Olivia Browning Hosts a Shopping Day for Japan

Today is Thursday, March 31. Here are five things you need to know today.

1. A handful of local vendors, and our local retail shop, , are putting together a shopping event to raise money for the Red Cross and its efforts in Japan. Twenty percent of the store’s proceeds will be donated today to the Red Cross. MaryLee Trettenero of Boston Intuitive will donate all of her fees for readings to the Red Cross as well. A representative from the agency will be on hand at the store as well. For more info or to book a reading with Mary Lee, contact the store at 617-242-2299.

2. The Charlestown Nursery School is hosting One Starry Night this weekend, its . It will be held on Saturday, April 2 at 7 p.m. at Max & Dylan’s. There will be a live and silent auction. Tickets are $75 and the cost covers appetizers and one drink ticket. All proceeds are going toward the nursery school. For more info check out www.charlestownnurseryschool.org.

3. Hard to believe, but April vacation is right around the corner. If you don’t already have plans, or your looking for help keeping your kids occupied, the Boston Center for Youth and Families has a listing of field trips and activities for the week on its web site. Includng the Mayor’s Cup Street Hockey Tournament. (Deadline for team registration is on April 8.) Visit www.cityofboston.gov/bcyf.

4. And if you’re not already on the email list for the , go ahead and sign up for it. I got this email from the theater yesterday, announcing a bunch of new shows for the spring and summer season. (If you’re a nerd for British comedy like me, you might be kind of excited for the week of Blackadder productions – staged versions of the TV show.) Take a minute to check out the theater’s line up.

5.  Today’s forecast: Thirty-percent chance of showers, likely after 3 p.m. But it will remain warm: high near 47. Tonight: Rain and slush, 100 percent chance. Waah.

For more info on what's happening around the neighborhood, visit our events calendar.