5 Things You Need to Know Today: Franklin Park Reading Series, Free Jazz, More

1. You need to speak with the police about crime in the neighborhood. With two men beaten in an  on Franklin Avenue and a  on Dean Street between Vanderbilt and Underhill, it's a good time to head to the , where you can speak directly with Deputy Inspector Elvio Capocci about what the cops are doing to prevent violent crime and how to best protect yourself. 7:30pm, St Teresa of Avila Church, 563 Sterling Place, between Classon and Franklin. Come hungry, there's usually a good spread.

2. You need to get literary. Head to Franklin Park for their monthly series, where authors read their work. . 8:00pm–10:00pm, Franklin Park, 618 Saint Johns Place.

3. You need a night out. Head to Tea Lounge for , where a different big band plays each week. 9:00pm–11:30pm. Tonight it's the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra. , 837 Union St. at Seventh Avenue. 

4.  You need to get the kids out of the house. It's supposed to be a gorgeous, not-too-hot day today, so head to the Prospect Park Zoo, where you can see offer food to her exhibit-mates,  steal food from her exhibit-mates, and  , the otter couple, compete for special foods like hard-boiled eggs. Plus, there's the  Sea Lion Feeding at 11:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., & 4:00 p.m. 10 to 5, $8, $6 seniors $5 kids 3-12. Or, .

5. You need to know if your train is running and if you have to move your car. There are no planned subway changes affecting Prospect Heights today, according to the MTA. As for moving your car – the next alternate side suspension isn't until July 4, sadly according to the NYC DOT.