Upper King Charleston

Charleston Home Market and Upper King Design Walk a smashing success

Upper King Design District's Design Walk was a roaring success with record numbers of visitors, interesting special events and several surprises--did you see the red carpet treatment at King Street Kitchen Co.'s Sneak Peek! After Design Walk, both The Charleston Home Market's days, public and trade, were hits. Fabulous local artisans introduced their work appreciative buyers and gave Charleston a definitive spot on the Southeastern buying calendar. Fascinating and informative speakers included Susan Sully, John Paul Huguley, James Meadors and Judith Miller, and exhibitors included:

American College of the Building Arts
Aubergine Home
Avrett Fine Furniture and Lighting and Ole Charleston Forge
Boyd Boggs Furniture Design
Charleston Architectural Glass
Charleston Gas Light
Charleston Wood and Stone Carving
Craft Carpentry
Cone 10 Studios
Design 5 Workshop
Fisher Recycling
Ganesh Glass
Home Artisan, LLC
John's Island Woodworks
Lisa B. Studios
Lulan
Margo Kaufman Gallery
Mastriani Studios
Matt Decell, LLC
Meadors Construction
Michael James Moran Woodworked Furniture
Of the Young & the Restless, LLC
Palmetto Moon
PG Gault Design & Fabrication
Philip Simmons Foundation, Inc.
Threadhouse, Inc.
The Urban Electric Co.
WW & Co.

Ballerinas Gone Wild at the Charleston Ballet Theatre

This is no Swan Lake! The Charleston Ballet Theatre is all about fun in fishnets and stilettos in their production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show October 30 through November 1. All performances begin at 7:30 except Halloween when there's an additional performance at midnight. A perfectly wonderful, wild and crazy cult event for Charleston, right here in the Upper King Design District. At the Ballet's Black Box Theatre, 477 King Street. Purchase tickets at the box office, or go to the Charleston Ballet Theatre website.

Fair Trade Month

October is Fair Trade Month and Upper King Design District is fortunate to have Global Awakening in our neighborhood to remind us to support fair trade practices to end global poverty and protect the environment. Global Awakening is located at 499 King Street.

Travel and Leisure Readers Vote Charleston No. 1

According to the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Charleston has made the Travel and Leisure America's Favorite Cities List in several categories again this year.
"Charlestonians are America's friendliest people, grabbing the number one spot on the list in that category.  Charleston also took a place on every list in the shopping category for its antiques stores (No. 1), vintage stores/flea markets (No. 2) and local boutiques (No. 3).  As for quality of life/visitor experience, the Holy City got second-place rankings for its noteworthy neighborhoods and peace and quiet.
    “It is a tremendous achievement for the area to receive multiple recognitions in this poll,” says Frank Fredericks, Travel Council Chairman for the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Managing Director for Wild Dunes Resort.  “It is great to see that Charleston’s welcoming spirit and tradition of Southern hospitality remain on visitors’ minds long after they return home.”

Other Top Ten Rankings (click here to view the Travel and Leisure article):

No. 4 for Historical Sites and Monuments
No. 6 for Destination Restaurants
No. 2 for Thanksgiving Travel Destinations
No. 4 for Attractive People
No. 4 for Safety
No. 2 for Noteworthy Neighborhoods
No. 2 for Peace and Quiet
No. 1 for Antique Stores
No. 2 for Romantic Escape

Thursday, October 23rd • It's Design Walk!

Take a rickshaw to tour Midtown of Charleston's progressive urban neighborhood, just one block off King Street. Pickup at LESESNE.

See a free performance by The Charleston Ballet Theatre. It's The Lullaby of Broadway, a collection featuring numbers from South Pacific, 42nd Street, and other golden age of Broadway hits. The Ballet will also offer $5 off Rocky Horror tickets to anyone attending tonight's performance.

Grab a dog cookie at Three Dog Bakery and meet the winner of Pierre Deux's Posh Pets Design Contest,

See a Children's Art Show and participate in Family Science Night at the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry.

King Street Kitchen Co. will hold a sneak preview of what they do best--construction! King Street Kitchen Co. will have their real grand opening in mid-November. Watch this site for details.

Charleston Home Market staff will be on hand in several locations to discuss the exciting event happening Friday and Saturday at The Navy Yard at Noisette.

Celebrate Fair Trade Month at Global Awakening. Lots to see and you can feel good about your purchases. Down the street, singer, songwriter, guitarist Steve Fiore will be playing at Los Olas surf shop.

