• First Fridays with Amar Stewart | Fri., March 3 | 4-8 p.m. | The Refinery AVL, 207 Coxe Ave. | Free entry | Check out local painter Amar Stewart’s new studio space and some of his latest works.
• Funky First Friday - An Evening on The Block | Fri., March 3 | 5-8 p.m. | Noir Collective, 39 South Market St. | Free entry | Celebrate the local creative community along with sweet treats and drinks.
• Venus Dark House Party | Fri., March 3 | 10 p.m.-2 a.m. | Asheville Beauty Academy, 28 Broadway St. | Free entry | Usher in the weekend with killer house music.
• Malevo | Fri., March 3-Sat., March 4 | 8 p.m. | Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 8 Biltmore Ave. | $58 | This all-male troupe modernizes an Argentinian folk dance for an electrifying visual and sensory experience.
• Living Musically: Sound Improv is Sound Healing | Fri., March 3-Sun., March 5 | 6 p.m.-11 a.m. | Mount Mitchell Eco Retreat, Otter Rock Rd., Burnsville | $47-$347 | No prior drum or ritual experience is necessary for this retreat, which utilizes drums, expression games, dance, and singing to heal.

• Baby Goat Yoga | Sat., March 4 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Franny’s Farm, 22 Franny’s Farm Rd., Leicester | $35 | Stretch and bend alongside cuddly, fun-loving critters.
• North Asheville Tailgate Market Winter Market | Sat., March 4 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | UNC Asheville, 3300 University Heights | Free entry | Shop from an array of locally grown, produced, and prepared foods at the first winter market of the season.
• Marbling for Quilts | Sat., March 4 | 10:30 a.m.- 12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m. | Majik Studios, 348 Depot St., Studio 140 | $125 | Learn to marble cotton fabric using the centuries-old process of floating paint on a thick gel.
• Enter the Haggis in Concert | Sat., March 4 | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. | $20-$25 | This one-of-a-kind band from Toronto combines bagpipes and fiddles with a rock rhythm section for original tunes like you’ve never heard before.
• An Evening with Jonathan Scales Fourchestra | Sat., March 4 | 9 p.m. | AyurPrana Listening Room, 312 Haywood Rd. | $17 | Treat yourself to an evening of funk-infused steel pan jazz.

• Sunday Morning Yoga | Sun., March 5 | 11 a.m.- 12 p.m. | Asheville Kung Fu, 2194 Smokey Park Hwy. #200 | $15-$20 | This all-levels class focuses on calming the nervous system.
• Alan Doyle Live In Concert | Sun., March 5 | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. | $25-$40 | All ages are welcome at this show featuring Canadian actor and vocalist Alan Doyle.
• Extreme Music Bingo | Sun., March 5 | 1-3 p.m. | Sweeten Creek Brewing, 1127 Sweeten Creek Rd. | Free entry | The hits don’t stop at this bingo event featuring audience singalongs and surprise prizes.
• Standup Comedy at Asheville Pizza | Sun., March 5 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Asheville Pizza and Brewing, 675 Merrimon Ave. | $14 | Enjoy cold brews, hot pies, and fresh comedy.

• $3 million. That’s the amount of money Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn raised in its first funding round. Proceeds will be used to double its existing manufacturing footprint, and to invest over $2 million in new equipment and technology. We love to see big things popping for our local businesses. (WRAL TechWire)

• Peace Gardens & Market’s Annual Early Spring Plant Sale takes place Saturday, March 18 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The event will feature an array of cool season plants including mesclun mix, dill, parsley, and watercress for your spring gardens, all available on a sliding scale of $4-$6 each.

• Looking for something simple and sophisticated to add to your meal repertoire? Check out Corner Kitchen’s recipe for the classic French butter sauce beurre blanc. The silky sauce is ideal on fish, seafood, poached eggs, or vegetables.

Why go?

• A river runs through it — the Boise River that is. There are great hiking and biking paths along the Greenbelt, tubing in the summer, and even surfing.
• The Treefort Music Fest (Wednesday, March 22-Sunday, March 26, 2023) is one of the city’s biggest annual events — a five-day indie extravaganza featuring 185 artists, including Ani DiFranco, Lady Wray, Built to Spill, and more.

Where to stay:

• Vrbo: North End couple’s getaway walking distance to downtown (~$82/night)*

• What’s your vacation vibe — cozy, luxurious, or chic? For a cozy stay, look no further than this snug and cheerful getaway on beachy St. Simons Island, Georgia. For luxury, book this lush Hawaiian resort on the island of Kaua’i. And for the chicest of stays, peep this renovated house in downtown Charleston.*

• Calling all bibliophiles. Level up your reading routine with an Audible Membership. Why we love it: we can listen to our favorite books and discover new titles while doing everyday tasks like commuting, walking the dog, cooking, and cleaning. Sign up for your first 30 days free. 📚*

• Level up your sleep hygiene and wake up feeling well-rested with a little help from two top-rated products: this blackout sleep mask with ~9,000 five-star reviews and this sleek white noise machine complete with 31 different soothing sounds. 💤 *