5 Things: Good Cheer, Meerkat Madness, Electric Menorah Necklaces and More

1. You need to spread good cheer. Retrieve an old, clean coat from inside of your closet and bring it to one of the following locations to . The NYPD 78th Precinct, 65 6th Ave. at Bergen St., 24 hours. Storage Deluxe, 900 Atlantic Ave. at Underhill, 9am-2pm. The NYPD 77th Precinct, 127 Utica Ave. at Bergen St., 24 hours.

2. You need to watch cute animals tear into gift-wrapped treats like, well, animals. The Prospect Park Zoo will feature for the meerkats and North American river otters today. 450 Flatbush Avenue inside Prospect Park. 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Free with zoo admission of $8 adults, $5 kids 3-12.

3. You need to get the kids out of the house. Head to the hosted by Chabad Prospect Heights for hot latkes, fried doughnuts, dreidels, chocolate gelt coins, electric menorah necklaces and the 6th annual lighting of a 10-foot menorah. 122 Underhill Avenue between Park Place and Prospect Place, 3:30 p.m., Free.

4. You need to know if your train is running ... Between 11:50 p.m. and 5 a.m. weeknights through Dec. 30, trains are running every 30 minutes between Atlantic Avenue and Stillwell Avenue. Brooklyn-bound trains will drop you at Pacific and you will have to walk to Atlantic and wait for the next leg (the reverse Manhattan-bound), according to the MTA. Bring a book, the wait can be pretty long.  

5. ... And if you have to move your car. You don't. Alternate-side parking is suspended Dec. 25-26 for Christmas, according to the NYCDOT.

About this column: Prospect Heights information and events you won't want to miss, including the subway and alternate side info each day.