Cleaning service helps women battling cancer

The Cleaning Authority of Charleston has teamed up with Cleaning For A Reason, a nonprofit organization which helps women battling cancer, to clean the homes of two women once a month for four months for free so they can concentrate on their health and family.

“We’ve seen firsthand how difficult it is to fight the disease while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy,” said business owner David Floyd, whose mother-in-law is fighting liver cancer.

Since 2006, Cleaning For A Reason has donated over 12,000 free cleanings to women battling cancer.  The organization uses a network of more than 1,000 residential cleaning services in the United States and Canada, which have donated over $3.4 million worth of services.

To learn more about Cleaning For A Reason, go to:  www.cleaningforareason.org.

Wonder Works toy store to feature Calico Critters mascot Saturday

Wonder Works toy store in Mount Pleasant will feature a member of the Calico Critters toy collection 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at its Belle Hall Shopping Center store.

Bell, sister in the Hopscotch Rabbit Family of the Calico Critters toy collection, will meet with fans. The day’s activities will also feature giveaways and a book signing with Megan Waldrep and Melissa Nelson, local authors of Spice and Little Sugar.

Guests may also enter a raffle to win Calico Critter prizes: Cozie Cottage Start Home, Beagle Dog Family and Norwood Mouse Twins.

The Calico Critters collection is comprised of miniature critter families including cats, mice, hedgehogs and more. Wonder Works features a large Calico Critters section in its stores with many of the collection’s beloved family figures, homes and accessories for children to create their one-of-a-kind critter world.

“Kids absolutely adore meeting the Calico Critters mascot on top of all of the fun we have planned for the day,” Wonder Words owner Christine Osborne said.

For more details, go to www.WonderWorksCharleston.com.

Copper Penny celebrates 25 years with 3 leading designer shows during Fashion Week

Copper Penny will celebrate 25 years in the Charleston area with a silver anniversary gift for its customers — three leading fashion houses will be setting up trunk shows at 311 King St. in downtown Charleston during Fashion Week next week.

Trina Turk, inspired by the architecture and landscape of Los Angeles, will set up an exclusive display of her bright spring fashions with a trunk show on Thursday.  Turk’s philosophy is to create wearable, optimistic fashion that is best described as casually sophisticated.

On March 22-23, clothes and shoes from one of the world’s most successful fashion designers, Diane von Furstenberg, will be available at a trunk show at Copper Penny’s clothing store at 311 King St. and Copper Penny Shooz at 317 King St. Von Furstenberg wowed the fashion world when she introduced the iconic wrap dress in the early 1970s.  She is again a staple in women’s clothing and shoes.

And on March 23, The Milly collection by Michelle Smith will introduce shoppers to the youthful, luxurious style of the glamorous and sophisticated designer. The trunk show will feature Milly’s signature style which is known for exquisite prints, colors and fabrics.

Copper Penny will offer refreshments, special discounts and an exclusive gift with a purchase.

What is the latest on Ruth’s Chris coming to Charleston?

Here’s the latest on the Ruth’s Chris watch.

Steakhouse franchise owners Mark and Nancy Oswald, who have been looking for the perfect location in downtown Charleston for nearly three years come May, thought they had finally landed a spot in February. They were negotiating for the former ’Cesca Ristorante and Trattoria at 5 Faber St., a tucked-away establishment off East Bay Street that closed last month.

Ideally, they want 10,000 square feet with access to parking. ’Cesca wasn’t quite that big, but the Oswalds thought they could make it work. A public parking garage on Cumberland Street sits next door. The couple’s goal was to turn the upstairs into a private room.

“Unfortunately, our inability to work through some second exit issues required by that renovation meant we would be unable to maximize the seating and create the customized private dining space and number of seats we need,” Nancy Oswald said.

So it’s back to square one. Several other sites in downtown Charleston keep popping up as potential sites, but for now they’re all rumors.

“We are now revisiting other properties and hope to have an announcement soon,” she said.

Stay tuned.

(This originally ran in Monday’s Business section under grapevine, but in case someone missed it, I am repeating it here since a few people have called for the latest details.)