Stitch and bitch. Dig deep. Go native. Be blue.
Maura's Three for the Week in Charleston, 4/7/25 - 4/13/25
Feeling stressed? Now might be a good time to pick up a new diversionary pursuit, one that could help soothe raw nerves. You could try your hand at reassuring repetition like, say, knit one, pearl one. You may find that furrowing into the soil releases healing powers, whether by way of a new garden or an archaeological excavation. Revel anew in a hue of blue. Follow a thread through American art. Charleston offers numerous channels to keep calm, carry on and go local, too. Here are a few standouts.
Stitch and bitch with Wyrd Sisters
Wyrd Sisters Brewing, 4840 Chateau Ave., North Charleston, Mon., 6 - 10 p.m.
During the pandemic, I heard a few anecdotes of health care professionals who were easing their considerable strain by way of the sewing arts. That’s why Wyrd Sisters Brewing’s weekly Monday night hangout with fellow hookers sounds like an inspired way to enjoy a brew or two, engage in a bit of therapeutic bitching—and perhaps knit a closer community, too. Bring your current fiber art project or materials to start a new one. All skill levels are welcome.
For information, click here.
Dig deep in Charleston’s layered past
The Heyward-Washington House, 87 Church St., downtown Charleston, Fridays, 2 - 5 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., through Sat., April 19
As a kid in downtown Charleston, every afternoon in our backyard was an archaeological dig, one unearthing porcelain fragments, arrowheads and more. Now, you can visit the Heyward-Washington House for a chance to witness an archaeological field school and dig in action.
Located in the garden behind the historic house museum, where excavations began in the late 1970s, you’ll explore the dig site with Sarah Platt College of Charleston Assistant Professor of Anthropology, and John Fisher, Museum Curator of Archaeology, alongside students and volunteers. Search for early colonial Charleston in new undocumented areas at one of the oldest sites in downtown Charleston. This experience is free for members of Charleston Museum or with admission to the Heyward-Washington House.
To register, click here.
Go native at a curbside plant party
The corner of Rutledge Avenue and Cleveland St.at Sightsee, downtown Charleston, Sun., April 13, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
If the pandemic taught me one thing, it is that a solid hour spent elbows deep in local soil does wonders for my psyche. And there’s no better way to tend to your garden, and your ecosystem, than with native plants. This Sunday, the corner of Rutledge and Cleveland in front of Sightsee will be buzzing with native plants at a gorgeously green street festival.
Look for tree giveaways by Charleston Parks Conservancy; native plant vendors; live music; a free paint-your-own planter and potting station; complimentary soil courtesy of McGill Environmental Systems; local honey from Swamp to Sea Honeybees; sustainable vendors including Sabia Ceramics and Nature and Nurture herbs; delectable local eats vis Luther’s food truck and more. The event is co-hosted by Sightsee, The M.A.R.S.H. Project and Carolina Ocean Alliance. No registration is required.
For more information, click here.
Bonus One: Celebrate Black Southern artistry at IAAM
International African American Museum, 14 Wharfside St., downtown Charleston, Thurs., April 10, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
This Thursday, IAAM brings to life powerful narratives woven through its current exhibition, Unsettled Things: Art from the African American South, in a special program, Unsettled & Unfinished: The Ongoing Story of Black Southern Artistry. The exhibition, on view until May 4, honors the ingenuity and resilience of Black artists from across the South by way of 44 works by 28 artists who have long been overlooked but are now recognized as vital contributors to American art. A discussion led by Martina Morale, IAAM Director of Curatorial & Special Exhibitions, will feature Corey Alston, Charleston sweetgrass artist, and LaToya Thompson, southern artist and quilter, to reflect on how Southern Black traditions continue to shape contemporary artistry.
For information, click here.
Go blue via colonial indigo dyeing
Middleton Place, 4300 Ashley River Rd., Charleston, Sat., April 12, 12 noon - 2 p.m.
Indigo continues to capture the national crafting imagination, with artists and artisans immersing themselves in this process that dates back to colonial days in Charleston. At this drop-in style program, the staff of Middleton Place will discuss the indigo plant, the labor it took to grow, harvest and process it, as well as the importance of indigo and what it was used for. Guests will dye a square of fabric to take home with them. Free with general admission to Middleton Place.
For information, click here.
One for the future: Enjoy the craft of Broadway’s Sutton Foster
Charleston Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St., downtown Charleston, Fri., April 18, 7 p.m.
I was lucky enough to see Broadway star exemplar Sutton Foster perform her Tony Award-winning titular role in Thoroughly Modern Millie. She has also starred in numerous other Broadway greats, including Anything Goes!, Violet, Young Frankenstein, Shrek the Musical, and is also known for performances on television, including the hit series Younger, Bunheads, The Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
What I recently learned is that in 2021 she turned out a book, too. Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life may well extend its shelf life with the current uptick in interest fiber arts. That being said, the Gaillard concert focuses on the supreme mastery of her vocational craft, for which she magnificently belts out the best of Broadway.
For tickets and information, click here.