacist who advocated killing Black people who tried to vote, have gotten no traction whatsoever. The reason many people learn about him is because of that statue on the Statehouse’s front lawn, GOP legislators have said, and while his violent racism is despicable, he had a profound impact on South Carolina’s history that should be learned and understood. It’s his 1895 state constitution that still governs South Carolina.
Legislators leading the effort to get Smalls onto Statehouse grounds were very clear: Their proposal does not mean removing or replacing anything.
“We’re simply memorializing somebody in South Carolina history that has shown leadership and grace and fortitude,” Cox said.
Who else is recognized with a monument?
U.S. President George Washington
Revolutionary War Capt. Swanson Lunsford (gravestone)
Dr. J. Marion Sims, “father of modern gynecology” (who learned by experimenting on female slaves)
John C. Calhoun (inside the Statehouse), congressman, secretary of war, vice president, U.S. senator, and champion of slavery
Wade Hampton III, Confederate general and first post-Reconstruction governor
Ben Tillman, former governor and U.S senator
James Byrnes, former congressman, U.S. secretary of state, U.S. Supreme Court justice and S.C. governor
Smalls, born a slave in Beaufort in 1839, was sent to Charleston at age 12 to be hired out. When the Civil War began, he was an enslaved crew member of the steamship Planter contracted out to the Confederate army, which, with his skills, he was trusted to pilot. (Slaves were not supposed to be hired as pilots.)
It was when the white crew members were ashore for the night in Charleston that he and other enslaved workers on the ship fired up the ship’s boilers and picked up their family members at a wharf. Disguised in a captain’s hat and knowing the signals to give, Smalls steamed through a gauntlet of Confederate guns to freedom, according to the National Park Service.
Smalls became the first Black man to pilot ships for the U.S. Navy, using his knowledge of the Charleston Harbor to fight the Confederate ships there. Eventually, the Navy made him a captain and gave him command of the same ship he used to escape.
In 1864, when Beaufort was occupied by the Union, Smalls used the prize money Congress gave him for capturing the Planter to buy at auction the mansion of the man who enslaved him, according to the National Park Service.
During the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, he was part of the majority-Black convention of delegates who wrote the state’s 1868 constitution that undid the Black Codes and promised free education for all children and voting rights to all men. It was that constitution that resulted in Congress readmitting South Carolina to the Union.
Smalls was then elected to the state House, then the state Senate before winning a seat in Congress in 1874.
His five terms in the U.S. House are especially remarkable when considering they followed the end of Reconstruction, as the newfound rights of freed slaves were being overturned and often violently reversed. The state constitution rewritten in 1895 formally rolled back education and voting rights and ushered in the Jim Crow South.
My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be the equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.
– Robert Smalls on Nov. 1, 1895, a month before the state’s new constitution was ratified
Smalls, a Black delegate to the mostly white 1895 convention, pleaded for a constitution guaranteeing “fair and honest” elections, even while recognizing the purpose of the convention — organized by “Pitchfork” Tillman — was to disenfranchise Black voters.
After Smalls’ death in 1915, his story mostly faded from history until the early 2000s, when Beaufort residents started calling for a national park site telling Smalls’ story.
A Reconstruction Era National Monument was established by President Barack Obama’s January 2017 executive order. Two years later, it became a national park that includes Smalls’ home, which remained in the family until the 1950s, a visitor center a few blocks away, and the church where he’s buried.
“I just can’t think of anybody else that I would go and say, ‘Hey, let’s put a statue of this person on the grounds,’” Cox said. “Robert Smalls was that person.”
The monument
A Statehouse monument honoring Smalls would be funded by private donations, Cox said.
How much would be needed is not yet known. Other monuments put on Statehouse grounds over the last 25 years would cost from $489,000 to $2.8 million to build today, due to inflation.
For example, the bronze-and-granite sculpture of former governor and U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, installed in 1999 with $850,000 from private donors, would have cost about $2 million to reconstruct in 2023. And the African American History Monument, which cost $1.2 million — also from private donors — would now take $2.8 million, according to thestate’s Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office.
If legislators give their approval, the size and look of the Robert Smalls statue would depend on how much money people donate. Cox said he’s confident the money will come.
“To put Robert Smalls in the South Carolina capitol? Oh yeah, we’re definitely getting money for this,” Cox said. “I’m not worried about that at all.”
We are so proud to feature one of the most talented and innovative photographers and visual creators in the Charleston community, Victoria Armstrong, founder and owner of Victorious Photography. Victoria once again has also been nominated by her peers and clients as a finalist for Best of Charleston – Top Portrait Photographer.
