Here are 13 fun and safe things to do while isolating at home
While we wait out this #SafeAtHome and #AloneTogether to #FlattenTheCurve, here’s an updated roundup of a dozen or so ways our creative community has come up with to “funtain” you through this strange and sobering time. Stay healthy, Triangle.
Midtown Farmers Market Opening Day
It’s that time of year! Sort of. In the market’s own words, “You can skip the jazz hands for now.” While the market will bow on Opening Day (yay!), April 13 (8 a.m. to noon), it won’t be the market of yore just yet. Expect to see only food products; vendors spaced 10 feet apart; and no live music, food trucks or other entertainment. The market has set up guidelines for everyone’s safety: one in, one out per vendor tent; stand behind tape when waiting in line; keep 6 feet social distance; shop in minimum needed time; shop alone; only touch what you buy; do not visit market if you are sick or think you have been exposed to the virus. Vendors on-site will include Cedar Rock Farms, Shrooms 2 Grow, MJM Family Farm LLC, Pet Wants North Raleigh, The Pleasant Bee, Rob’s Fresh Produce, Mama’s Salsa, Nourishing Acres, S & L Farm, Humble Umbel Farm. The market is in the Commons at North Hills off Six Forks Road. midtownfarmers.com
‘Get Off of My Cloud’
Here’s a fun way to provide safe, visual engagement in our quarantined times, but also to support those suffering economically in the face of COVID-19. Horse and Buggy owner Dave Wofford has transported the recent physical installation “Get Off of My Cloud” online in the form of a silent auction exhibit. (The Broad Street gallery in Durham is closed until safer times.) Ten percent of art sales will go to the NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund. These funds come from the gallery cut, which means the 40-plus artists still get their full share. “There are many fun rabbit holes to go down and explore and learn about the works, projects and the artists themselves (all from the Southeast, over half from the Triangle,” Wofford said in an email. So you can support your creative bug, local art, local restaurants and community. A win-win squared, really. horseandbuggypress.com/auction
Happy Hour at Home
Keep helping to #SupportServiceIndustry by ordering food in and bringing happy hour home. For the latter, a slew of local spots are offering some variation of take-home delivery and/or pickup beverages (think cocktail and mocktail mixes, beers, wines, sangrias, bubbles and more). Here’s a few more to add to your must-try list: Pizzeria Toro, Crawford & Son, Il Palio, Edwards Mill Bar & Grill, Mandolin, Parizade, St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar, Hummingbird, Picnic/Wyatts BBQ, State of Beer, Aviator, Big Boss, Raleigh Beer Garden). Need a different kind of pick-me-up? Jubala Coffee now has batch iced lattes for your stay-home needs.
These are in addition to the local businesses we previously reported on: Dos Taquitos, STIR, Lola’s, The Glass Jug, The Raleigh Wine Shop, The Wine Feed, Linus & Pepper’s, Virgil’s Original Taqueria, Virgil’s Food Truck, Short Walk Wines, Lonerider, Locals Oyster Bar, Bar Virgile, The Haymaker with Killjoy, House of Hops, Oakwood Pizza with SideBar. We will keep you up to date on the growing list to help #supportlocal and save our beloved local restaurants and bars.
Rosé Virtual Wine Class
You can still get your spring on and rosé all day with The Wine Feed crew via livestream presentations. On April 25, it’s three bottles of dry rosé (which you receive via delivery in advance) paired with local food delivery recommendations. Yes, please! 6:30 p.m. Cut off is April 23 so you can receive your delivery in time. Ticket info for this and other classes at thewinefeed.com/pages/calendar
Artspace Activities
Ever wanted to party with rubber donkeys (who hasn’t)? Make your own sketchbook or fabric collages? Learn to scale up shapes? Artspace’s online resources are designed to creatively teach and inspire you at home. artspacenc.org/online-resources/
Downtown Durham Public Space Project
The third season of the ever-popular Public Space Project has launched online, now in its second week, with weekly events held at 1 p.m. On April 16, tune in as Raven Gibbs leads the Mindful Movement Dance Class to promote and enhance self-care and mental health. Then, stay tuned for Warli Painting 101 on April 23 as Sampada Agarwal livestreams the indigenous painting workshop.
