At 1083 East Montague Avenue in North Charleston, Jackrabbit Filly is Shuai and Corrie Wang's New Chinese American restaurant. The couple started with the Short Grain food truck in Charleston, then built this East Montague spot around food inspired by Shuai's mom and grandma.

The menu keeps that story moving through karaage, dumplings, rice bowls, cocktails, and lunch dishes that trace back to Short Grain. In 2025, Shuai was named a South Carolina Chef Ambassador and appeared on Top Chef, but the room still feels like a neighborhood place.

Read more here.

The Gist: Union Pier Terminal is moving into a new phase after Charleston's last cruise ship docked and departed. Mayor William Cogswell said the city wants a better balance between tourism and quality of life, while Beemok's Miller Harper and SC Ports CEO Micah Mallace said the redevelopment will move incrementally and focus on public access, green space and long-term port priorities.

Why It Matters: Union Pier is one of Charleston's most consequential waterfront sites, and its reuse will affect downtown traffic, tourism, flooding work, public access and how much of the harbor residents can actually use.

What's Next: The city says public input for the new tourism management plan and Union Pier's official redevelopment process will roll out in the next couple of months.

Read more here.

The Gist: Former North Charleston City Councilman Jerome Heyward was sentenced Tuesday to 72 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to 14 counts. Prosecutors said he pocketed $65,000 through extortion, bribery, wire fraud and kickbacks tied to city business, a Baker hospital site rezoning request and grants to nonprofits.

Why It Matters: The case is a public-trust marker for North Charleston because federal prosecutors and Judge Richard Gergel described Heyward as the ringleader of multiple corruption schemes while he held city office.

What's Next: The broader corruption case is not fully closed, with Rose Lorenzo still awaiting sentencing after entering a guilty plea in May.

Read more here.

The Gist: Charleston County School District is set to build two early learning center additions on James Island, one at James Island Elementary and one at Stiles Point Elementary. The $38.5 million project will serve 500 students, add a 34,000-square-foot Stiles Point expansion for 300 students and a 22,000-square-foot James Island Elementary expansion for 200 students.

Why It Matters: The additions would expand public early-childhood capacity in a market where South Carolina early learning centers average $10,747 a year, while also removing mobile units at Stiles Point and stirring traffic and cemetery-proximity concerns near James Island Elementary.

What's Next: The James Island Elementary addition is expected to open in August 2027, and the Stiles Point Elementary addition is expected to be completed in October 2028.

Read more here.

The Gist: Lowcountry law enforcement agencies conducted a multi-jurisdictional operation last weekend targeting illegal street racing and reckless driving, resulting in five arrests and five vehicle seizures. Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis said a new state law gives deputies power to seize vehicles and charge bystanders, and officials said some meetups can draw more than 150 people.

Why It Matters: Sheriffs and police from Berkeley, Dorchester, Charleston and North Charleston framed the crackdown as a public-safety issue, warning that large late-night racing gatherings can involve alcohol, firearms and cars losing control around teenagers and spectators.

What's Next: Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie said agencies will keep monitoring and responding to illegal meetups even when organizers try to move locations.

Read more here.

🎶 Music on the Green | Freshfields Village | Johns Island | Friday, July 3, 6:00-9:00 pm | More
Free outdoor concert with Tru Sol on the Village Green, with blankets and chairs encouraged.

🎆 Waterfront Independence Day Celebration | The Cooper and Joseph Riley Waterfront Park | Charleston | Saturday, July 4, 4:00-10:00 pm | More
Family programming, waterfront performances, and a peninsula-wide fireworks show at 9:40 pm.

🎇 City of North Charleston July 4th Festival | Riverfront Park | North Charleston | Saturday, July 4, 5:00-9:30 pm | More
Free festival with live music leading into a 9:00 pm fireworks display over Riverfront Park.

🎬 Bingo and Movie Night: Zootopia 2 | Freshfields Village | Johns Island | Wednesday, July 8, 6:30-10:00 pm | More
Outdoor bingo followed by a PG screening of Zootopia 2 on the Village Green.

💦 Family Happy Hour | Charleston Aqua Park | Johns Island | Wednesday, July 8, 4:30-6:00 pm | More
Kids 6 and up can tackle the aqua park, with check-in at 4:00 pm and snacks on site.

🎵 Firefly Music Bingo | Firefly Distillery | North Charleston | Friday, July 3, 7:00-9:00 pm | More
Free indoor music bingo with cocktails, prizes, and Cousins Maine Lobster on site.

🚢 4th of July Dinner Cruise | SpiritLine Cruises | Charleston | Saturday, July 4 | More
Three-hour harbor dinner cruise with a four-course meal, live entertainment, and fireworks views.

🎤 Matt Maeson | Charleston Music Hall | Charleston | Wednesday, July 8, doors 7:00 pm, show 8:00 pm | More
Alternative singer-songwriter Matt Maeson brings the Watch My Step Tour with Joe P.

🎸 Armor For Sleep | Music Farm | Charleston | Wednesday, July 8, doors 7:30 pm, show 8:00 pm | More
Emo rock lineup with Armor For Sleep, Spanish Love Songs, and Flycatcher.

🧘 Starlight Yoga | Folly Beach County Park | Folly Beach | Thursday, July 9, 7:30-8:30 pm | More
Evening beach yoga session at Folly Beach County Park under the summer sky.

Thanks for reading our newsletter! We'll have more updates for you next week!

Click here to follow us: Facebook | Instagram

Business owners: Want to reach Charleston readers? Reply to this email for info.