Five Things You Need to Know Today: March 16

1. New Phil concert. The New Philharmonia Orchestra will give a concert tonight featuring the sights and sounds of Ottorino Respighi. Tonight's performance will feature James Buswell on violin. The concert will be held at the First Baptist Church and starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.

2. Grand openings. The new City Sports at The Street in Chestnut Hill (55 Boylston St.) will celebrate its grand opening today. The sporting goods store will have lots of promotions and giveaways at todays celebration, which will start at 10 a.m. In addition, the new Pottery Barn (right next door) is opening today. The two new shops are located in the new building at The Street (under Sports Club/LA)

3. Book sale. The Friends of the Newton Free Library will host a book sale this weekend at the Auburndale Community Library. The sale will run today from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and tomorrow from noon - 3 p.m.

4. "Wonder." A local cast will put on a staged marathon reading of R.J. Palacio's book "Wonder" today at the Newton Cultural Center. The community is welcome to come to a portion or all of this event, which will run from roughly 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Admission is free, but donations for the Newton Food Pantry are encouraged.

5. Spoken Word Festival. The Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center will host a Spoken Word Festival tonight starting at 8 p.m. The event is "part performance, part poetry slam, part comedy." Plus, at the end of the show, audience members will be invited to share their own six-word memoirs during a "six-word slam." Tickets are $23. Contact boxoffice@jccgb.org, 617-965-5226 or 866-811-4111 for more information.