5 Things You Need To Know Today: December 9

1. Florida doesn't really get cold, but you can celebrate the start of the winter season with chilly tales complete with snow, ice, romance, thrills and laughs. The Museum’s popular Film Fridays program will offer “Winter Stories.” It doesn’t get any colder than the Coen Brothers violent black comedy set in the icy bleakness of winter in Minnesota and the Dakotas. A car salesman’s ill-formed scheme to get out of a financial jam goes gruesomely awry as the local sheriff (played with comedic brilliance by Frances McDormand) is hot on his trail. The film begins tonight at 6 p.m. at the , 201 10th St W.

2. Santa will be at the downtown Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. For a $5 donation you can get a picture of your baby, your dog or yourself with Santa. Proceeds will benefit pet rescue groups.

3. The Lakewood Ranch Humane Society is will deliver lunch to Manatee County Animal Services today as a thank you for their work to get the county to adopt the "No Kill" philosophy.

4. Members of Sarasota Bay Watch will release between two and four million bay scallop hatchlings today from boats positioned above sea grass beds at several locations in Sarasota Bay.  The tiny scallops will be at the stage of their lives where they follow the urge to attach. The grass beds are their natural habitat. Bay scallops have been a part of the Sarasota Bay ecosystem for thousands of years, but despite great improvements in water quality, they have been unable to establish a viable population. Sarasota Bay Watch is undertaking a sustained, multi-year restoration effort. 

5. The South Florida Museum will virtually transport attendees to Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago to see what the magi saw. Participate in an informal science conversation on Wednesday and travel through time and space to explore the Star of Bethlehem. The program takes place from 7 p.m. to 9 .m. RSVP appreciated: Amara Nash 746-4131, x 11 anash@southfloridamuseum.org