Important dates

• Voter registration deadline | Friday, Feb. 9, 5 p.m.
• Early voting | Thursday, Feb. 15-Saturday, March 2
• Absentee ballot request deadline | Tuesday, Feb. 27, 5 p.m.
• Election Day | Tuesday, March 5, 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Prepare for the polls

Cast your vote

• Books to Action Book Club | Tuesday, Feb. 6 | 5:30-7:45 p.m. | Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., Asheville | Free | Participate in a poverty simulation exercise facilitated by Just Economics, supplementing a discussion of “Poverty, By America” by Matthew Desmond.
• Buildin’ Buildings: Real Estate Development | Tuesday, Feb. 6 | 5:30-8 p.m. | The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville | Free | Take advantage of expert knowledge for strategies, insight, and a behind-the-scenes look at local development.

• World of Games | Wednesday, Feb. 7 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Stephens-Lee Community Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave., Asheville | Free | Let you kids ages 12-17 grab a controller and play to win in Xbox, PS5, board, and card games.
• Icehunt Album Release Show | Wednesday, Feb. 7 | 7 p.m. | Eulogy, 10 Buxton Ave., Asheville | $13.78 | Experience the atmospheric synth + unique sonic landscape of Icehunt’s second album, “dreamworld.”

• Nerd Nite Asheville | Thursday, Feb. 8 | 7 p.m. | The River Arts District Brewing Company, 13 Mystery St., Asheville | $10 | Learn from the experts about space clocks + nuke detection, the scientific inaccuracies of “The Dark Knight,” and piercing.
• The Campfireball: Love Bugs | Thursday, Feb. 8 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $10-$15 | Be a part of the show that’s created spontaneously from your experiences — this month’s show will surround stories of the heart.

• Flyin’ West | Friday, Feb. 9-Sunday, Feb. 25 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E. Walnut St., Asheville | $18-$30 | Don’t miss the opening night of this compelling drama following four women in the 1890s in one of the all-black towns established in the American West.

• Mountain Institute for Lifelong Learning at Warren Wilson College | Monday, May 13-Friday, July 26 | Warren Wilson College, 701 Warren Wilson Rd., Swannanoa | $650-$5,800 | Register for Warren Wilson College’s lifelong learning program, happening May-July + featuring a variety of non-credit adult courses and three “Worldwide” traveling opportunities.*

• Chill drinks in a “Cheers” beverage tub.
• These football-themed paper food trays and liner napkins are perfect to serve a crowd.
• This triple slow cooker buffet lets you keep multiple dishes warm.
• Swifties can sport a best-selling “Go Taylor’s Boyfriend” tee or this “Taylor’s Version” NFL crewneck.
• Rooting for the 49ers? Display this 49ers flag.

• A sweet moment in the spotlight. Asheville-based Timothy Maguire Chocolates made its way to the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 4, where it dished out confections for celebrities. The chocolatier has worked with the Met Gala, the CMAs, the Grammys, the Golden Globes, and is currently working with the Oscars.

• Haywood Street Community Development, an affordable housing organization created by Haywood Street Congregation, will break ground on its first “deeply affordable” housing project in the West End/Clingman Avenue Neighborhood. The ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 21 will kick off construction of 41 rental units.

• Homeward Bound will be hosting its 5th Annual Open Your Heart for Women & Homelessness Luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 12 p.m. A panel of experts will share on the unique challenges of homelessness for women and how you can offer support. The deadline to register is Friday, Feb. 9.

• The Dining Room on Biltmore Estate made its way onto Open Table’s “Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in America for 2024.” The list is compiled using more than 12 million diner reviews and metrics to find which spots have the most love in the air (and on the plate).

• Be transported to Bel Paese — if only for one meal. Gemelli is launching its new Wine by the Vines dinner series with a culinary trip to the Piemonte region of northwestern Italy, full of rich pastas, truffles, and red wines. This first installment takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 21.

• The Western North Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross is looking for local heroes. Nominations are open for the 2024 Salute to Heroes, which recognizes people who have done something extraordinary in our county — in categories like Community Impact + Good Samaritan. Submit a nomination by Thursday, Feb. 29.

• The Buncombe County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council is now accepting applications from local nonprofits and public agencies to fund programs that serve young people in the juvenile justice system. For new applicants, there will be two info sessions on Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 10 to 11 a.m. or Friday, Feb. 9 from 1 to 2 p.m. See the details.

• Nestled in Swannanoa’s Grovemont neighborhood is a newly available duplex brimming with potential. Add a touch of TLC and watch each room transform, or combine both sides into your dream forever home. See the space + check out the truly enormous yard.*

• If you’ve been dreaming of a “one-card wallet,” it’s time to wake up and get your hands on this credit card. Not only does it offer 0% APR into 2025, but cardholders can also earn up to 5% cash back — with no annual fee to boot.*

• Lunar New Year 2024 | Saturday, Feb. 10 | 12 p.m. | Pop Bubble Tea, 640 Merrimon Ave., Ste. 103, Asheville | Pop will decorate the shop for the New Year and serve up two special drinks + a blessing through Saturday, Feb. 24.
• Lunar New Year Taproom Celebration | Saturday, Feb. 10 | 12-10 p.m. | Taproom at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Ste. 200, Asheville | Free | Enjoy music + experiences, indulge your tastebuds with Bun Intended, El Kimchi, Pop Bubble Tea, and Nibbly Onigiri, and get a first taste of Wooden Dragon(fruit) Wheat, Highland’s collaboration with Seattle’s Lucky Envelope Brewing.
• Dumpling and Beer Pairing | Sunday, Feb. 18 | 1-3 p.m. | Barrel Room at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Ste. 200, Asheville | $45 | Highland Brewing and Bun Intended are collaborating on an artful fusion of craft beer and dumplings for this guided tasting.