Raleigh Beer Trail 2020
So, it turns out there is a use for your passport right now: er, your Raleigh Beer Trail Passport. In short: download passport, print, get stamps, earn prizes. Yes, drinking/purchasing beer = prizes? Finally, some good news. Five stamps earns you a bottle opener; 10 scores you a koozie; and 15 gets you a tee designed by local musician and artist George Hage. Oh, and you get a free stamp to start. You have the full calendar year to earn your stamps (January to December) for current prizes. While you can’t physically drink in breweries right now (think Lonerider, State of Beer, Aviator, Big Boss, Raleigh Beer Garden and many more), online and curbside options abound at many local spots — which, you guessed it, earns you that stamp (while also supporting local biz in time of need).
Carolina Ballet ‘Les Saltimbanques,’ ‘Ravel Piano Trio’ and ‘Lollapalooza’
Turns out “Lollapalooza” is an actual option — at least via the Carolina Ballet livestream. Continuing its stream of on “pointe” entertainment (joke doesn’t get old…) is the Carolina Ballet with new uploads of previous ballet performances: “Les Saltimbanques,” “Ravel Piano Trio” and on “Lollapalooza.” (We should mention that “Lollapalooza,” in this case, is definitely a ballet and not the multi-stage music extravaganza in Chicago.) The Ballet is featuring its past works for at-home enjoyment for free. Check the site regularly for new uploads: carolinaballet.com/performances/
Dive into Art with NCMALearn
You need entertainment and creative inspiration — and North Carolina Museum of Art is here for it. With its permanent collection spanning 5,000-plus years, from ancient Egypt to the present, the free-admission museum and 164-acre museum park “showcases the connection between art and nature through site-specific works of environmental art.” Via its NCMALearn program, you can search more than 200 permanent collection artworks, browse through videos that explore artists and artwork, or find and utilize 100 lesson plans to challenge students of all ages. Need an outdoor off-site recess? The Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park is currently open to visitors practicing social distancing. learn.ncartmuseum.org
Georgia Aquarium: Behind the Seas Tour
Move over tigers. It’s time to go fish. Now you can check out the live animals at the famed Georgia Aquarium while learning all kinds of fun facts. Perhaps peep a gator crossing? Maybe some Beluga whale web-cameo time? An African penguin break? How about some jellies (just like a NC beach!)? The Behind the Seas Tours provide an up-close behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium’s most popular exhibits. Check times, option and prices at georgiaaquarium.org
FOR THE KIDS
Online Dance Classes for Children
Need recess ideas for your new homeschool agenda? ComMotion has you covered with Online Dance Classes for Children. Cha cha, anyone? Beyond dancing, United Arts Resources has amassed a world of unique Creative Social Distancing resources at your fingertips from its teaching artists and grantee organizations — think juggling, writing, drumming (OK, maybe not for quarantine?) and so much more. Keep checking the site as classes are added. unitedarts.org/resources/creative-social-distancing
Family Activities Inspired by Monet
Remember when we told you that each Friday the NCMA staff takes a visitor favorite work of art (that you submit) and shares art-making, film, music and educational recommendations that it inspires? The most recent Friday pick is Monet. Think atmospheric art, sunset viewing challenge, neighborhood window art galleries, readings and more. Like what you learn? Explore past editions and all NCMA from Home content. learn.ncartmuseum.org
STEAM Squad
This project with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, NC State University and many more partners resulted in a series of 5 STEAM-themed books authored by Eleanor Spicer Rice. It’s targeted toward kids in fifth through seventh grades, complete with online activities and related citizen science projects. Recently launched, the series will continue to roll out over the next month or so — and will be archived — as, each Tuesday, one book will be released online per week over the course of five weeks. steamsquad.org