Five Things You Need to Know Today, April 7

Today is Thursday, April 7. Here are five things you need to know:

1. Mostly sunny skies expected today with highs in the mid 40s and winds dying down (finally) to 5 to 10 mph.

2. Drink beer to help Haiti tonight at Harpoon Brewery. For $10, you get all the beer you want and you get to feel good about helping people in need. All the proceeds from the event go to the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation. The tasting runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the brewery, at 506 Northern Ave. Plus: raffle prizes!

3. Peter Meade, a Back Bay resident, has been named by Mayor Thomas Menino to lead the Boston Redevelopment Authority. Meade, the president and chief executive officer of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate, brings more than 30 years of economic development, healthcare, education and non-profit experience to the BRA, according to a press release by the mayor's office. Read more here.

4. Demolition of the former Ivory Bean building on Washington Street will commence today, according to the Church of Scientology, which owns the building. Work should take several weeks and contractors have been instructed to save a portion of the bricks removed from the building to be incorporated into the Church's new headquarters. Full store here.

5. Wondering what's going on at 659 Tremont Street? AVA Design will be opening its door in the next month or so. We'll have the full scoop later this morning.