Round one

• Iron and Oak Brisket Co. and Little Pigs BBQ | The popular Texas-style barbecue spot will face off against Asheville’s oldest family-owned restaurant.
• Bear’s Smokehouse and Doc Brown’s BBQ | Kansas City and Carolina-style barbecue will go head to head in this match up.
• Moe’s Original BBQ and 12 Bones Smokehouse & Brewing | Moe’s Alabama-style hardwood smoked meats will take on 12 Bones and its unique, saucy rib flavors.
• Luella’s Bar-B-Que and Big J’s Bubba-Q | Luella’s, famous for its smoked meats and tasty sides, will go against Big J’s Bubba-Q, which may have a small storefront but packs a huge flavor punch.

• Dark City Poets Society | Tuesday, March 5 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain | Free | Practice your poetry with a monthly group for all ages and experience levels.
• Haken | Tuesday, March 5 | 7:30 p.m. | The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | $35-$49.50 | Get lost in the music of the progressive metal band.

• Beginner Banjo: Playing Tunes | Wednesday, March 6-Wednesday, April 10 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St., Black Mountain | $120 | Focus on learning a few tunes, the drop thumb technique, and returning to drop D tuning — it is recommended that students know the basic clawhammer stroke.
• Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge | Wednesday, March 6 | 8-10 p.m. | Asheville Music Hall, 31 Patton Ave., Asheville | Free | Test your material with a four-minute set at Asheville’s longest running comedy open mic — or laugh along with professional and not-so-professional comics.

• 2024 Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Championships | Thursday, March 7-Monday, March 11 | Times vary | Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville, 87 Haywood St., Asheville | $20-$1,200 | Claim your seats for the SoCon men’s and women’s championships.
• Blue Ridge Orchestra’s Musique Ménage | Thursday, March 7 | 6-8 p.m. | Governor’s Western Residence, 45 Patton Mountain Rd., Asheville | $80 | Enjoy an evening of elegant opera from a chamber ensemble of selected orchestra musicians and multi-talented vocalists from the Opera Theatre at UNC Greensboro.

• You Had Me at MEOW | Friday, March 8 | 6-7 p.m. | House of Black Cat Magic, 841 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $20 | Mix and mingle with single cat lovers during this speed dating event for people 50+.

• History: Check out the South Carolina State Museum, EdVenture Children’s Museum, walking tours of Main Street, the Capital, and more.
• Culture: You’ll want to plan a visit to the Columbia Museum of Art, enjoy the public art around the city, and maybe catch a family-friendly musical at Town Theatre or puppetry performance at Columbia Marionette Theatre.
• Indoor and outdoor activities: Stack your schedule with a mix of family-friendly indoor activities and outdoor options to really get a feel for Soda City.

• Primary Election Day. Find your voting precinct, make sure to bring your ID, then cast your vote for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, Asheville City Council, and more national + local officials.

• Hendersonville’s internationally famous pregnant stingray, Charlotte, made an amusing appearance in last week’s SNL Weekend Update. Watch the fish handle the paternity rumors with a shocking (albeit unlikely) revelation. Heads up, this sketch isn’t for kiddos.

• Bee Thai Kitchen has taken over the former Little Bee Thai space at 45 S. French Broad Ave., Ste. 190. The new spot, which opened today and whose name pays homage to its culinary forerunner, will serve up dishes like spring rolls, drunken noodles, and crab Rangoon. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

• Expansion is getting the green light. Green Built Alliance is expanding its Energy Savers Network, a program working to reduce energy costs for limited-income families and promote energy efficiency. With the growth of the program, Green Built is calling for community volunteers. Learn more about getting involved.

• A new means of transportation has hit the road. Pedal Cab Co. offers “intentionally affordable” pedicab rides around Downtown, South Slope, the River Arts District, and more. Whether you’re heading to a concert, taking a tour, or getting to your car after a game, catch a lift for $7 per 10 minutes.

• Buncombe Partnership For Children has launched the Early Educator Spotlight Awards to celebrate the difference teachers make in the lives of local students and their families. Nominate a deserving Buncombe County early educator now through Monday, March 18. Then explore how to get involved.

• The City of Asheville announced the next session of its Homelessness Learning Series. Presented by Homeless Strategy Specialist Debbie Alford, the education series will kick off this Friday, March 8 at the Skyland/South Buncombe Library with a talk on causes of homelessness and the local landscape.

• During the Tuesday, Feb. 27 meeting, the Asheville City Council approved $1.9 million in federal grant and city funds for the purchase of three “clean diesel” buses for the Asheville Rides Transit (ART) fleet. The buses are expected to be fully operational in 12-15 months. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

• Weave, hammer, and strum your way to new skills at the John C. Campbell Folk School, offering hundreds of hands-on classes throughout the year. Learn from world-class instructors while staying on 270 idyllic acres in this one-of-a-kind learning environment.*

• Smart printers can monitor ink levels and send new cartridges directly to your door before you run out. Get a $10 credit for HP Instant Ink.*