5 Things You Need to Know Today: Chimanda Adichie at BAM, Night at the Brooklyn Museum, CB8 Meeting, More

1. You need to meet Chimanda Ngozi Adichie. If, like me, you're a fan of her novels, which include "Half of a Yellow Sun" and "Purple Hibiscus" check out  at . $50.

2. You need to use your brain. How about ? Toight there's the tour "Corsets and Bustiers: Erotic Fashion" and a lecture by artist and sound designer Daniel Perlin and architect Mitchell Joachin, an innovator in ecological design and urbanism. Tickets, which include Museum admission, are $10 ($6 for members and cultural colleagues). Seating is limited; advance purchase recommended via www.brownpapertickets.com. Brooklyn Museum. 7 p.m.

3. You need to get involved in your community. Head to the , which, conveniently is meeting not to far away tonight. Topics include a presentation on Sex Trafficking in Brooklyn by the DA's office and a presentation of the renovation of three buildings at 523, 541 St. John’s Place and 560 Sterling Place to become a training academy complex for New York State Court Officers. Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation's lovely meeting room at 727 Classon Ave. (at Prospect Place). 7 p.m.

4. You need to get the kids out of the house. It's supposed to reach 63 degrees and be sunny all day, so it's a great day to head to either the or the  to see the cherry blossoms. If you choose the zoo, there's sea lion feedings at 11:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., & 4:00 p.m. Also check out the at the renovated Australian Walkabout. Or see our full list of .

5. You need to know if your train is running, and if you have to move your car. Between midnight and 5 a.m. weekdays through April 15, the Q train is going to drop you at the N platform at Pacific, make you walk to the Q platform at Atlantic, then have you wait up to 30 minutes to catch the connecting train, according to the MTA. Plus, there's no suspension of alternate side until Passover on April 19 and 20, according to NYC DOT.