Dear Reader
I started this newsletter on Monday March 16th. Today is Thursday April 16th and here we are, still sitting in the unknown of what’s to come. But I do know, writing this newsletter has been a daily anchor — one of the things I have tried to do to keep this little boat of mine steering ahead through these rough waters. So thank you, as always, for reading and engaging with me.
As I’ve mentioned before, I have my good friend Stevie to thank for encouraging me to start this, and I’m so, so, so grateful that he’s on the mend. I’m also grateful for all the well wishes for him and inquiries into how he’s doing that have come my way. There are now others who need those well wishes too — friends of friends or family of friends who are in the hospital. The wife of one of those who needs all the good energy he can get right now is asking for this Elvis song to be played for him. It was part of the soundtrack for Presley’s 1957 motion picture Loving You, and it really is a great theme for during this time.
Today’s options for your online arts, culture and entertainment events:
1. Artist Shantell Martin is doing an online book launch for her first art book with Heni Publishing, called Lines. She'll talk with some of the contributors of the book about collaboration and their own path as artists as creatives. Plus, Shantell will also be doing a live book signing as a part of the launch.
2. Music wise: Allen Stone is playing a live virtual session today on the Current’s Facebook at 1pm PST/4pm EST, The Black Pumas will be playing on YouTube at 5pm PST/8pm EST, and sister duo Chloe x Halle will round out the day with an night session on Columbia Records’ IG at 8pm PST/11 pm EST.
3. A Covid-19 mental health benefit concert is taking place today. Dubbed ‘Sound Mind,’ members of the bands Dispatch and Dawes will join Foy Vance, Jade Bird and others to create more dialogue around mental health at this time. Starts at 5pm PST/8pm EST on YouTube.
4. One of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s plays being put online, under The Shows Must Go On! banner, is the long-running Phantom of the Opera. It’s the Royal Albert Hall performance of the production, starring Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess. Available from tomorrow at 11am PST/2pm EST, for 48 hours. Any donations received will help support a variety of theatre organizations affected by the pandemic.
5. Creative Mornings, the fantastic global network of creative-minded people, is offering its “Field Trips” virtually, so if you do want to pick up an entertaining new skill, this is a good place to look for one. Or you could just opt for meditation, like I did yesterday.
Thank you for reading. In case you missed it, I’ll leave you with the artwork Banksy was inspired to create by his WFH antics.
Stay safe, stay sane
Your neighbour
Nadia