MORNING HEADLINES | If you’re trying to get a handle on what exactly to do during the city of Charleston’s expansive Piccolo Spoleto Festival that starts May 23, take a look at a special 16-page guide published today.
Not only does this City Paper preview give an early look of the festival, but it offers interesting stories on the musical buffet that will be offered at Circular Congregational Church during the 17-day festival and a story that gives insight into local artist Arun Drummond’s work.
Scott Watson, director of Charleston’s Office of Cultural Affairs that produces the festival as a companion to Spoleto Festival USA, said this year’s festival is more about opening day.
“We have a lot of traditions that take place opening weekend, but a lot of really great exhibits and other pop-ups people will want to see, too.”
The new guide offers a detailed look at the festival through May 30. On that day, the City Paper will publish another special issue to explore offerings at the end of the celebration. You can also follow daily coverage of both festivals online starting May 23 with more than 30 stories slated to be published.
Also this week, the City Paper published a guide to its 469 winners of the 2025 Best of Charleston readers’ contest. Click here to learn more.
Also in the new issue of the Charleston City Paper:
CP NEWS: Sack’s new book on Emanuel history defines massacre’s impact. Veteran journalist Kevin Sack’s new book, “Mother Emanuel: Two Centuries of Race, Resistance and Forgiveness in One Charleston Church,” is a masterpiece of great reporting, writing and storytelling. It hits bookstores June 3, just two weeks before the 10th anniversary of the massacre at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston where a racist madman gunned down nine worshippers on a sultry night in 2015.
CP NEWS: S.C. legislature goes “cold turkey” on earmarks, but at what cost? For perhaps the first time in South Carolina history, members of the General Assembly will soon reconvene to pass a $14.4 billion state budget that’s more likely to be remembered for what’s not in it than what is. In a word, earmarks. Or as most lawmakers refer to them, local investments.”
CP NEWS: Scholarship winner is MUSC med school’s only early grad. Uriah Chapman will be among the 175 students who will graduate on Saturday from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Medicine. He’s the only student, however, who’s graduating a year early, the university said.
CP MUSIC: CJO, Testone to swing Charleston May 17. The Charleston Jazz Orchestra will be “Swinging the Blues” during two May 17 shows at Charleston Music Hall that celebrate the breadth of the genre that’s much more than the stereotype of a lone musician tapping his foot and wailing on a guitar.
CP FOOD: Charleston chefs talk about reality TV competitions. What three Charleston chefs who recently appeared on TV shows about cooking say about competitions.
CP OPINION: Congrats to 2025 Best of Charleston winners. Hundreds of folks have a lot to smile about today for being picked by Charleston City Paper readers as the Best of Charleston. Congratulations! Woo hoo!!
In other headlines:
- S.C. transgender teen charged with threatening to kill Mace
- Tropical weather outlooks now underway
- Will S.C. get stuck with bill if feds pull back disaster responses?
- Record-breaking heat possible today in Lowcountry
- A look at Charleston’s new seawall plan
- Charleston to name new Johns Island park after Morris
- Ethics Commission dismisses lawsuit against Hollywood mayor
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