We hear that Lou Reed, past master of kinkiness (with the Velvet Underground), avante ’60s New York artist, looming figure of black leathery campiness, and possessor one of rock and roll’s darkest visages (along with Keith Richards) … is coming to Spoleto. We hear that he’s booked a palatial … well, maybe not palatial, call it presidential … suite at Charleston Place.

This makes total sense. Lou Reed is married to performance artist Laurie Anderson … since last month (congratulations brilliant couple!) and the two have been collaborating musically since they got together in the 1990s.

Lou Reed, with the Velvet Underground, is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Last time I saw him was when he was touring behind the “New York” studio album, or maybe behind “Songs for Drella,” a collaboration with John Cale. Can’t remember.

Anyway, I’ve always loved Lou Reed’s finely crafted tunes that go places other songwriters won’t. Laurie Anderon’s “Homeland” arrives at Spoleto during its world tour June 4-6. We don’t know if Reed is involved in that project. But if you see him around town and you appreciate his career, say hi. We will not link here to the famous Lester Bangs interviews with Lou Reed although we recommend them as being among the funniest rock and roll mashups in music history.

Yes, I know opera is a commitment. Money, time, attention — all that. And in talking to the director today, he confirmed it: Amistad isn’t the “feel-good-hit-of-the-summer,” and isn’t intended to be.

But for all that, I like opera that connects of a mythic level. And I really liked what I saw and heard today at Memminger Auditorium.

Here’s my pitch for why you should put it on your festival ticket list:

1. The story is great, and functions as a sort of genesis mythology for American history;
2. Memminger has been reborn as the city’s biggest black-box theater space, and it looks and sounds fantastic;
3. The music is American and modern, with classical elements and spiritual elements and jazz elements and blues elements all intertwingled;
4. Instead of singing about 18th century Italians or Germanic warriors, they’re singing about America — “our experiment.” They’re even singing in English. It feels like art that crackles with immediacy;
5. The staging. Yes, there are drawbacks to opera in the round — like the moments when the singer is facing the other side of the auditorium — but it’s engaging and provocative and fresh. And the moment when John Adams looks across a darkened space to a smiling African goddess is … well, let’s just say it was a deeply symbolic moment enhanced by brilliant design and stagecraft.

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Grace Episcopal Church’s annual Tea Room is a Spoleto tradition in its 17th year. Grace serves lunch daily during the festival, starting on Memorial Day, May 26. Proceeds go to charity. Here’s the 411 …

GRACE CHURCH TEA ROOM MAY 26-JUNE 6, 2008

Grace Episcopal Church in Charleston will hold its 17th annual Tea Room May 26-June 6 to raise money for local outreach organizations.

The Tea Room serves lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. during Spoleto Festival USA. The money raised goes to some 20 local charitable organizations, such as the Lowcountry Children’s Center, the Crisis Ministries homeless shelter, Star Gospel Mission and the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy. Since it began in 1992, the Tea Room has given away more than $300,000 for outreach – including $50,000 from last year’s event.

Visitors are also invited to visit the Church Mouse Boutique, a gift shop selling everything from handmade linens and homemade jams to gently used books and collectibles. The shop will be open from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. daily during the Tea Room.

The menu features crab soup, ham biscuits, sandwiches, shrimp remoulade, chicken salad and other favorites, all made fresh daily in the church kitchen. Lunch is served at tables in the parish hall decorated with tablecloths and fresh flowers, with live piano music in the background. All the work, from food preparation to waiting tables, cleaning up and taking telephone orders, is done by Grace members.

Guests are urged to save room for dessert: Parishioners prepare their favorite desserts and deliver them to the Tea Room each morning, where they’re garnished with flowers and mint leaves from local gardens. The selection varies daily but the price is the same: A generous slice costs only $4.

Take-out lunches are available by calling 723-8587 and placing orders between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. for pickup during the regular Tea Room hours.

Grace Church is located at 98 Wentworth Street, near the College of Charleston campus. For the complete menu, see the Grace Church Web site.

Charleston finally has an opera company!

The Charleston Chamber Opera will launch its first season at Piccolo Spoleto 2008. An evening of American Chamber Opera will include Menotti’s “The Telephone” and Hoiby’s “Bon Appétit” at Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St., June 4-6 at 7:30PM. Tickets are $25 adults, $15 students and seniors, $10 children, under 12 and are available through Ticketmaster or at the door on the evening of the performances.

The production titled “Pilot Season” links the operas together as a play within pieces where our performers are actors and production team members attempting to film potential pilots for the new fall television season. The production will be directed by Tami Swartz and Timothy Lafontaine, with a script by both directors. Steven Morris will music direct and conduct a Charleston-based chamber orchestra.

The performers will consist of the three co-founders and Mr. Lafontaine. New York City based mezzo soprano Lara Wilson recently moved home to Charleston to found this unique company together with Patrice Tiedemann of Boston and Tami Swartz of New York City. Their combined credits include Carnegie Hall, Connecticut Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, the Boston Pops and Harrisburg Opera.

The Charleston Chamber Opera was created to present intimate works and premieres of American opera compositions and chamber opera with attention to dramatic presentation, production values and true stagecraft. With the creation of a hometown company, Charleston Chamber Opera fills an untapped niche in Charleston’s diverse and rich artistic heritage - 917.674.7277.