Preview Nancy Koltes' beautiful new linens. Right across the street from where you can frost your own Cupcake. Afterward, bounce back across to Felice Designs and around the corner to Max Jerome.

Don't forget to go to Spring Street to see see rlee and Suite Sole.

A lot going on tonight at Design Walk. You may just need a night at the Francis Marion to recover!

Music in the Air and Food on the Tables at Design Walk Tomorrow Night

Classical guitarist Gregory Daniel Guy will perform at California Closets from 5-8:00 pm.

Cupcake will feature Champagne and Cupcakes--what a combination! Their celebrity "froster" Jennet Alterman Robinson from Charleston's Center for Women will be on hand to encourage you to frost your own cupcake.

Then there's the late Happy Hour for Design Walkers...

Half-price champagne at Chai's.

Extended happy hour at Juanita Greenberg's.

That's Elise Testone (left) who will perform with piano player Matt Chase at Fish Restaurant after 8:00 pm. Enjoy the the signature High Fashion cocktail, appropriately named for Design Walk. Then, try the clams!

The Swamp Fox will feature Jazz Pianist Bill Howland. Chef Ryan Kacenjar will offer Small Plates at half price so that you can sample a variety of the offerings from his new Dinner Menu. Remember his Shrimp and Grits is award winning!

Design Walk Events: Book Signings at Blue Bicycle and Putumayo

On Thursday Blue Bicycle Books will host a signing by Mystery Thriller Author John Thompson for his long awaited and already critically acclaimed new novel Armageddon Conspiracy. Don't miss this important Design Walk stop, Blue Bicycle Books is at 420 King Street, directly across from the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For the art and literary minded, Jack Alterman will discuss and sign his book, Cornices in one of the Cornice locations, Putumayo. Putumayo's historic Charleston building is at  445 King Street, across the street from Nancy Koltes and Three Dog Bakery.

On the Marquis at the American Theater...

Design Walk • Upper King Design District • Thursday, October 23rd • 5-8:00 • Be there! Afterward, Elise Testone and Gerald Gregory at Fish.

It's Almost Here: Upper King Design District Design Walk Thursday, October 23rd

Charleston’s Upper King Design District is pleased to announce our Fall Design Walk, Thursday October 23--just a week away--from 5:00-8:00 pm. From Calhoun to Spring, stores will remain open late for shoppers, offering special events and refreshments. Many restaurants in the District will have food and wine specials after 8:00 pm, plus The Charleston Ballet Theatre will offer a free performance of dances from their upcoming season beginning at 8:00 pm.

This year’s Design Walk is particularly special because it is the kickoff event for Charleston Magazine and Charleston Home’s new Charleston Home Market, October 23 - 25. This new event offers a Lowcountry stop to fall buying trips by pairing Southeastern interior designers, architects and buyers, as well as area residents, with Charleston-made goods and the local artisans who create them.

Many of the Upper King Street businesses will hold their own special events during the evening. Watch this space for updates. Here are just a few:

• The childrens boutique Wonderland celebrates their first birthday
• Jack Alterman will sign his books “Cornices of Charleston” at one of the cornice locations, Putumayo
• The winner of Pierre Deux's Posh Pets Designer Contest will be at Three Dog Bakery
• Blue Bicycle Books is holding a book signing for John Thompson's long awaited novel Armageddon Conspiracy
• Carolina Business Interiors is hosting l_design designer Lauren Sanchez and Knoll Studio Design designer John Romano
• King Street Kitchen Company will host a sneak preview at their new store, which opens next month
• Cupcake will have a celebrity "froster"
• The Childrens Museum of the Lowcountry will exhibit a Children’s Art Gallery and hold Family Science Night
• Chai's, Juanita Greenberg's, The Swamp Fox and Fish are having a belated happy hour, with food and drink specials for Design Walkers after 8:00 pm
• There’s more. Watch our site or call 843.303.1113. See you there!

Snowflake Carmen Necklace at Felice Designs

Utterly charming. Here is the Snowflake Carmen Cluster on Blue Pearls by Felice. The cluster in the center consists of her hand blown white and clear "Carmen Miranda" glass beads. And is strung on beautiful blue fresh water pearls, which make for a striking contrast. The price is just $185. This is just one of many different Carmen cluststers available at Felice Designs, one of Charleston's most cherished original design jewelers. See more at www.felicedesigns.com. Felice will be open during Upper King Design Districts Design Walk, October 23rd from 5:00-8:00 pm. Join us for an evening of shopping, events, food and wine and terribly much fun.