Let’s learn a little bit more about Victoria and the inspiration behind her business:
Victoria Armstrong – Owner, Victorious Photography
Victoria Armstrong is a seasoned photographer of 14 years based in this charming city of Charleston, SC. Specializing in family, fine art and boudoir photography, her work captures the emotive depth and timeless elegance. With her infectious energy and passion, she transforms every session into a journey of love and empowerment.
Beyond her photography business, Victoria is passionate about sharing her knowledge and expertise with others. As a respected figure in the photography community, she has established herself as an educator, both in person and digitally, reaching aspiring photographers worldwide. Through workshops, online courses, and mentorship programs, Victoria empowers fellow photographers to refine their skills and helps build successful careers in photography.
Charleston, South Carolina, is a fantastic destination for a family weekend getaway. Here are some fun and family-friendly activities to enjoy with your kids:
Hop aboard a charming horse-drawn carriage and explore the historic streets of Charleston. Learn about the city’s rich past, architecture, and fascinating stories.
Head to Folly Beach for some sun, sand, and waves. Build sandcastles, swim, and enjoy a family picnic.
Remember to check the specific hours of operation and any reservation requirements for these attractions. Have a wonderful weekend exploring Charleston with your kids!
State Library Announces 2023 Notable State Documents Winners
The South Carolina State Library is pleased to announce the selection of the most notable South Carolina State Documents of 2023. Government documents come in a variety of formats. Winning categories include state agency monographs, serials, and websites or apps. These noteworthy publications call attention to some of the most informative documents released by state agencies in 2023. Winners of the South Carolina Notable State Documents awards are announced in honor of Freedom of Information Day, which occurs annually on March 16. Awards will be presented to the winning agencies and authors in a ceremony to be held at 10 a.m. at the State Library on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. For more information about the awards program, please visit our subject guide.
Nominations for the Notable Documents Awards were submitted throughout the calendar year, with final candidates being judged by a panel of librarians and state employees.
Publications were judged based on their designs, writing styles, and breadth of information. The judges chose a unique group of twelve publications and websites for recognition, including a report on the effects of social isolation on older adults, a lovely annual publication showcasing the state’s agriculture industry, and a newly redesigned website by the agency charged with guiding the development of the arts in our state.
Leesa Aiken, South Carolina State Library director said, “South Carolina state documents provide a wealth of information, statistics, and share a broad range of knowledge about our state. I am pleased that we are able to publicly recognize these important publications and websites as notable documents and it is my hope that all South Carolina state agencies continue to produce high quality documents such as these.”
Department on Aging, South Carolina Institute of Medicine & Public Health
While social isolation finds its way to all ages, this focus centers on the impact it has on older adults in our state. In this report, readers learn about the effect social isolation has on the physical and mental health of older adults. The recommendations in the report are noted as the top areas of concern, and include suggested ways to reduce problems associated with social isolation in our most vulnerable population.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission children’s tree identification guide is designed for families to use while visiting Harbison State Forest to learn more about the basics of tree identification. The guide includes leaf characteristics, types of fruit/flowers, bark characteristics, the difference between hardwoods and softwoods, common tree species found on Harbison, and fun facts from Serrated Sam, the leaf character found on the cover. The guide is intended to be completed alongside an adult with access to a smartphone and directs families to go on a fun tree ID activity to try to identify 10 different tree species.
The South Carolina Office of Resilience is responsible for developing and implementing a
Strategic Statewide Resilience and Risk Reduction Plan (Resilience Plan). This Resilience Plan is intended to serve as a framework to guide state investment in flood mitigation projects and the adoption of programs and policies to protect the people and property of South Carolina from the damage and destruction of extreme weather events. The Plan identifies major flood risks around the state and potential losses that could occur as a result of extreme weather events, and provides guidance on ways communities can better anticipate, absorb, recover and thrive when presented with environmental change and natural hazards.
*Note: This publication must be downloaded to open. Click on the PDF file to download.
This informational booklet describes FDTC’s Early College Academy (ECA) program, an innovative way for high school students to earn both a high school diploma and complete an associate degree in the time it takes to attend high school. Completing the program allows students quicker entrance into the workforce or entry into a 4-year college with junior status. FDTC’s ECA program requires maturity and dedication, and is academically rigorous, but makes it possible for students to eliminate two college years and accumulated debt.
This publication comprises a research study, completed by New South Associates (NSA), of multiple African American Settlement Communities on both James and Johns Islands in Charleston County, South Carolina for the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s (SCDOT) Mark Clark Expressway Expansion Project. This investigation sought to compile and create a “cultural atlas” of the identified communities that the respective communities can use for future cultural heritage preservation.
