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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, here’s a round-up of places to go for delicious tacos, enchiladas, and thirst-quenching margaritas, according to Yelp

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina has an average rating of four out of five stars. Mex 1 serves up delicious tacos and flavorful margaritas in a chill, laid-back atmosphere. Mex 1 features dishes crafted with Baja flavors, tailored with freshly made margaritas. Everything is made in-house, so you’re guaranteed a fresh bite (or sip) every time.

Mex 1 Coast Cantina has locations in West Ashley, Sullivan’s Island, and Park West.

La Nortena Taqueria

With an average rating of four and a half stars out of five, La Nortena Taqueria is known as an anchor authentic Mexican cuisine restaurant. The award-winning restaurant fuses flavors from the central region of Jalisco. Favorite dishes include shrimp tacos, fish tacos, ceviche, tacos callejeros, parrillas, and of course, margaritas.

Not to mention, the restaurant has happy hour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

La Nortena Taqueria is located at 6275 Rivers Avenue, Suite A in North Charleston.

Juanita Greenberg’s Nacho Royale

With two Charleston County locations, Juanita Greenberg’s Nacho Royale has an average rating of three and a half out of five stars. The popular spot serves up delicious Mexican food with a sports-bar vibe. Charleston City Paper describes the restaurant as having “world-famous” margaritas along with delicious quesadillas and nachos.

Juanita Greenberg’s Nacho Royale has locations in Mount Pleasant and Downtown Charleston.

Tattooed Senorita

Tattooed Senorita carries an average rating of four out of five stars. Tattooed Senorita offers a mash-up of Mexican and American favorites with a Folly Beach vibe. With delectable tacos and freshly-made house guacamole and handcrafted drinks, this is a perfect spot to get your fix and maybe go to the beach afterward!

Tattooed Senorita is located at 1846 Old Folly Road in Charleston.

Rio Chico Mexican Restuarant

Located in five areas around the Lowcountry, Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant has an average four out of five star rating. Rio Chico cooks up sizzling fajitas, burritos, and more traditional Mexican favorites

Rio Chico has locations in James Island, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, and Hardeeville.

The Tiki Taco

The delicious Tiki Taco has three locations and is known to have the “Best Tacos in Town.” The Tiki Taco carries an average four out of five star rating. Don’t go just for the tacos, try out some of their tortas, quesadillas, and satisfying mixed drinks.

The Tiki Taco has locations in North Charleston, College Park Road, and Old Trolley Road in Summerville.

Did we miss any of your favorite spots? Email News 2 at counton2@wcbd.com with your favorites!

Vicki Gannon has been bowling at Sandpiper Lanes in North Charleston for more than 40 years.

By the end of the month, she will have to find a new place to enjoy the pastime with friends.

The 2.5-acre corner property at the heavily traveled Ashley Phosphate and Cross County roads intersection where the bowling alley has hosted countless tournaments for the past 45 years has been sold. Employees have been told the lanes will close by the end of May.

The buyer of the property is Encore-Ashley Phosphate LLC of Sullivan’s Island, an affiliate of Encore Real Estate Development of Tampa, Fla. The firm paid $3.1 million for the 32-lane bowling center in late March, according to Charleston County land records.

The previous owner was the family-operated CGC Recreation Inc. of Greenwood, which paid $1.25 million for the property in 2003.

An Encore representative did not immediately respond for comment about the purchase.

A site work permit application for a convenience store and gas station has been submitted to the city of North Charleston, city spokesman Ryan Johnson said.

Bowling center manager David Morga found it hard to digest when he first heard about the sale and looming closing of the longtime business.

“I was shocked,” Morga said. “They remodeled in 2017, and last year was one of the best years we ever had. This is definitely going to hurt the bowling world. Tournaments bring people from all over the state as well as North Carolina and Georgia.”

Gannon said she was saddened by the closing of the bowling alley, where senior leagues have played for many years.

“We have become like family,” she said.

Longtime bowler Michelle Eleazer Smith said she, too, was stunned to learn of the decision in April.

“The closure is so sad,” said Smith, who has been bowling since 1978 at Sandpiper Lanes. “There are not a ton of options if you play in a league or are a sanctioned player looking to play in a tournament.”

Smith said the bowling alley’s demise will leave three other venues in the Lowcountry for sanctioned players: Royal Lanes in Goose Creek, Ashley Lanes in West Ashley and Swamp Fox Lanes in Moncks Corner. Other public and private bowling sites are in the Charleston area, as well.

