Dear Reader
In an essay on his experience of being alone in confinement, Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, speaks of the current reality being “easier to understand as a fantasy fiction than as a realist story.” The downside of being stranded at home, he says, is one is easy prey for nostalgia. I find that to be the case for me too. At times, an overwhelming feeling of missing things and people and places. Especially the bustle of New York City life. We’re heading into spring and there is a certain magic that happens usually around this time, when New Yorkers, after somewhat hibernating through the winter, start filling the streets — sitting and eating at sidewalk cafes, drinking iced coffees instead of hot ones, lingering in the longer daylight. It will be that much sweeter to come out of this particular hibernation, whenever that may be, and however that may look.
Here are today’s list of online arts and entertainment events to keep you busy:
1. As it is National Poetry Month (I hadn’t really realised), you can book a poet to recite a few words to you through The Poetry Society of New York. Also, that New York institution, the Nuyorican, has an open mic night, if you’re feeling brave (and to be honest, now is the time to be!) and feel like giving it a go yourself.
2. The UK’s Globe Theatre has made Hamlet available to watch for free, or a small donation. The production, starring Michelle Terry in the title role, was filmed from Shakespeare’s most famous stage, and it’ll be available until Sunday.
3. While the Tribeca Film Festival is moving ahead with plans to host a somewhat online version of its festival, they also have been putting out daily short films to watch. You can find the program, dubbed ‘A Short Film a Day Keeps Anxiety Away’ here.
4. British singer Laura Marling just released her new album this past week, Song for Our Daughter, and she’s doing a session for The Current, playing some songs and talking about the music she’s created.
5. Over at the Uncancelled Music Festival, the likes of Betty Who, The Night Game and Rozzi perform today. And Cold War Kids are also hosting Instagram live events — what they’re calling “quarantine serenades.”
Thank you for reading. And thank you for sending me suggestions for things you think I should include. If you enjoyed this, please share and subscribe.
I’ll leave you with a new song that Michael Stipe has made. Yes, the REM classic It’s The End of the World As we Know It (And I Feel Fine) surged in popularity in the wake of this tumultuous time, but his new song could be kind of an add-on to that. It may very well be the end of the world as we know it but it is also perhaps a chance to live more intently and with greater care and appreciation for one another. One can only hope?
Stay safe, stay sane
Your neighbour
Nadia