Oral history interviews were gathered from May through June of 2022. This report brings collected narratives and archival information together with historic images and maps to present a historic context for James and Johns islands. Specific examinations of each settlement community for which information was gathered follow that broader historic context. The report also includes an atlas, both visual and narrative, of identified sites and areas across both islands that are associated with the various settlement communities, as well as a bibliography.
Serials
Grown in SC* I South Carolina Department of Agriculture
Grown in SC is an annual publication by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. Complete with striking graphics and photography, it is produced to promote and highlight agriculture and agribusiness in South Carolina. This year’s issue features “Ag Facts,” articles on the beekeeping experience, a quail habitat program, flower farming, sweet potato recipes, and much more.
*Note: This publication must be downloaded to open. Click on the PDF file to download.
Established in 1978, the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium was created to manage and administer the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Sea Grant College Program for the South Carolina and adjacent regions that share a common heritage. The South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium publishes Coastal Heritage, a quarterly publication that covers environmental policy, science, history, and culture.
This issue, from Fall, 2023, features an extensive article on Carolina bays, which are shallow, elliptical depressions found in the unconsolidated sediments throughout the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Some believe they were created by a shower of meteorites. Also included are regular features exploring Consortium related news and happenings around the state.
The South Carolina Department of Children’s Advocacy (DCA) completely redesigned its FY22 annual report to more clearly communicate our program operations and overarching legislative duties, as well as to note the achievements and benchmarks we hit during the fiscal year and what we set out to achieve in FY23.
The DCA began operation on July 1, 2019, and is an independent state agency that examines the care and services that other state agencies provide children. The agency recommends ways to improve the quality of those services through the development and promotion of a broad vision for statewide reform.
Statistical Profile FY 2021-2022| South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs This profile contains information on the fiscal year 2021-2022 demographic shifts in the 21st century, economic and employment trends, educational attainment and occupational selection, housing and homeownership, poverty, public assistance, and health insurance coverage, linguistic diversity, ethnic identities, and citizenship in SC’s minority communities, and conclusions and suggestions. The purpose is to help ascertain certain areas where South Carolina’s minority populations have consistently experienced socio-economic deprivations, particularly in educational attainment and homeownership.
Websites
South Carolina State Museum Website: scmuseum.orgI South Carolina State Museum The State Museum’s website, rebuilt from the ground up this year with a focus on accessibility, showcases how guests can explore South Carolina’s rich history in-person and online. This new website also features a digital collection database, launched this fall, which allows educators, students, researchers and others to explore the museum’s collection digitally for the first time in its 35-year history. This new feature allows the museum to share more of the over 1.1 million artifacts, artwork, fossils and specimens in its care as only a small portion of their collection is on display in its galleries. Additionally, this robust website offers more opportunities to explore the state (and museum’s) history through podcasts, deeper dive articles and more.
South Carolina Arts Commission Website: southcarolinaarts.comI South Carolina Arts Commission
On June 7, 1967, Governor Robert E. McNair signed legislation that established the South Carolina Arts Commission. For more than 50 years, the agency has worked to build a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians.
The newly redesigned website features the results of a nearly 18-month process to better represent the work of the Arts Commission and the people it serves. The Commission wanted a look that showed boldness, demanded attention, and was fresh and original. This new brand hints at a vibrant, dynamic team. Special highlights of the site are Arts Daily, which directs users to art events around SC; The Hub, reporting on news happening around the state related to the arts; and a grants directory for artists, organizations, and schools.
South Carolina Secretary of State Website: sos.sc.gov I South Carolina Secretary of State The Office of the Secretary of State is mandated to serve as the state filing office for business corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships and limited liability companies. In addition to business filings, the Secretary of State’s Office examines and files state trademarks, maintains the state notary public database, and issues commissions for elected officials and those appointed by the Governor.
The goal of the Secretary of State’s website is to provide the public with easy access to information and services from the convenience of home or office. This website is designed to serve as a one-stop portal for accessing general information, completing important tasks online, and providing information specifically related to each division. Whether one is a new user who is visiting to learn more about this office and what is done there or a returning visitor who simply needs to complete a filing online, the public is invited to take advantage of this convenient resource.
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About the S.C. State Library
The South Carolina State Library develops, supports, and sustains a thriving statewide community of learners committed to making South Carolina stronger. The Library serves the people of South Carolina by supporting state government and libraries to provide opportunities for learning in a changing environment. It is the primary administrator of federal and state support for the state’s libraries. In 1969, as the result of action by the General Assembly, the State Library Board was redesignated as the South Carolina State Library and assumed responsibility for public library development, library service for state institutions, service for the blind and physically handicapped, and library service to state government agencies. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Library is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and other sources. For more information, please visit statelibrary.sc.gov or call 803-734-8666.
