Make art your fashion statement. Toast Earth Day with a Lowcountry conservationist. Savor pop-up pasta.

Maura's Three for the Week in Charleston, 4/21/25 - 4/27/25

Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St., downtown Charleston, Wed., April 23 - Sun., April 27, various times I’ve long been fascinated with the impulse to dazzle in dark days, from the flapper-happy Lost Generation to the style emergence from the recent pandemic lockdown. It’s not terribly surprising that in these harem scarem times, many Charleston cultural institutions are draping their esteemed halls with fashion statements from current and past. Such is the thrust of my previously promoted Art Charleston, the beautiful brain child of Gibbes Museum of Art that is off and runway-ing this week. Next week follows suit at Charleston Museum with its new exhibition Reimagined Fashion: Creations of the Future Past.

There’s much more, too. Tonight, I’ll be heading to the Charleston Gaillard Center for Terence Blanchard’s acclaimed Fire Shut Up in My Bones: Opera Suite in Concert, which kicks off Charleston Jazz Festival, and I’d enthusiastically encourage you to do the same. Nothing’s more stylish than an evening out with today’s musical greats.

Get an Earth Day eyeful of Lowcountry flora and fauna

Buxton Books, 160 King St., downtown Charleston, Tues., April 22, 6 p.m.

Image: Conservationist and author Tom Austin will discuss his new book at Buxton Books/Photo: Tom Austin

Humans aren’t the only Earth-dwellers who swap out styles. Ask Tom Austin, author and Director of Land Conservation of the Edisto Island Open Land Trust. He’ll appear at Buxton Books on Earth Day for a discussion of his new book, The Flora and Fauna of Edisto Island and the Lowcountry Sea Islands, published by Evening Post Books. Arranged like an almanac with Austin’s photographs and writings, Book One of this series explores some of the most captivating, fascinating and overlooked plants and animals that call the Sea Islands of the South Carolina Lowcountry home, with one plant and animal represented for each week of the year. After the discussion, the author will sign and personalize copies of his book. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and toast Mother Nature’s fine eye at this free, in-store event.

Please email rsvp@buxtonbooks.com to let them know you’re coming, so they can save you a seat and a refreshment.

Go for the glam at Art Charleston

Image: This year’s Art Charleston is centered on the exhibition Statement Pieces/Provided

Last week I posted the roster of Art Charleston, the annual, five-day Gibbes Museum of Art initiative that this year revolves around Statement Pieces: Contemporary Fashion Design and the Gibbes Collection and is set to start on Wednesday. The programming spans events, among them The Art of Design (Wed., April 23, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.), the annual seated luncheon hosted by the Gibbes Women’s Council and this year featuring Nell Diamond, Founder & CEO of Hill House Home; Sew Surreal Fashion Show (Sat., April 26, 7 – 9:30 p.m.) showcases local fashion designers who have each selected an artwork from the Gibbes Permanent Collection; Gibbes on the Street (Thur., April 24, 7 – 9:30 p.m.), the popular alfresco street party this year led by Chef Michael Toscano; Threads of Change: Fashion, Culture, and the Digital Age (Wed., April 23, 6 p.m.) gathers New York-based, nationally celebrated YouTubers for lively conversation about all things fashion; the annual Artisan Fair ( Sun, April 27, 1 – 5 p.m.); and more.

View the full lineup at gibbesmuseum.org/art-charleston.

Sample la dolce vita at an Italian pop-up

babas on meeting, 804 Meeting St., Ste. 104, downtown Charleston, Wed., April 23, 5 - 8 p.m.

Image: The soon-to-open Cave Pazzo

Ah, the ever-fashionable, food-fantastic Italy. Lately, Charleston has been raising its Italian restaurant game and there’s more on the way. Consider Cane Pazzo, the soon-to-open neighborhood osteria in Hanahan by Chef Mark Bolchoz. This Wednesday, you can get an exclusive taste of what’s to come. The chef is popping up at babas on meeting for all to enjoy his curated cicchetti and homemade pasta.

For more information, click here.

One for the future: Forward fashion via past stunners

Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St., downtown Charleston, opening reception is Fri., May 2, 7 - 9 p.m.

Image: Reimagine Fashion opens May 2 at Charleston Museum/Provided

Celebrate the opening of Charleston Museum’s newest exhibition, Reimagined Fashion: Creations of the Future Past with an exclusive opening party. This captivating exhibition - over two years in the making - merges historic artistry and innovation.Meet the creators and mingle with the talented designers who brought this exhibition to life. Enjoy a thoughtfully crafted menu of hors d'oeuvres and an open bar as you sip and savor throughout the evening. Dance the night away to the electrifying beats of DJ Sista Misses. Make your mark on the exhibition and engage with interactive pieces. Dress to impress and flaunt your most creative cocktail attire! Guests are encouraged to think outside the box and reimagine their own fashion to take advantage of unique photo opportunities.

Reservations required. Cancellations must be requested 48 hours in advance for a refund minus $10 administration fee. Full registration fee may be transferred to a future adult program. Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance will result in a forfeiture of registration fee. Tickets are $70 for museum members and $85 for non-members

For tickets and information, click here.

Another for the future: Best of Broadway’s 2025-26 season

North Charleston Performing Arts Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr., North Charleston, various dates

Image: MJ The Musical is on the lineup of Best of Broadway’s 2025-26 season/Provided

I’ve said it before but it bears repeating. Touring productions of Broadway shows rarely disappoint, regularly drawing top talent from original productions and desinted to delight. Each year, the Charleston area benefits from the top-notch roster rolling through town by way of the Nederlander Producing Company of America and North Charleston Performing Arts Center’s presentation of the Best of Broadway series.

The coming season promises a host of hits, among them the returning Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Sept. 16 – 21, 2025) and The Sound of Music (Nov. 4 – 9, 2025) as well as Lowcountry premieres of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical (Dec. 9 – 14, 2025), & Juliet (Feb. 17 – 22, 2026), MJ The Musical (March 10 – 15, 2026) and The Wiz (April 14 – 19, 2026). A special bonus show, Chicago (Feb. 6—8, 2026), rounds out the season.

Season ticket renewals are on sale now, and new season tickets, all of which are now available on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays in a addition to the weekends, go on sale Mon., May 12.

For tickets and information, click here.