5 Things You Should Know This Week

 Most people hate Mondays. But "5 Things You Should Know" may turn your opinion of Mondays around, with information to jump-start you into a productive week. Be the first to know about parking changes, traffic changes, important meetings, and the hottest events in Bed-Stuy. Afterall, there's no better way to arm oneself than with information:

1.     There will be no M-trains running December 17th – 20th. Plan your trip accordingly, if you plan to head into the city for Christmas shopping this weekend. Transfer between free shuttle buses and L-trains at Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs. Transfer between free shuttle buses and J-trains at Myrtle Av.

2.     Atlantic Avenue between Ralph Avenue and Utica Avenue: One lane may be closed westbound except peak hours between 9pm and 3am weekdays. One lane may be closed eastbound except peak hours between 2pm and 9pm weekdays. These closures are limited to the actual work area, two blocks at a time, to facilitate MTA-LIRR viaduct rehabilitation project until the end of 2011. One lane will be maintained westbound between Ralph Avenue and Buffalo Avenue on the weekends from 10pm Friday to 5am Monday.

3.     This week is the last week to catch "" at the Billie Holiday Theatre at Restoration Plaza. You don't want to miss this one, as this may be one of the theatre's best plays yet. "Brothers from the Bottom" is a play that peels away the layers of controversy surrounding gentrification to reveal a lot of uncomfortable truths. It is smart, thought-provoking, while letting the audience draw its own conclusions on a topic that is polarizing, controversial and relevant. The play is written and directed by Jackie Alexander. It opened October 14th and runs through December 19th, 2010. Don't wait until the weekend. Snag a ticket now before it is sold out.

4.     Join award-winning authors Ntozake Shange and Ifa Bayeza as they read from their acclaimed new Novel "SOME SING, SOME CRY." Ntozake Shange's signature work was produced on Broadway in 1976 "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow Is Enuf" and Ifa Bayeza's stage works include "Amistad Voices," "Club Harlem," and "The Ballad of Emmett Till." December 19th, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm at , 1368 Fulton Street. This event is free.

5.     This week also is the last week to catch , at the Brooklynite Gallery. This colorful Pop Art exhibition combines the artist's Brooklyn upbringing with his travel experiences to South America, utilizing laundry bottles and other discarded items, proving that one man's trash is another's treasure. Thursday- Saturday, 1:00pm – 7:00 pm throuth December 18th, The Brooklynite Gallery is located at 334 Malcolm X Blvd