5 Things You Need to Know Today: March 16

1. Today, from 10 to 10:30 a.m., Corona del Mar Middle School students will be participating in a Count the Shamrocks event in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Participants will be asked to guess the number of shamrocks on the ceilings, walls and hidden places around campus. A Visa gift card will be given to the student who guesses closest to the exact amount of shamrocks.

2.  On Friday, March 18, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Corona del Mar Middle School will host a father/son basketball game at the high school gym. Admission is $15 per person and includes a T-shirt, a prize and a pizza dinner. For more information, e-mail Shelly Ridge shelleyridge@cox.net, or download an application here.

3. On Saturday, March 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bloomingdale's at Fashion Island will be having a special cooking event for parents and their children. So if you love to have your child with you while cooking, the Cooking 2Gether with Kids event is something you don't want to miss. Space is limited, so call today to reserve your spot. 949-729-6824.

4.  Don't forget! Registration is open for the Newport-Mesa Spirit Run—an annual tradition that began in 1983. The event, set for March 27, will be held at Fashion Island and includes a variety of runs, such as the 10k and 5k races for adults and a 5k and one-quarter-mile runs for kids. Entry fees range from $20 to $45, depending on the run and time of registration. Prizes will be awarded. Registration begins at 6 a.m. the day of the event. For further information click here.

5.  Today will be partly cloudy, with highs in the lower 60s, according to the National Weather Service.