Another weekend, another plethora of happenings is going on in these parts, including Charleston Fashion Week. First up, there’s the 13th incarnation of a popular festival. Spring has officially sprung, and it’s time once again for Lexus Charleston Fashion Week. It’s traditionally when the catwalk hit Marion Square for five straight days. High fashion by local and nationally known designers come within close proximity to Charleston and its beaches. What started in 2007 has grown and evolved a lot over the years. This year it’s undergone its biggest changes yet. Instead of a single five day festival, they’re changing the format to four times a year. They’ll happen in March, June, September and November/December. Not a bad idea, since each season has its own fashion. Accordingly, they’ve tweaked the name to Lexus Charleston Fashion Week: The Events. The first one is happening tonight, with a major kickoff at the Cigar Factory. From your Charleston beach house, just head over the Ravenel Bridge and take the first exit. It’s at 701 East Bay Street.
What the First Lexus Charleston Fashion Week Event will entail
This event will have lots of glam, bells and whistles and will thrill the socks off all you fashionistas. Get set for:
- Collections by Francis + Benedict, Opera Recycles, and Hunter Bell NYC, who will present their varied collections accompanied by live music;
- 10 curated pop-up shops;
- Beauty bar;
- Performance by dance group Peace Love Hip Hop;
- Champagne toast;
- Afterparty with music by Kyle K-Otic Johnson (American Ninja Warrior) and DJ Trailmix.
Get info and tickets here.
Two Markets near our Isle of Palms luxury rentals
Also going on downtown this weekend are not one but two markets for your perusing pleasure. The Weekend Night Market is officially back again for the season. It takes place at the historic City Market, between East Bay and Meeting Streets. City Market is a must-do for folks visiting Charleston. It’s the perfect place to find unusual local products, souvenirs and handmade Lowcountry items like a sweetgrass basket, cool jewelry, beachy stuff, you name it. It’s open all year during the day, but the night market only happens in the warmer season. Well, that’s officially arrived. The historic buildings will be brimming with local vendors selling their creative wares and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. The Night Market runs from March till December, from 6:30-10:30 each Fri-Sat. Just follow the same directions as above, and head a little further down East Bay. You can’t miss it. Read more here.
Including this relatively new one...
A downtown market that launched this past October, is back again. I’m talking about The Post and Courier Farmers Market. It’ll take place every Sunday from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 in the Visitor’s Lot of the Post & Courier. That’s located at the corner of King and Columbus Streets downtown. For your GPS, it’s at 134 Columbus Street. They’ll have a slew of vendors, with produce and artisans’ wares. This is also a fun way to sample local products and find a souvenir from your stay here. There will be live music by Malin Wagnon, Oh Valentino and Ward. Food trucks scheduled to be there are Greekin’ Out and Life Raft Treats. It’s pretty cool to point out that Life Raft is a semi-finalist for a coveted James Beard Award. By the way, there’s plenty of free parking available in the employee parking lot across the street.
A Pub Crawl on the IOP
Tomorrow is the second edition of some Front Beach fun, sponsored by the IOP Exchange Club. You just might walk away with some seriously great prizes, including a brand new golf cart - the vehicle of choice on the Isle of Palms. It’s the 2nd Annual Front Beach Crawl and Raffle, going on tomorrow afternoon – Saturday, March 23rd on Front Beach at the IOP. It’s happening from 1:00 till 4:00 p.m. and benefits the Exchange Club and their many charitable community ventures. For a $20 entrance fee at the door ($15 advance), you’ll get a bracelet that entitles you to crawl amongst some local hotspots. They include the Windjammer, the Dinghy, Luke & Ollie’s and the VFW. There will be specials and goodies at each place. Each drink purchase earns a chance to win a door prize. Everyone will assemble at the Windjammer at 4:00 p.m. for a free concert and the awarding of prizes. You can get discounted tickets online till 11:00 p.m. tonight. Here’s a link. So check out some of the fun happening downtown or on the IOP this weekend. And when you are looking for Isle of Palms luxury rentals, be sure to call EP. All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger