Mansion 462 on West Franklin Street, near the Carolina Brewery, is open for business. With overstuffed furniture and moody lighting, the bar and lounge has an upscale vibe. It can be booked for private parties, with entertainment, music and food included. See www.mansion462.

Whole Foods bags plastic

Whole Foods Market has announced it will eliminate disposable plastic grocery bags in all of its 270 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom by Earth Day, April 22. Whole Foods has encouraged shoppers to bring their own bags for years, offering a refund of either 5 or 10 cents at the checkouts and selling different types of reusable bags. So if you're shopping at the Chapel Hill Whole Foods maybe it's time to BYOB.

Hearts at McDonald's

Local McDonald's will sell $1 paper hearts through Valentine's Day to raise money for state Ronald McDonald Houses. The hearts will be displayed in the restaurant with the donor's name listed. All proceeds from paper-heart sales will go to the Ronald McDonald Houses in Chapel Hill, Durham, Greenville, Winston-Salem and soon-to-be in Charlotte.

Got chocolate?

Sample chocolates and wine on Saturday at the Hillsborough Wine Co., 118 S. Churton St., in downtown Hillsborough. The store will feature homemade chocolate samples from a newcomer to the downtown business district, chocolatier Matthew Shepherd, who recently opened Matthew's Chocolates at 107 N. Churton St. For information, call the Hillsborough Wine Company at 732-4343 or Matthew's Chocolates at 732-0900.

More West End valet service

The West End Valet Parking Service is now available Monday through Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. West End destinations participating in the service include 411 West, Bonne Soiree, Carolina Brewery, Elaine's, Lantern, Mediterranean Deli, Studio Supply, Talulla's and the West End Wine Bar.

This and that

Sarah Blacklin is the new manager of the Carrboro Farmers' Market . . . Buffalo Wild Wings at 206 W. Franklin St. has closed . . . According to Forbes Magazine, the UNC basketball team is the most valuable in the country, worth about $26 million.