5 Things to Know Today

Good morning, Bethlehem.

1. Today is Thursday, June 16, 2011. Happy Bloomsday! James Joyce’s novel “Ulysses,” was set entirely on this day in 1904 in Dublin, Ireland, following the travails of Leopold Bloom. Joyce fans widely celebrate this day as Bloomsday with readings from the book, dramatizations and pub-crawls. Fittingly, the largest celebration is in Dublin, though the Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia celebrates its 19th Bloomsday festival today, starting at noon. Happy birthday to singer/songwriter Ben Kweller, actor John Cho (Harold of Harold & Kumar fame, and also Sulu in the newest Star Trek movie), and Saturday Night Live cast member Abby Elliott.
2. Hydrant flushing today shifts to the area around the Bethlehem Square Shopping Center along Route 191 in Bethlehem Township. Low pressure and cloudy water will be normal for a while in that neighborhood. Pothole patching continues along Easton Avenue/William Penn Highway from Elizabeth Avenue through the township.
3. The city Redevelopment Authority meets at 4:30 p.m. today at Town Hall to discuss and quite likely ratify a new lease deal with ArtsQuest for 2 acres, including the space currently being converted to the at SteelStacks and the old Bethlehem Steel stock house, which will be renovated and turned into a new visitors center by next spring. City Council will get to weigh in on the deal next week.
4. The continues tonight at three South Bethlehem venues – , Sinclair Lab and the Victory Firehouse – beginning at a little after 5 p.m. In some cases, the films will be followed with a question and answer session with the filmmaker. Check the festival website for specific show times.
5. Test your pop culture knowledge at SmartsQuest, a music and film trivia game, with prizes, at the Creativity Commons on the first floor of the . It’s free and starts at 7:30 p.m.