Brooklyn, I can’t wait to be dancing and sweating underneath a disco ball with you sometime in the near future.
But until then, here are some things we can do to stop feeling quite so alone, together.
Party From Home
I mean this is kind of the best kind of weekend partying… You can commit to a number of plans, and then do them all a little bit while not wearing pants, and then just fall right into bed without having to decide whether or not you deserve to take an Uber home. And best of all, most of these parties are actually benefitting some group or business, so #revelwithacause all weekend. Get to it.
Or, From a Car! Because There’s a drive-in movie theater in GREENPOINT.
That’s right folks. Before they cover our waterfront with luxury apartment skyscrapers, they’re giving a little slice of that precious land to us. The clever people with Skyline Drive NYC want you to watch films with that iconic skyline in the background, but what they don’t tell you on their website is that you’ll be sitting and watching in the best goddamn neighborhood in the city. So come early, get a cocktail from Citroen, and then post up.
Mister Sunday Wants to Come Over
Starting this Sunday, Mister Sunday will be broadcasted from Nowadays Yeah, I know… it doesn’t feel like summer if we can’t dance and drink and sweat with all of our friends right up against us. And, you know… this whole beach thing. But Nowadays is going to help us feel it as much as possible starting this weekend. They’ll be broadcasting Mister Sunday weekly, so tune in Sunday and make your Memorial Day Weekend feel a little more real.
A Bar Near Me, a fundraiser for your favorite neighborhood spots.
Nothing feels worse than your favorite little local spot closing down (this was pre-COVID, fyi…) but nothing feels better than seeing how they are evolving to support other local businesses who are suffering immensely during this pandemic. Support them supporting us and supporting our fair city through this, through @abarnearme . They’ll be hosting virtual events to make sure there will be doors to open up once we “open back up” Follow along here, and keep an eye out for their next burger pop-up… they sell out fast.
Ron Like Hell with the Good Room and Wrecked NYC
All this restriction makes me want to run like hell… but make staying put more fun this Friday with Ron Like Hell. They’ll be streaming live to help support the good people at the Good Room, so zoom on in and #revelwithacause right here. And buy some amazing tunes and swag too, here. Because showing your support looks good on you, baby.
Zoom Burlesque with the Love Room NYC
Your living room never looked sexier. Well, I mean, except for that one time… you know what time. Let’s bring it all back and invite The Love Room into your living room and get a little nasty but feel good about being bad. They’re dancing in support of their absolutely lovely project, so let them in. Let’s dance better and feel better. Info here. #spreadloveitsthebrooklynway
Adult Dino Trivia with Atlas Obscura
Because being a nerd for dinosaurs might not have been cool when you were growing up, but now it’s (kind of) cool, thanks to the good people at Atlas Obscura. They’ll be hosting a Dino trivia drinking game zoom so put on those weird footie pjs you still have and pour yourself some Dino punch and impress some people, you little triceratops you. Info here.
Get Cultured
There is more available at our fingertips right now than ever before, and I don’t mean whatever stockpile of filtered images influencers have scheduled to roll out to you this month. Check out my favorites below and learn something while you’re “stuck inside”.
Get Backstage (in your apartment) with a Magician
Trust me when I say this- there will come a time when you will want to impress your friends again. And a damn good way to impress them every time is with a good magic trick. Go backstage with a magician this weekend with this amazing virtual magic lesson from Atlas Obscura. There might not be anything up your sleeves right now but some residual hand sanitizer, but make sure there’s more there when this is all over. Sign up for a time slot here.
To Be, or Not to Be, NYC?
If there’s no Shakespeare in the Park does summer even happen in New York? This Is unfortunately a painful question we must all face. But let’s do it all together with the amazing theater the Public Theater is still providing. This Monday they’ll be hosting a virtual performance with a dance party afterward to make us all feel like we’re packed into that replica of the Globe theater, sweating together and fanning ourselves with our programs while we drink plastic cups of rose (man I miss that). Check it out here.
Get Bent, Creatively
You know you’ve been Marie Kondo-ing the hell out of your apartment, and as such likely have a few wire hangers to spare. Make something useful out of them with this amazing video from artist Gego, who was part of the MoMA’ s exhibit Sur Moderno. Why? Because even a completed puzzle won’t look this cool.
At-Home Chef
Put some Koji-Infused Cuisine on the table tonight
Because let’s be honest… you have cooked everything else. Everything. Else. What is Koji? It’s a refined rapid fermentation process used in Japanese cooking which has been perfected by Chefs Jeremy Umansky and Rich Shih using a koji microbe… this microbe has the power to transform pantry staples into umami marvels, and will solve the problem you’ve been having when you try a very ambitious recipe. Tune in Sunday at 8pm, and sign in here first (the second tier level gets you a copy of their book too!) and then brag to your friends that you’re doing cooler fermentation things than they are.
