Peep-worthy postcards + wowable windows

The City Of Greenville’s Window Wonderland and Poinsettia Postcards now on display

Storefront window decorated with greenery and holiday decor and a large wooden painting of poinsettias.

These are a few of our favorite GVL holiday things. | Photos via The City of Greenville

The Hallmark Christmas Movie aesthetic of Greenville is undeniable, and the decor throughout the city is no exception.

Enter: Window Wonderland and Poinsettia Postcards. These installations, found along Main Street and around downtown Greenville (see them on this map), showcase the artistic magic the city’s organizations, businesses, and creatives have to offer.

We’re taking a look at each installation and sharing how you can play a part in choosing the winner of each.

🪟 Window Wonderland

Multiple storefront windows decorated for the holidays in Greenville, SC — Are you wowed by these windows? | Photos via The City of Greenville

From the West End to North Main Street, 15 storefronts are decked out in unique holiday decor.

Some designs are inspired by classic holiday movies, like Falls Park Dentistry’s “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” decor, while others leaned into their own business concepts, like Bloom Bridal’s greenery gown.

📮 Poinsettia Postcards

If you like receiving postcards in the mail, you’ll love seeing those that stand 5+ feet tall.

The 25 wooden postcards that pepper Main Street’s plazas were constructed and designed by local school groups and organizations, like Greenville High School, Visit Greenville, and the Greenville Zoo.

Much like the Window Wonderland displays, each postcard is uniquely designed based on the organization’s purpose, like “Reindeer Parking” by the City of Greenville Parking, or on a familiar theme or local landmark, like “The Poinsett Bridge” by Eastside High School Art Club and NAHS.

Click below to view all of the Window Wonderland and Poinsettia Postcard entries and vote for your favorites. If you snag a selfie with any of them downtown, don’t forget to tag @gvltoday.

15 WINDOWS

Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, Dec. 12

Chris Isaak | Monday, Dec. 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Peace Center, 300 S. Main St., Greenville | $35-$65 | Platinum-selling and GRAMMY-nominated singer and actor Chris Isaak is celebrating the most wonderful time of the year with his new album, “Everybody Knows It’s Christmas.”

Tuesday, Dec. 13

How The Grinch Stole Greenridge | Tuesday, Dec. 13 | 5-8 p.m. | Shops at Greenridge, 1125 Woodruff Rd., Greenville | Free | Celebrate the holiday season Whoville-style with live music, activities for all ages, and free photos with Santa.

Wednesday, Dec. 14

Short Story Café | Wednesday, Dec. 14 | 6-7 p.m. | Virtual, Greenville | Free | Read and discuss “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates — a digital copy will be emailed to you when you register.

Thursday, Dec. 15

Reimagining Shakespeare | Thursday, Dec. 15 | 7 p.m. | Virtual, Greenville | $5 | The Fine Arts Center in Greenville + the South Carolina New Play Festival host a panel discussion that explores how the works of Shakespeare can be adapted and reimagined towards greater inclusivity.

Friday, Dec. 16

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party with The Abbey Elmore Band | Friday, Dec. 16 | 7-9 p.m. | Fireforge Crafted Beer, 311 E Washington St., Greenville | Free | Don your ugliest Christmas sweater and bring a new winter clothing item to donate to Safe Harbor.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

57º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain

Announced

Here’s some fly news. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport will offer a nonstop flight to New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) starting next May — GSP’s seventh nonstop flight with American Airlines. The flight will be available twice daily on a 76-seat Embraer-175 aircraft (compared to the Boeing 737’s 160+ seats). ✈️ (WSPA)

Open

La Veracruzana, a Mexican restaurant, has opened in Clemson in the former NYC Bagels and Sandwich Shop (125 Anderson Hwy., Ste. 100). Order from its menu of burritos, tacos, tortas, breakfast, and more. 🌮 (The Post and Courier Greenville)
Habitat for Humanity Restore opens its new location (1818 Woodruff Rd.) on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m. Witness the ribbon cutting before exploring the new space and enjoying refreshments. The first 50 customers will receive a 30% off coupon on donated items, and all other customers will receive 15% off.

