March 1

Saturday

Stargazing

Carolina Skies Astronomy Club will hold a free, public stargaze on from 7-10 p.m. March 1 at the Bradford Creek Soccer Complex, 4523 Old Pactolus Road. Club members will set up telescopes to provide close-up views of the planets Mars and Saturn as well as provide a tour of the Spring constellations. Call 916-1545 or visit http://csac.weseestars.org.

Contradance

Folk Arts Society of Greenville and ECU Folk & Country Dancers will hold a contradance from 8-10:30 p.m. March 1 at the Mendenhall Social Room on the East Carolina University Campus. The Hollis Family Band will play the music and Steve Wiliford will call. A dance lesson will be given at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for members, $3 for students and $8 for others. Visit http://www.geocities.com/greenvillefolkarts/

Phone prankster

Nationally known comedian Willie P. Richardson, "The Phone Prankster," will perform at 7 p.m. March 1 at Ralph L. Fike High School Auditorium, 500 Harrison Drive, Wilson. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Call 560-0098.

March 2-8

Tuesday

Folk concert

Folk Arts Society of Greenville and ECU Folk & Country Dancers will hold a folkfriends concert at 7:30 p.m. March 4 at the Tipsy Teapot/Parker-Kennybrook Books, 409 Evans St. Free. Visit http://www.geocities.com/greenvillefolkarts/.

Wednesday

Writers Reading Series

The Writers Reading Series of Eastern North Carolina will present nationally acclaimed poets David Wojahn and Mark Cox at 7 p.m. March 5 at the Greenville Museum of Art. Pulitzer Prize finalist David Wojahn is the author of many collections of poetry, including "Interrogation Palace." Mark Cox, author of the forthcoming collection "Natural Causes," is the chair the Department of Creative Writing at UNC-Wilmington and teaches in the Vermont College MFA in Writing Program. Free. Call 737-1088.

Book signing

Gerald J. Prokopowicz, chairman of the Department of History in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences at East Carolina University, will sign and talk about his new book "Did Lincoln Own Slaves? And Other Frequently Asked Questions about Abraham Lincoln" at 7 p.m. March 5 at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 3040 Evans St. Free. Call 328-6587.

"Magic Flute"

East Carolina University Opera Theatre will present Mozart's "The Magic Flute" at 7 p.m. March 5-6 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. March 7 at A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall. Tickets are $15 for the general public, $12 for faculty and staff and $5 for students. Call 328-4788.

Lecture and awards

The Wellington B. Gray Gallery on the East Carolina University campus will hold a lecture by the juror for the 2008 School of Art and Design Undergraduate Exhibition at 5 p.m. March 5. An awards ceremony for the student winners will be given at 5 p.m. March 6. Both events will be held at Speight Auditorium. Free. Call 328-6336.

Friday

Boat show

The Eastern North Carolina Boat Show will be held from noon to 6 p.m. March 7, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. March 8 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 9 at Overton's, 111 Red Banks Road. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 8 and under.

Saturday

African dance

The Chuck Davis African-American Dance Ensemble will perform in Washington, N.C., at the Turnage Theater at 8 p.m. March 8. As founder and artistic director of the African-American Dance Ensemble, Davis is considered one of the foremost teachers and accomplished choreographers in the traditional techniques of African dance. The dance company is being presented by the Beaufort County Arts Council. Advance tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under. All tickets at the door are $12. Call 946-2504.

March 9-15

Monday

Nutrition fair

The 2008 Eat Smart, Move More Nutrition and Physical Activity Fair will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 15. This free event will provide general information on nutrition and physical activity, as well as community resources. Free food samples will be available in addition to live physical activity demonstrations. Call 847-8265.

Monday

25th anniversary

Chico's Mexican Restaurant in downtown Greenville will celebrate its 25th anniversary with food and drink specials through March 10. There will be a live remote with 99.5 The X from 7-9 p.m. March 10. Call 757-1666.

Friday

High school theater

The D.H. Conley High School's advanced theatre class will perform "The Real Inspector Hound" and "The Fifteen Minute Hamlet" at 7 p.m. March 14-15 in the school auditorium. Tickets are $5. Call Matt Ringrose at 756-3440.

Saturday

mixer night

mixer will celebrate its 2007 "Best Of" survey at Tie Breakers Sports Bar and Grill, 1920 A&B Symthewycke Drive, from 10 a.m.-2 a.m. March 15. Trainwreck, voted best local band for a second year in a row, will perform. Call 439-0555.

Bench press

Are you strong? Like Popeye strong? Then why don't you put your muscles where your mouth is at the Greenville Aquatics and Fitness Center's bench press competition from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. March 15. This event will be open to the public. Call Willie Dove at 329-4041. The fitness center is at 921 Staton Road.

