📷️ This week’s photo submitted by Katie Morton!

 📰 Top 5 Local Headlines

1. Charleston Named Top U.S. Travel Destination (Again) — Condé Nast Traveler readers voted Charleston #1 for the 12th year in a row.

2. Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park set to open — No ceremonial grand opening due to rain in forecast.

3. Don’t Get Bitten! — SC health department gives tips to fight off mosquitos.

4. Charleston Wine + Food Festival Lineup Announced — Tickets for the March 2025 event are on sale now.

5. Hurricane Season Begins — NOAA predicts an active year — now’s a good time to check your prep kit. Here is a great pdf to prepare.

🛍️ Five Local Shops To Hit

1. Candlefish (King St) — Create your own candle in their signature scent library.

2. Maris DeHart (Historic District) — Chic Southern fashion and accessories.

3. Jordan Lash (King Street) — Charleston’s premier men’s clothing store.

4. Celadon Home (Mount Pleasant) — Artisan home decor from local and global makers. 30 years locally owned!

5. Roots and Shoots Nursery (West Ashley) — 250+ varieties that thrive in the Southeast.

☕️ Liberty Beans Coffee Co has locals buzzing!

Founders Jim & Diane are keeping our community caffeinated with their bold…never bitter coffee blends and single origins.

This award winning coffee roastery sources beans from around the world. According to Jim, founder and head roaster…”we have several importers which allows us to select the best organic and fair trade beans from around the world.”

Jim spilled the beans (see what we did there ) on the green coffee bean industry. Says Jim…”we only purchase the best arabica beans that allow us to produce incredible tasting coffee without bitterness. Our coffee is known for its low acid content as well”.

While Jim’s experience as a chef for 30 years allows him to roast great tasting coffee, Diane’s science background adds to the complexity of the roasting process. According to Diane…”we roast in small batches, 15 pounds at a time, which allows us to control the consistency of our flavor profiles. A full batch only takes around 15 minutes, but a lot of science is going on in that short amount of time that ultimately impacts the roast level and flavor.” “You deserve great coffee…and we’ll get it to your door”.

Diane also heads up Liberty Beans fundraising programs. “We work with schools, teams, organizations and charities to help them reach and exceed their fundraising goals. For schools and teams, we realized that whatever kids are selling…adults are buying. We work with them to create a custom label for the coffee bags to highlight their organization. It has been tremendously successful!”

To order or find out more about Liberty Beans Coffee, click here.

🍴 Five Local Bites To Try

1. Chubby Fish — A local’s favorite for fresh, sustainable seafood. Get there early…no reservations.

2. Leon’s Oyster Shop — Fried chicken and oysters, a Charleston must.

3. Jackrabbit Filly — Chinese-American fusion in Park Circle. Our new obsession!

4. 167 Raw — Tiny space, big flavors — get there early!

5. Bertha’s Kitchen — Soul food, James Beard–approved.

🌆 Five Events This Week

1. Charleston Night Market — Friday & Saturday, 6–10pm, downtown.

2. Second Sunday on King — This Sunday, June 8th, 1–5pm. Pedestrian-only, shops + food trucks.

3. Reggae Nights at James Island County Park — Friday, gates open at 7:30pm.

4. Charleston Farmers Market — Saturday mornings at Marion Square.

5. Live at Firefly — Outdoor concert series, check schedule.

😎 Five Fun Happenings

Clickable Links…

1. Sunset Paddleboard on Shem Creek

2. Picnic Spots Insta-Worthy

3. Self Guided Historic Tour

4. Attend a Charleston Battery Game

5. Catch a RiverDogs Baseball Game

💡 Insider Tip of the Week…SHHH

Want a peaceful beach spot? Head to Sullivan’s Island Station 18 — less crowded, lots of locals. We love Sullivan’s Island laid back vibes. Hit Home Team BBQ or Poe’s for apres beach drinks!

🌟 Hidden Gem

The Harbinger Cafe (North Central) — Part bakery, part garden escape. Vegan-friendly and delicious.

🌟 Please support our local sponsors! Thank you! We appreciate you!

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Stay Salty my friends…

Your Local Gator Staff