Build a Box with Rooftop Reds
Your favorite rooftop winery is now the greatest little market in the Navy Yard (that’s right Wegman’s, I said it) Rooftop Wines has evolved to become a one-stop shop for so many local favorites and farmy finds. Each week they add even more options to choose from (craft cheeses! syrups! oh my!) so choose your box wisely and feel good about supporting this and so many businesses. Then make something fantastic out of it.
Martha Stewart wants to Wine and Dine You
SHE STILL WENT TO PRISON. Which makes me respect her wine picks way, way more. Because what do you think she was thinking about while she was in there? Probably all of the good wines she wanted to get white-girl wasted off of. So choose a fancy little recipe from NY Times Cooking and order some of this former-convict selected wines and have yourself an evening.
Get a Move On
Because “shelter in place” doesn’t mean being completely stagnant. You can responsibly keep yourself moving in some very creative ways.
Let’s have some Good Times, Brooklyn
Daily yoga from your favorite little Williamsburg studio that will help you shape up and be a little less rigid during this time of boundaries and rules and limitations. Proceeds go to support their amazing staff, so feel good while you have a good time. Schedule here.
Yoga + Meditation with New Love City
Get your mind off of things and your body into things this weekend with meditation and yoga. Because we’re never going to get through this without going nuts and gaining the COVID 19 if we don’t try, with intention. Follow along here for the schedule and let’s make ourselves better.
Pilatesbklyn Wants to Help you Shape Up
Let’s all lengthen and strengthen our quarantine bodies so that we can all look good while looking longingly at the beach this summer. Pilates Brooklyn is offering free sessions this weekend to make you look and feel better. Choose a class and tune in via the link in their Instagram here.
Support Your Neighborhood Spots
Let’s face it- the city will not be the same when we get out of this mess. And in order to help preserve it and make sure we all survive, support @neighborhoodspot in their mission to support small businesses who are shut down at the moment, and look damn good doing it. Buy their merchandise here and feel good repping your ‘hood, in your ‘hood. And then don’t feel like a dork if you wear said schwag to that same restaurant when they reopen- concert tee rules do not apply during a pandemic.
Beer and Pizza with Barano + Domino Park
Make those socially-distanced circles into a very intimate party this weekend with Barano’s new midday beer + pizza deal. Every day, 2-5pm, you can get a hot gonna slice and any beer on tap for $9. Then grab your quarantine buddy and claim your circle at the park and make everyone noticeably jealous of your late lunch decision. Keep up with all of their amazing specials right here
Come have Brunch with Me!
Say whaaat? Yeah, you know I hate brunch. But what I do like is that during this time of social distancing, I get to spend a few hours in a charming little window on Manhattan Avenue and make people happy. And I’ll be doing just that this Saturday. Come, get a Bloody Mary. Get an Aperol Spritz. Get a damn delicious burger, or some carbonara. Get whatever the hell you want, just come keep me company! I’ll make you happy!
Show Your Support
One of the most important ways we can spend our time and hard-earned government paychecks is by funneling that money back into our communities and supporting local businesses. Don’t let them shudder once we all decide to “open back up”.
Buy a Mask, Feed someone in Need
I hate it that people cannot see me smile. But until they can, let our mouths say something about us- like, “I really care about this local business and I want them to survive all of this,” and also, “My mouth just fed some other mouths!” Relix Marketplace is making these amazing masks to help local businesses and food banks. Browse the collection here and keep smiling under there.
Buy Art that Feeds People
Make your home renovations mean something by adding some fresh art to those walls, art that says “I love my community” and “I also give a damn.” Local artist @stevewasterval is selling prints of (mostly) Greenpoint scenes and with the sale of each print, one meal is donated to the North Brooklyn Angels. Order through his instagram and let’s make North Brooklyn (and our walls) a better place.
Help Seniors through Umbrella
We all too often ignore the most valuable members of our society, the seniors that contain within them so much history and wisdom that may go unseen and unheard. And now they’re suffering at disproportionate numbers. Show them that you care by volunteering to help a senior through Umbrella. Even simple tasks can be impossible to execute when you’re trapped in a high-risk nursing home, or simply unable to get out because of fear. Sign up here and show them you haven’t forgotten.
Feed Your Community
Because you’re never going to eat those Vienna sausages. You aren’t. And you’ll be embarrassed if anyone sees them in your cabinet and therefore assumes this is a snack you consume often. Donate your unwanted food and new food you buy at the supermarket just for this cause and that money that you’re still getting either from your employer or Donald J Trump himself (i.e. your own tax money) to local food banks. They desperately need help. Learn more here.
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