Astronomy in the Park

The Carolina Skies Club will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. March 15 at Goose Creek State Park, 2190 Camp Leach Road, Washington, N.C. Pictures and videos from Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Rovers Spirit & Opportunity and Phoenix, now in route to Mars, will be presented. Following the program, telescopes will be set up outside for sky watching. Free. Call 923-2191.

Pops concert

The Tar River Community Band will hold its annual Spring Pops Concert at 7 p.m. March 15 at Faith Assembly of God Church, 5005 Corey Road, Winterville. Admission is $5. Tickets may be purchased from any band member or at the door. Visit www.tarriverband.com.

Road races

East Carolina Road Racing will hold the Young Life Run for Life 5K in Washington, N.C., March 15. The race is run alongside the Washington waterfront, on a newly improved 5K course. Greenville's biggest 5K, the ninth annual Habitat for Humanity Home Run 5K and Fun Run, will be held March 29 at City Bistro. The event offers many awards, door prizes and breakfast. The event has drawn more than 300 runners. For more information on these events, visit www.ecrun.org.

Diabetes walk

The 2008 JDRF Juvenile Diabetes Walk for a Cure will be held at 10:30 a.m. March 15 at the Greenville Convention Center. Registration begins at 9 a.m.The event includes refreshments and children's activities. Visit www.walk.jdrf.org or call (800) 377-0476.

March 16-22

Monday

St. Patrick's Day

Put on your green and get ready to drink some strange-colored brew, March 17 is St. Patrick's Day. Want to know where to party this St. Paddy's Day? Check out the list of local venues hosting events on page 8.

Tuesday

Literacy fundraiser

The fourth annual Enriching Minds Series fundraiser event to benefit Literacy Volunteers-Pitt County will be held from 9-10:30 a.m. March 18. Author, comedian and storyteller Kelly Swanson will speak. A seminar, "If this is my dream job, somebody wake me up!" will explore how to bring humor back to the workplace. A brunch begins at 11 a.m.; Swanson will present "It's all fun and games till the hair gets messed up." Cost is $85 and includes an autographed copy of Swanson's book. The luncheon is $45; the cost is $115 for both. Call Laura Smith at 353-6578 or e-mail laura@pittliteracy.org.

March 23-29

Thursday

ECU Founder's day

East Carolina University will celebrate its centennial founder's celebration March 27 beginning at 10 a.m. The event includes a centennial convocation in Wright Auditorium at 10 a.m., a luncheon on the university mall from noon-1 p.m. and the opening of the permanent display of the centennial quilt in Joyner Library at 1 p.m. The theme of this year's event is "spirit."

Four Seasons music

Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival will hold its spring concerts, "Dramatic Journeys," at 7 p.m. March 27 and 8 p.m. March 28 at A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall. The concerts will feature Arnon Erez, piano; Ittai Shapira, violin; Hagai Shaham, violin; Ara Gregorian, viola; Zvi Plesser, cello. Music will include Shostakovich's Allegretto for string quartet, Elgar's Piano Quintet in A Minor and Brahms' Piano Quintet in F Minor. Tickets are $10-$25. Call 328-4788.

Friday

Salsa dance

Folk Arts Society of Greenville and ECU Folk & Country Dancers will hold a salsa dance from 8:30-10:30 p.m. March 28 at the Mendenhall Social Room on the East Carolina University campus. A lesson will be provided at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for members, $3 for students and $8 for others. Visit http://www.geocities.com/greenvillefolkarts/

Saturday

Get physical

The Uptown Greenville Criteriums promoting physical activity in our community will be held in Uptown Greenville at 10:30 a.m. March 29 and 7:30 p.m. March 30. Seven categories of races for men and women will be offered each day. The races are open to the public with a $25 per race pre registration fee and a $30 per race fee on the day of the event. A free community fun ride will be held at 4:45 p.m. March 29 followed by a free kid's ride at 5:45 p.m. Visit www.uptowngreenville.com or call 561-8400. Proceeds will benefit physical activity initiatives in Pitt County.

AMEXCAN spring festival

The Association of Mexicans in North Carolina (AMEXCAN) and Pitt Community College will hold the second annual "Celebration Spring Festival" from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. March 29 at the Greenville Town Common. The event will include the taste and smell of Mexico through food, art exhibitions and colorful and lively dance and musical performances. Children can compete for prizes in various fun and educational games. Nonprofit organizations and local businesses may participate. Call 258-9967 or (919) 394-8218 or e-mail jrrocha@embarqmail.com.

Jekyll and Hyde

Farmville Community Arts Council, 3723 N. Main St. Farmville, will present "Jekyll and Hyde" at 8 p.m. March 29-31 at 3 p.m. April 1. Tickets are $12 for members and $16 for others. Call 753-3832.