When it’s raining in Charleston, SC, there are still plenty of fun indoor activities to enjoy. Here are some suggestions:
Explore the Charleston Museum: It’s the oldest museum in the United States and offers fascinating exhibits on Charleston’s history, culture, and natural history. You will be part of history as it just celebrated its 250th Anniversary!
Visit the South Carolina Aquarium: Spend a few hours exploring the diverse marine life found in the region. You can see sharks, sea turtles, otters, and many other aquatic creatures. This is wondrous and educational fun for the entire family and situated in the heart of the Charleston Harbor.
Tour the Gibbes Museum of Art: Discover the rich artistic heritage of Charleston through its extensive collection of American art. The museum showcases a variety of mediums and styles.
Take a historic house tour: Charleston is known for its beautifully preserved historic homes. Many offer guided tours, allowing you to step back in time and learn about the city’s architecture and lifestyle. You will never see such elegance and grace!
Escape rooms: Challenge your problem-solving skills by participating in an escape room experience. Gather a group of friends or family and work together to solve puzzles and find your way out within a set time limit. Can you outwit your friends and family?
Enjoy a cooking class or culinary tour: Sign up for a cooking class where you can learn to prepare Lowcountry cuisine. Discover the secrets behind dishes like shrimp and grits or she-crab soup, and savor the flavors of the region. We are in fact one of the top foodie towns in the national!
Visit a trampoline park: Bounce, jump, and flip to your heart’s content at an indoor trampoline park. It’s a great way to burn off some energy and have a blast, regardless of your age. Charleston offers 3 great options to bounce around!
Check out a local brewery or distillery: Charleston has a vibrant craft beer and spirits scene. Take a brewery or distillery tour to learn about the brewing/distilling process and enjoy some tastings.
Remember to check the operating hours and availability of these activities, as they might be subject to change or require reservations. Enjoy your rainy day in Charleston!
After over a year of heavy debate, the permitless firearm carry is now legal in South Carolina. Governor Henry McMaster on Thursday afternoon, March 7, 2024, signed the bill, which was prefiled in the state House of Representatives in December 2022.
After a joint committee with members of both chambers met Tuesday, that committee’s report was approved by the House later the same day and by the Senate on Wednesday.
Here are some things you need to know about the new law:
There are restrictions of where an individual may carry a gun, such as hospitals, doctor’s offices, churches, many government buildings, schools, polling places, detention facilities, post offices, or personal residences without permission. Some places, such as churches and doctor’s offices, may choose to allow individuals to carry weapons onto the premises.
Businesses have the right to label themselves as a gun-free zone.
The new law enables individuals 18 and older who are legally allowed to own firearms to carry them, openly or concealed, without requiring training or registration for a permit.
Representative Bobby Cox (R-Greenville), the Vice President for Government Affairs at Sig Sauer, a firearms company, was the lead sponsor of the bill.
South Carolina becomes the 29th U.S. state with a permitless carry law.
Click HERE for the entire history of the legislation.
When you visit Charleston, South Carolina, prepare your taste buds for a delightful culinary adventure. Here are five must-try food items that capture the essence of this charming city:
Carolina BBQ: The secret to Carolina barbecue lies in its tangy sauce—a blend of yellow mustard, vinegar, brown sugar, and spices. Head to Rodney Scott’s BBQ on Upper King Street for whole hog ‘cue, spare ribs, pit-cooked chicken, and classic sides like macaroni and cheese, baked beans, and collard greens.
Frogmore Stew (Lowcountry Boil): This South Carolina specialty tastes like summer in a pot. Made with corn, shrimp, crab, potatoes, smoked sausage, onion, and a generous dash of Old Bay seasoning, you can savor it at Bowen’s Island Restaurant.
Shrimp and Grits: A signature Low Country dish, the combination of tender shrimp and savory grits is satisfying day or night. For a classic take, visit Poogan’s Porchon Queen Street.
Raw Oysters: If you’re a seafood lover, head to The Ordinary on Upper King Street. This renovated 1920s bank houses a stunning raw bar where you can enjoy East Coast oysters.
She Crab Soup: Similar to New England lobster bisques, this Holy City classic features crab roe, Atlantic crab, dry sherry, and heavy milk or cream. You can find it at 82 Queen.
Bon appétit! Charleston’s culinary scene awaits you with open arms.
Geriatric Loan Forgiveness Program accepting applications
Columbia, SC — The Geriatric Loan Forgiveness Program incentivizes physicians in the fields of geriatrics and geriatric psychiatry to practice medicine in South Carolina by helping to repay their medical school debt. Only physicians who have completed fellowships or are in the process of completing fellowships in geriatrics or geriatric psychiatry are eligible to apply.
