Warm Up at the Navy Yard on Thursday

Today is Wednesday, March 9. Here are five things you need to know today.

1. Want a free appetizer at the Navy Yard Bistro? It’s easy. Take a moment to , who owns the Bistro and has spent the last few months in treatment for Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare disorder that attacks the body’s immune and nervous system. John’s getting back to work slowly and his recovery has been successful – in part, he told Patch, because of the support he’s received from the community. His story is a strong testament to the power of the neighborhood. And as for that free appetizter? Steve Kavanagh posted in the comments of the story that if you go to the Bistro and mention that you read about John in Patch, one is on the house.

2. Speaking of Mr. Moore and the Navy Yard: There’s an event at Parris Landing on Thursday that you’re invited to. The Friends of the Navy Yard, along with a handful of other local sponsors, is hosting a in the lobby of Parris Landing from 6 to 8 p.m. John will be officially “welcomed back” at the event, and recognized for his work in the community. Tom Cunha, who heads up the Neighborhood Council, will also be honored. Come for snacks and beverages. Stay to hang with your friends and neighbors.

3. If you’re a beer person, you might be interested to know that Boston Beer Company founder, Jim Koch, will speak at the Boston Public Library tonight at 6 p.m. in the Rabb Lecture Hall. Koch brewed his first batch of beer in 1984, using his great-great grandfather’s original recipe. At the time, he was working at Boston Consulting Group after receiving BA, MBA, and JD degrees from Harvard University. (That’s a lot of fancy titles that, these days, would cost a regular person a lot of money.) Koch chose the name Samuel Adams in honor of the Boston patriot, and he introduced Sam Adams Boston Lager on Patriots’ Day in 1985. Six weeks after the introduction, Samuel Adams was picked as “The Best Beer in America” at the Great American Beer Festival. The beer has won more awards in international beer tasting competitions in the past 20 years than any other lager in the world.

4. But maybe you don’t want to hear about beer, because today’s Ash and the first day of Lent, if you’re of the Christian persuasion. Forty-six days until Easter. On a related note, this is interesting: In Ireland (and the UK), Ash Wednesday has been designated National No Smoking Day – and it has been since 1984.  

5. Today’s not at all exciting forecast: Partly sunny, high near 37. Tonight: Cloudy, with a low around 31.

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