1. Celebrate Oscar night with neighbors this Sunday from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Hampshire House. For $49 you can enjoy hors d'oeuvres and two drinks (tax and tip included) while making a charitable donation to Cheers for Children. Red carpet attire recommended. For reservations call 617-227-9600.

2. This week's French macarons at Beacon Hill Chocolates are salted caramel and cassis flavored. They arrive today.

3. Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro's culinary Tour de France kicked off this week and will run every Monday to Thursday through July, when the actual cycling race kicks off. This week the tour started in the south, with dishes such as house-made sausage and potatoes, monkfish with brown butter and mushrooms and lemon meringue tart. 

4. Today is the last to get an additional 50 percent off already-marked-down merchandise at J. McLaughlin. The sale is online only. 

5. And spring continues. Temperatures are slated to hit the mid 50s again today. We could see showers later on, wind early. Clear for most of the day.