“Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?” – Auld Lang Syne, Robert Burns, 1778
Did you sing the classic song above when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve? According to history, the tradition began in Scotland where people would gather and sing together bidding adieu to the past and ushering in the new year.
Since our Little Lovely was so young last year Jody and I stayed in and had a quiet New Year’s Eve, barely making it to the ball drop. So this year we were excited to plan a fun little parents’ getaway to Charleston to ring in the New Year.
We feel lucky to live so close to a city which is consistently listed as one of the best and beautiful in the country. Each time we visit the downtown corridor we notice more change and development. While we have our favorite go-to hotels and restaurants, this quick trip was the perfect chance to try something new.
Our first stop was checking into The Dewberry, the newly opened hotel on Marion Square located in the renovated and repurposed L. Mendel Rivers Federal Building. I must admit that I have probably driven by this building many times before and never noticed it. It’s been transformed into a stylish, mid-century modern showpiece with immaculate attention to detail. Marble was found to match the building’s marker and lighting and fixtures were chosen to accentuate the 1960s vibe while offering a modern twist. Our room was well appointed with a nice view of Marion Square, and I was impressed with how quiet it was considering our location.
Another interesting feature in the lobby is Garden and Gun Magazine’s first Field Shop offering a variety of curated, southern goods for purchase. The perfect spot to browse or grab a souvenir.
After an early check-in, we set out for some shopping on King Street and took our time meandering through shops. We made our way to The Thoroughbred Club inside of The Charleston Place for an afternoon cocktail- it was National Champagne Day after all. 
A little rest and then time to get ready for our New Year’s Eve dinner at Chez Nous, an intimate and authentic French restaurant nestled in a charming house so you feel as if you are a guest. Charleston’s restaurant scene is booming, and Chez Nous has been on our list for a while to try, however; they just recently began taking reservations. The New Year’s eve menu was Prix Fixe and included some decadent and classic dishes. 
The night was still young, so we ventured to The Belmont, a chic watering hole creating innovative and classic cocktails on Upper King, for a drink before returning to our hotel that was hosting a party for guests. 
A big band crooned standards as we danced and counted down to midnight, and as a surprising treat, Charleston local, Darius Rucker, took the microphone right before midnight to serenade the crowd.
Wishing you a healthy and happy new year!