In a farewell nod to the longtime entertainment site, Morga said Sandpiper Lanes will throw a going- away party from 8 p.m. until midnight May 14.

The North Charleston Arts Fest returns this week, May 4-8, for another year of exciting performing and visual arts. Featuring the works of some of Charleston’s most talented artists and fun guests from across South Carolina, this year’s Arts Fest is shaping up to be a wonderful — and free — weekend.

North Charleston Arts Fest is produced every year by the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department. The five-day event has, over the past 38 years, featured some of the best local and regional artists and performers. The festival began in 1982 as a one-day Park Circle event for local residents. It has since grown into one of Charleston’s premiere annual events.

As in previous years, this year’s events are free. The schedule offers something for everyone, across an incredible spectrum of artistic disciplines.

Visual arts fans will have plenty to take in. There’s this year’s winning poster design: “Memories 222” by Deborah Kind. “Memories 222” is a mixed media piece created with paint and pens, incorporating collage, stenciling and stamping techniques. Kind is a recently retired school teacher and full-time artist who lives on Kiawah Island. She’s no stranger to the Arts Fest, having won several awards in the Judged Fine Art Competition in prior years. The piece will be part of the City of North Charleston’s Public Art Collection.

The annual Fine Art and Photography Competitions will again take place. Fine Art will feature eight different exhibition categories: acrylic, oil, drawing, pastel, watercolor, printmaking, printed new media and 2-D mixed media. The professional and amateur photography competition will feature color and monochrome categories.

And that’s not all. Local muralist and toy maker Patch Whiskey is hosting an open studio from 6-10 p.m., May 7, that will feature his works, merch and libations. The National Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition, African American Fiber Art Exhibition and Youth Art Competitions will also take place. Exhibitions can be found at the North Charleston Riverfront Park (Outdoor Sculpture), Charleston Area Convention Center (Palmetto Hands and Youth) and North Charleston City Hall (Af-Am Fiber Art).

The Youth Art Competition, which will feature artwork from public and private schools and individual students from Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties, isn’t the only place for the young ones to get involved during Arts Fest. Bright Star Touring Theatre will present an adaptation of the beloved The Wizard of Oz at 10:30 a.m., May 4. Their version is an interactive retelling of the L. Frank Baum classic as told by two actors.

Another family fun event is the Professor Whizzpop magic show at 3:30 p.m., May 6, at Oak Terrace Preserve Pavilion. The show is geared towards younger audiences and promises laughs, amazing magic and loads of audience participation.

“It’s going to be great to get back to live shows in Charleston with the North Charleston Arts Festival!” said Tom Hughes, who plays Professor Whizzpop. “Kids aged 4-10 will have a blast!”

For more fun and laughs geared toward adults, head to Dashi on, May 5 for the Wham, Bam, Cam Bertrand … and Friends comedy show. Bill Davis is your host, along with Cam Bertrand, Dedrick Flynn and North Charleston’s own Jeremy McLellan. McLellan has been touring the world with his standup show, and now, that exciting act will return to Charleston.

Spoken word and poetry have a place at this year’s Arts Fest, and that place is Garco Green in the Park Circle neighborhood (4910 O’Hear Ave.). Carlos Johnson, aka Los tha Host, will host a show that features students from Berkeley Center for the Arts and the Speak Freely Foundation. Joey Tucker and Georgia Nubia will also be on-hand to read. DJ G-Money will score the show on May 7.

Gospel music lovers can catch Project L.O.V.E., featuring The Tony Washington Singers, at 5 p.m., May 7, at Fox Music House. At 7 p.m., YeeHaw Junction brings bluegrass to Nippitaty Distillery with Jeff Meierer on mandolin, Kristen Meierer on upright bass, David Grant on guitar, Tadd Huff on banjo and Lisa Deakins on the fiddle. And at noon, May 8, Small Opera will present a pop-up concert of opera, musical theater and standard hits at the MOMO Riverfront Park.

For a full list of events for Arts Fest, including the Clock Party and Art Exhibition receptions, head to northcharlestonartsfest.com/events.

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Food trucks have become a key part of Charleston’s food and beverage industry, but it hasn’t always been that way.

Roti Rolls co-owner Cory Burke recalls being one of just four Charleston trucks when he hit the road with favorites like the “Mother Clucker” and “Thurman Murman” in 2010. That’s why he decided to launch the Charleston Food Truck Festival, which will return for an 11th time in May.

