Is a Ban on Butts in Public Parks a Good Thing?

Today is Friday (!), Feb. 11. Here are five things you need to know today.

 1. Are you one of those people who grimaces and holds your breath when you walk by someone puffing on a cigarette? I am. I’m a snotty non-smoker and I know it. If by Charlestown’s (District 1 City Councilor Sal LaMattina gets approved, it would be a boon for people like me — at least in public parks. LaMattina’s proposal, which is co-sponsored by At-Large Councilor Felix Arroyo, would ban smoking outside in city parks. () A similar measure was just passed in New York City, but after a serious debate about civil liberties. (Read about that here.) LaMattina’s idea will have to be weighed by the full council before anything is enacted. Chances are Boston will be having its own serious debate soon enough.

2. Happy Chinese Lunar New Year! This weekend marks some major celebrations in the city for what is considered the most important of traditional Chinese holidays. If you’ve never experienced the festival in Chinatown, it’s absolutely worth checking out. On Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., there is a free party, sponsored by the city and Chinatown Main Street. It starts with a kickoff in Philips Square with the mayor, and includes a lion dance parade. This is the Year of the Hare, by the way. A hard one to say if you’ve got a Boston accent. For more details, check out chinatownmainstreet.org.

3. Charlestown is currently without a charter school, but there are plenty of options elsewhere in the city for local parents to choose from. If you’re considering that route for your child, there’s a charter school show case this Saturday — it’s a good place to learn about the academic programs available, which is the right fit for your son or daughter and how to apply. It runs from 9 a.m. to noon at Boston University’s Fitness and Rec Center at 915 Comm. Ave. For more details, call 617-282-6710, or visit www.bostoncollegiate.org.

4. This is just terribly cute. If you’re looking for something to do with your family this weekend, go see the , a puppet show about a sales rabbit who is not so good at his job. Tickets are $10 and they’re available at . All proceeds benefit our friends at .

5. Will the weather cooperate this weekend? No telling yet. Today will be clear with a high near 28. But there’s a chance of snow showers Saturday after noon. And again on Sunday, before 3 p.m. Whatever is falling from the sky will turning to rain in the evening. Good news: It will warm up again. Around 35 degrees.

For more info on what's happening around the neighborhood, visit our events calendar.