Successful applicants must meet certain criteria. The application deadline is April 30, 2024. This program is only for geriatric fellows.
In exchange for a commitment to practice geriatric medicine in South Carolina for at least five years, eligible doctors can compete to receive a $35,000 grant to help repay their medical school debt. Physicians who practice geriatrics may have medical school debt above $250,000.
“South Carolina’s senior population is growing exponentially, and we do not have enough geriatricians to meet this influx of seniors,” South Carolina Department on Aging Director Connie Munn said. “The Geriatric Loan Program was created to bring some of our nation’s most elite practitioners of geriatrics to South Carolina by offering to repay a portion of their medical school debt. Our seniors deserve the best!”
Since its inception in 2005, the Geriatric Loan Forgiveness Program has awarded more than 28 physicians over $840,000 to repay their medical school debt. This program is the first of its kind in the nation.
For more information about the Geriatric Loan Forgiveness Program, contact Aging PSA Help at psahelp@aging.sc.gov.
TOP SOUTHERN CITIES, NEW RESTAURANTS, BARBECUE JOINTS, TRAVEL STOPS, AND MORE REVEALED
COVER STARS MATTHEW AND CAMILA MCCONAUGHEY SHARE THEIR LOVE OF TEXAS AND A TASTE OF THEIR NEW TEQUILA
NEW YORK and BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Southern Living announces the winners of its eighth annual South’s Best Awards, recognizing readers’ favorite Southern destinations and experiences. For the eighth year in a row, Charleston, South Carolina has been voted the South’s Best City, and for the first time, Wilmington, North Carolina claims the top spot for the South’s Best City on the Rise. In-depth coverage of the winners appears in the April issue of Southern Living, on sale March 22 and on SouthernLiving.com here.
South’s Best 2024
This year’s South’s Best Awards survey results reveal the South’s Best Cities on the Rise, plus the Best Cities, Best Small Town in Every State, Best New Restaurants, Best BBQ in Every State, and more. The special double issue’s cover features Matthew and Camila McConaughey talking about family, their connection to Texas, and the creation of their tequila brand, Pantalones.
“From the beaches and charm of Wilmington, North Carolina, our top city on the rise, to the hidden desert gem of Marfa, Texas, this year’s South’s Best Issue celebrates the places and experiences that define our beloved region,” said Sid Evans, Editor in Chief of Southern Living. “We’re thrilled to have Matthew and Camila McConaughey on our cover, whose love of the Lone Star State embodies the spirit of the South’s Best Issue.”
Highlights of Southern Living’s 2024 South’s Best Awards survey results are as follows:
South’s Best Cities – Top 10 1. Charleston, SC 2. Savannah, GA 3. Nashville, TN 4. New Orleans, LA 5. Asheville, NC 6. Greenville, SC 7. Atlanta, GA 8. Austin, TX 9. Raleigh, NC 10. Orlando, FL See the full list here.
South’s Best Cities on the Rise – Top 10 1. Wilmington, NC 2. Franklin, TN 3. Spartanburg, SC 4. Huntsville, AL 5. Columbia, SC 6. New Braunfels, TX 7. Bowling Green, KY 8. Cary, NC 9. Alpharetta, GA 10. Bentonville, AR See the full list here.
Best New Restaurants – Winner in Each State Alabama: 1856 (Auburn) Arkansas: Nosh Nola (Bentonville) Florida: Norman’s (Orlando) Georgia: Brochu’s Family Tradition (Savannah) Kentucky: House of Marigold (Louisville) Louisiana: Miss Shirley’s Chinese Restaurant (New Orleans) Maryland: Little Donna’s (Baltimore) Mississippi: Sambou’s African Kitchen (Jackson) North Carolina: Salted Melon (Charlotte) Oklahoma: Nātv (Broken Arrow) South Carolina: Vern’s (Charleston) Tennessee: The Pink Hermit (Nashville) Texas: Veracruz Fonda (Austin) Virginia: Birdie’s (Richmond) West Virginia: The Vandalia Co. (Charleston)
For methodology and more results from Southern Living South’s Best 2024 survey, including the full lists in every category, visit SouthernLiving.com.
ABOUT SOUTHERN LIVING Southern Living celebrates the essence of life in the South, covering the best in Southern food, homes, gardens and travel. Southern Living connects consumers to the region’s rich culture through a robust multi-platform presence, including print, digital and social as well as its Biscuits & Jam podcast and licensing partnerships. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Southern Living is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
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