With 35 food trucks, almost 20 retail vendors and a new North Charleston venue, Burke hopes to build on the momentum from the 2021 festival that was held in the spring for the first time.

“Last year, I couldn’t even believe the turnout,” said Burke, describing the 2021 two-day festival that brought 18,000 people to North Charleston’s Riverfront Park. “It was one of the best vibes we’ve ever had. Everyone was in it together, and I think there’s always been a camaraderie (between) the trucks.”

This year, A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen, The Motley Chew, Bangin’ Vegan Eats, & Lobster, Area 51 Foods, La’Son Anchor Grill, Lola’s Lumpia and many more will set up shop in the Tanger Outlets parking lot (4840 Tanger Outlet Blvd.) in North Charleston. The free event will take place from noon-8 p.m. May 21 and 22.

And moving forward, Burke says the festival will be biannual, with the fall fest scheduled for Oct. 22-23. Making the festival free enhances sales opportunities for the trucks, Burke said.

“We started this as food trucks to support food trucks, and the biggest way for us to support food trucks is to not charge admission,” he said.

Since its 2010 debut, Roti Rolls has expanded to Atlanta, where Burke operates another Roti Rolls food truck, mobile bar and brewpub called Best End Brewing Co. With these new spin-offs, Burke is continuing to prove that food trucks can be thriving ventures long-term alongside business partner Alton Ankersen.

They hope the Charleston Food Truck Festival helps newer trucks grow their brand locally.

Last year’s festival was the first time & Lobster owner Rob Cassi, who debuted his New England-inspired truck in 2020, had participated in an event of that size and stature. He’s since added more festivals to the truck’s schedule, shortening his menu for the high-volume events to feature & Lobster’s specialties: Lobster, crab and shrimp rolls, which will be available at the Charleston Food Truck Festival.

For Cassi, the best part of popping up at festivals is the chance to converse and collaborate with other food truck owners.

“The truck community is really cool to be a part of, and it is honestly refreshing to work alongside other great owners,” Cassi said. “I love these festivals because we’re generally all of a mindset that we want everyone to succeed.”

Beverage tents will be stationed throughout the outdoor venue, and vendors will even swing by individual food trucks to serve patrons who are waiting in line; although Cassi says customers won’t have to worry about waiting in line at & Lobster.

“We don’t want to keep people waiting in line,” he said. “I try to keep our wait time to order at a minute and then serving our food to less than 5 minutes.”

For more information on the Charleston Food Truck Festival, go to chsfoodtruckfestival.com.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of North Charleston is nearing the completion of the Noisette Creek Pedestrian Bridge. When done, it will connect Riverfront Park on the old Navy base with Avenue B North and ultimately Park Circle about a mile away.

North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey says completion of the bridge will kick off a new era of development in the area.

“It’s a connector that brings both sides of the base together but it brings it together in a way that it can still be separate,” Summey said. “That’s important because it gives us the capability to have different events and more events at the same time.”

On Wednesday, the city released a video showing the progress of construction nearing completion with much of the infrastructure in place and the iconic double rainbow arches in place.

Summey says there will be expanded areas in the middle of the bridge overlooking the water. He expects it to be completed by July.

“You could have a wedding in the middle of the bridge. You could have a birthday party and people could still walk through the middle, but the expansions are going to be wide enough to have small events over the water,” Summey said. “I think that’s a wonderful experience that nobody else has locally.”

Desiree Fasier lives in the area and was visiting Waterfront Park on Thursday.

She says the park is already a great place for the community gather but adding something like a pedestrian bridge wide enough for weddings would be perfect.

“I love seeing lovers, young and old,” Frasier said. “I think it [park] is highly accessible to a lot of places and that’s what people like. You see all types of people here from all socioeconomic realms and so that’s pleasing to me.”

The bridge is an $8 million project and represents a heavy investment into the old Navy base area. While the double rainbow arches of the bridge currently leads to a lot of vacant land, it’s land the city owns and plans to develop.

“We don’t know exactly what we are going to do. We could actually do a small theatre for small concerts right on the water and then have larger ones actually in the original park setting we developed,” Summey said, referencing Waterfront Park. “Our vision is to see all of this area developed in a cross section of whatever the market calls for but it will have waterfront. So we will have hotels, retails, restaurants, apartment complexes and things that will make this unique to the City of North Charleston.”

The bridge is the first piece of infrastructure to tie the two sides of the creek together.

Summey says it’s the city’s goal to transform the industrial area into a mixed-use development while giving the public access to the Cooper River.

See more on the project, along with renderings of the finished project here.

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