Dear Reader
Last night, I stood on the rooftop for the 7pm #clapbecausewecare, and just after it, a man in a maroon shirt in an apartment down the way, hung out the window singing New York, New York. Earlier in the day, a story in Time Out was doing the rounds, saying a radio station would be playing the song at exactly 7:02 pm and suggesting we should all sing along. I did my part from the top of the roof. I’m not sure if the man in the apartment down the way or anyone else could hear me (and it’s probably better if no one did!) but it felt good to belt out the classic tribute to the city we love. I’ve been feeling in mourning for the city — like I know so many others have too. Sad that we can’t bump up and jostle next to each other, as we rush by, on the electric streets. That we can’t go get a cup of coffee at our favourite spot and talk to the barista and this and that. That we aren’t being interrupted in our reading by “Showtime!” on the subway. Sad that we can’t all be out and about at the same time, enjoying the beautiful tulips and daffodils that are in bloom, reminding us better days are ahead.
But they are. And so, here are some of the many online entertainment options happening this weekend:
1. The big event that Lady Gaga has invited us all to takes place on Saturday — Global Citizen’s One World: Together at Home. The concert to encourage people to stay home features several major names brought together by Gaga — from Paul McCartney to Stevie Wonder, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Kacey Musgraves, J Balvin, Burna Boy and more. It starts at 5pm PST/ 8 pm EST and the full lineup is here.
2. It may be super early in New York for this, but for friends in South Africa, 4pm today is right on the dot. One of my favourite whisky shops, WhiskyBrother, run by one of my favourite people, Marc, is hosting a virtual ‘Whisky Makes Me Happy Hour.’ If you don’t make it in time for this week, check in with them for next week’s.
3. Artist and fellow runner Harkiran Kalsi is hosting a doodling workshop on Sunday. Harki is always sending out positive, I am thankful messages, and creates lots of meaningful prints too. She also has some colouring pages on her website so you can play around with those in the meantime, before Sunday.
4. Let’s just dedicate this newsletter to all my favourite people and things, shall we? As mentioned previously, The Killers will be hosting their first livestream of this lockdown, on Saturday. Yes, it’s part of the Global Citizen event, but I feel it deserves its own notice. Also, on Friday, today, Robyn wants to play some music for us and ‘make a dance floor’ so Club Konichiwa it is. 8pm GMT/3pm EST on Facebook, YouTube and Twitch.
5. If BTS is more your jam, you can tune into Bang Bang Con. In the wake of their postponed Map of the Soul world tour dates, BTS have arranged a live-watch marathon of BTS concert recordings from 2014 through 2017. The eight-part festival begins at 8pm PST/11 pm EST on Saturday, April 18 and returns at the same time on Sunday, April 19.
Plus, Fiona Apple has a new album out, so add staring out the window, looking at the ceiling, listening to that, and you’ve got a jam-packed weekend. Enjoy it. I’ll see you back here on that day formerly known as Monday.
Thank you for reading and sharing and subscribing!
Leaving you with some of the beauty I saw on my mask-covered run yesterday.
Stay safe, stay sane
Your neighbour
Nadia