Dear Reader
When I was younger, I used to envy my parents for the mail they would get in the post, unbothered by the fact they were getting bills and bank statements. I would write to anyone I could — from my friend who moved to another country, Marie, to The Dolphin and Whale Society, inquiring about our porpoise friends. I started sponsoring a child when I was about 9 or 10, eager for the chance to help someone less fortunate than me, but also, to receive regular updates in the post about how little T was doing, and to get photos of him wearing the t-shirts I’d picked out to send to him that were small enough to fit inside a medium-sized envelope. I grew up sending my grandmother postcards whenever I travelled somewhere, the first person I ever went overseas with, and it’s a tradition I now keep with my friend, Casey, who travels almost as much as I do (or used to, sigh).
Now, all these years later, I get lots of electronic mail, like we all do — many of them bills and bank statements, but some of them word from friends afar and down the street. But nothing beats the delight of a physical letter with your name and address written on it in pen. I received such a delight yesterday, an envelope-sized package of joy, from Pistol Pete, a friend made from going to London’s Run Dem Crew meet-ups when I’m in town. The letter — with its Bond, James Bond stamps on it — took a while to make it across the seas, but make it it did. The pleasure of receiving a letter in the mail is made even greater during these times, when we’re looking for connection beyond a screen, both tiny and big. I’m thankful to the post-office workers who allow me to send Pete back an envelope-sized squeal of my gratitude and reply!
There is a LOT happening this weekend, so consider this your electronic subscription to a selection of entertainment options for this weekend:
1. Today, Queen will make the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness available on the band’s YouTube page at 11am PST / 2pm EST, to raise money for the World Health Organization. The show will be available to watch for 48 hours. Over on Twitter, Mötley Crüe will host a virtual watch party for their biopic, The Dirt, on Netflix, at 4pm PST / 7pm EST, with some “special guests.” And on a totally different pop planet, Katy Perry will host a live Q&A and performance of her new song Daisies for the first time, 10am PST / 1pm EST. One more music tip, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires will celebrate An Acoustic Evening Celebrating the Release of Reunions, his much-anticipated new album. Live from Brooklyn Bowl Nashville 5pm PST / 8pm EST.
2. Oprah will give a commencement speech, while Miley Cyrus will perform The Climb during Facebook and Instagram's Celebrate the Class of 2020 event in honour of graduating seniors who have had their commencement ceremonies cancelled because of the pandemic. There will also be a few wise words from the likes of Lil Nas X, Awkwafina and others to round out the event. It begins at 11am PST / 2pm EST, streamed on Facebook.
3. Ahead of the Smash cast reunion, Katharine McPhee, Megan Hilty, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Neil Meron, and Robert Greenblatt will break down the making of Bombshell on Stars In The House. This companion event will support The Actors Fund, and will stream live at 5pm PST / 8pm EST on starsinthehouse.com.
4. Comedian and SNL writer Julio Torres will present My Sun in Aquarius, a show to benefit NYC’s undocumented workers. Guests like Aidy Bryant, Fred Armisen, Nick Kroll and Natasha Lyonne will be joining him. 5pm PST / 8pm EST. [Thanks Sam for the tip!]
5. All weekend, the Relay for Relief will be taking place — a bunch of fitness studios all getting together to support United Way Worldwide’s COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund. So many different classes on offer — all for a great cause!
6. On Saturday, Queen Naija, BJ The Chicago Kid and Eric Bellinger perform during Vibe #WithMe and EscapeTracks' virtual R&B festival to support MusiCares starting at 1pm PST / 4pm EST on YouTube. Then, Australia’s Tones And I, Missy Higgins, Pierce Brothers and The Jezabels will play the inaugural Recharge 2020 Festival. representing “the best of Victoria, from its farms to its pubs, from its estuaries to its kitchens,” on YouTube from 12pm AEST on Sunday, May 17 (that’s 10pm EST May 16).
7. Also on Saturday, Ashe, joined by the likes of FINNEAS, Ryan Tedder, AJR, Jacob Collier, Bishop Briggs, MAX and Charlie Burg presents In My Room, celebrating The Beach Boys landmark recording and 54th anniversary of Pet Sounds. At 2pm PST / 5pm EST, raising money for Support & Feed, a Covid-19 relief initiative.
8. There’s more Oprah! Inspired by her sold-out US arena tour, Oprah Winfrey and Weight Watchers are hosting a free, interactive virtual experience to “help you reclaim your path to wellness in the face of unprecedented change.” Hey, I am constantly inspired by Oprah, so I will not knock this. Saturday mornings beginning May 16 through June 6 at 8am PST / 11am EST.
9. On Sunday, Haim will teach a dance class, the first of four, all tied to four of their singles, kicking off with I Want You Back. Sign up here. Haim’s pal, Taylor Swift will also be sharing her concert from Paris in September, but you’ll need ABC or Hulu or Disney Plus to watch it.
10. Lastly, Ours Poetica is a fantastic YouTube channel with new poetry videos that are uploaded every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Get lost on it here.
That was really a bumper edition. Hope it helps you find some joy this weekend!
Cheers!
Thank you for reading!
Stay safe, stay sane
Your neighbour
Nadia