Coming Soon

Texas de Brazil, the world’s largest family-owned and operated Brazilian steakhouse brand, is opening its first SC location in Haywood Mall next year. Start planning your night out at Texas de Brazil by peeping at its menu. 🍖 (PR Newswire)
Anderson-based P.F. Meat Co., a meat processing business, is opening a butcher shop in Pendleton (233 E. Main St., Pendleton) next spring. The shop will serve P.F. Meat’s farm-raised beef and pork along with regional and local goods. 🥩 (The Post and Courier Greenville)

Number

$27.4 million. That’s how much global textile manufacturer Milliken & Company is investing to expand operations in Cherokee County (157 New Milliken Rd., Blacksburg). The investment, which will add production lines to increase manufacturing capacity will create 75 jobs. The facility specializes in workwear, military and flame-resistant apparel.

Tech

Local tech startup Tabbi launched an app that allows for faster tab payment at bars + restaurants. Users skip the step of “starting a tab” by checking into the business through the app. Orders are placed at the bar, but payment goes through the app. Learn about how it got started. 🤳 (WSPA)

Talk

Best-selling authors James Patterson and Mike Lupica will speak at Clemson University’s Brooks Center for the Performing Arts (141 Jersey Ln., Clemson) on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss their new thriller, “The House of Wolves.” Purchase tickets to get an autographed copy. 📖 (Greenville Journal)

Seasonal

Hop on the holiday bus, Gus. Greenlinks’s Holiday Bus is back for its third year and offering free rides now through Friday, Dec. 23, courtesy of Greenville Connects. The bus will rotate through 12 fixed routes, operating on a different route each day. 🚍
Even if you have your very own Cousin Eddie on your hands, Lowes Foods makes it easy to get everything you need to have a stress-free holiday gathering. Here’s how. 👀*

Shop

Our online store Six & Main is now featuring Loyal to Greenville, a local apparel company. Business owner Darcy aims to make a positive imprint in Greenville with her products that celebrate all things local. Start shopping now. 🛍️

Plan Ahead

Looking for a new way to ring in the new year? Celebrate NYE with a weekend trip to Columbia, SC for festive events like “Party Thru the Decades” at Chayz Lounge and Tin Roof + the Senate’s massive block party. Whatever your style, there’s something for everyone. Plan your NYE.*

Travel

Where do you plan on traveling in 2023? Prep for authentic exploration with Babbel, the No. 1 language app in the world. Choose from 14 languages and learn through bite-sized, 10-minute sessions that focus on everyday phrases + relevant topics. Snag 55% off your subscription today. 🌏 *

Try This

Hot tip: You can beat the last-minute crowds and score major deals (read: up to 70% off) at 60+ stores, including Le Creuset, Coach Outlet, J. Crew Factory, and West Elm Outlet, now through the rest of 2023. Take a trip to the Asheville Outlets for holiday sales, photos with Santa, and best of all: gift-wrapping services.*

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2 Upstate women go to infinity and beyond

2 Upstate women part of NASA’s Artemis 1 Mission

NASA's Vanessa Wyche and Charlie Blackwell-Thompson

Vanessa Whyche (left) + Charlie Blackwell-Thompson (right) | Photos via NASA by Bill Ingalls and Cory Huston

What does NASA have to do with the Upstate? You should actually be asking “who?”

Two Clemson University graduates are part of the Artemis 1 Mission, one that launched last month as part of a series of missions that “will enable human exploration to the Moon and Mars.”

Vanessa Wyche

SC native Vanessa Wyche (CU undergraduate class of 1985, Masters graduate class of 1987) serves as the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and oversees activities related to human spaceflight, like construction of Orion, the Artemis 1 mission spacecraft. Vanessa is NASA’s first African American female to be director of the center.

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson

Gaffney native Charlie Blackwell-Thompson (CU class of 1988) serves as the launch director for NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program, Exploration Systems Development Division, and the Artemis 1 launch. Charlie is NASA’s first female launch director.

Click below to read more about Charlie + Vanessa’s collective 50+ year career with NASA.

MEET VANESSA

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Kyle.

Editor’s pick: Speaking of the Artemis 1 Mission and ties to the Upstate, there’s one more you may not know of. Easley’s Amelia P. of Girl Scout Troop 1591 was a Junior winner of the “Girl Scouts to the Moon and Back” essay contest. Amelia will receive a Space Science badge that’s been to space on NASA’s Artemis I.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? We wrote a letter to Hallmark about why Greenville would make the perfect set for its next Christmas movie.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Kyle Steadings, Danielle Johnson, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Anne Hazard | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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