OUR FAVORITE WAYS TO PASS THE TIME
COVID-19 may have limited our options, but we won't be deterred from finding the best ways to feed our mind, body, and spirit.
Here are our current suggestions for your downtime.
Feeding Your Mind
MUSEUMS, PALACES, GALLERIES, AND CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES
Cultural attractions around the globe and in our back yard offer virtual tours, book clubs, and artist talks via their website or Google Street View.
3D-tours of heritage sites around the world via Google, like the Bradenburg Gate, the Jefferson Memorial, or Chichén Itzá
Travel and Leisure's list of museum virtual tours (the British Museum's is particularly amazing)
The National Emergency Library is an online archive of over 1 million books available to anyone with an internet connection. Books range from popular adult literature to children's picture books to academic papers.
MUSIC AND THEATER
Broadway may have gone dark, but there are ways to stream theater, ballet, opera, and more into your own living room.
BalletMet is Columbus' professional ballet company, with a world-renowned artistic director in Edwaard Liang. Virtual performances are posted to their website at balletmet.org.
BroadwayHD offers a week of free streaming (monthly fee of $8.99 afterwards). Their library includes Kinky Boots, Sound of Music, the majority of Shakespeare, Death of a Salesman, and more.
The Metropolitan Opera's "Nightly Met Opera Stream" begins at 7:30pm EDT on weekdays, and features favorite performances from the past 14 years. Each stream will stay on the Met's website until 3:30pm the next day.
The Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert Hall is offering free access to their concert archive, documentaries, interviews, and more.
BOOKS
My nightstand is always host to a large stack of reading material. My current late-night indulgence is the 668 page catalog from the September 2012 sale of Brooke Astor's estate. You can browse the collection (with realized prices) from the $18M auction here.
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg...because, have you been on social media lately? I think we can all agree that nonviolent communication is a valuable skill these days.
One of my favorite doctors just happens to make awesome book and tv recs. Her most recent suggestion of Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch might have hit a little close to home, but I am holding out judgment until after I finish it. :)
Feeding Your Body
Get inspired by the best of the chef's in our tribute to Columbus' fine dining scene,
a selection of more than a dozen recipes from our city's best restaurants at this link.
STAYING ACTIVE
It's easy to stay on the couch, or at your desk all day, but don't forget to get up and move to maintain your mental and physical health!
Though it would take a bit of planning to get to this view from our Editor in Chief's recent visit to Glacier National Park, Columbus has a pretty wonderful selection of trails in the Metro Park system. Our current fave is Inniswood Garden.
Here are some of our top picks among fitness apps and streamed workouts:
YOGA: Down Dog and CorePower Yoga
HIIT: Orange Theory and Barry's Bootcamp
GENERAL: Pelaton
Feeding Your Spirit
MEDITATION
Meditation has proven physical and mental health benefits, and with this list of the Top 25 Best Meditation Resources: Guided Meditation, Meditation Music, and Meditation Apps , you have no reason to miss out on the chance to find your personal zen.
TELEVISION & MOVIES
One of the best ways to lift your spirits is to make time to relax, one of our favorite ways to relax is watching our favorite TV shows and movies. Check out some of our recommendations below.
This is us - I know this is old, but I never got into it the first time around. Thanks to Hulu and an almost empty nest, I am spending quiet nights at home catching up on all things Pearson family and trying to pace the tissue usage.
Free Solo - Before she left for college, child #3 and I enjoyed a number of movie nights this summer. Among her better choices was the Nat Geo documentary about professional rock climber Alex Honnold's attempt to conquer the first free solo climb of famed El Capitan's 900-metre vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park. My pick for her was Cape Fear, watched from our beach vacation just off the Cape Fear river, of course.
Evenings together seem to be few and far between for my beau and me, but he is always reliable for a great pic with beautiful cinematography. Most recently, we watched My Octopus Teacher, and here's the best review I can give: I actually stayed awake to the end.
Check back here every couple of days for updates!
