Dear Reader
I wrote this late last night, while listening to Delilah’s show on Lite FM. It’s something I used to do in the early days of my move to New York City, before I had the Internet properly set up or a TV in my apartment. I love her show because it’s one of those old-school ones where she takes callers (some are young, too — 19, 20 years old) and then selects a song to play for them. It’s usually one of those cheesy tunes you know all the words to. In between, she sprinkles little platitudes that sound soothing because Delilah has that classic late-night-comfort radio voice. Last night she asked, “Who brings peace to your world?” before adding to keep them close to mind.
Here’s my small attempt to help add to that collective . A list of new entertainment things to do/stream/take part in during this pandemic.
1. Nowadays, the venue in Bushwick behind the legendary Mister Sunday parties, has gone virtual, setting up a camera to stream DJ sets and offer how-to-DJ videos. Check out https://nowadays.nyc for how to get in on the digital boogying. (Thanks to Sarah Thompson for the tip!)
2. John Legend is following his pal Chris Martin who did a mini Coldplay concert on IG on Monday. On Tuesday, John will perform at 1pm Central Time, 4pm Eastern Time, also on IG live. He says requests will be accepted (from “ordinary people", I’m sure) and Chrissy Teigen has confirmed she’ll be there too, because she literally has no choice.” It’s part of a Global Citizen online music experience to help the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
4. The Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence Mo Willems is bringing his Emmy-winning, Sesame Street-creating skills to a weekly doodle class, at 1pm ET. Find out more here: https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems (Thank you, Stevie Wong for the tip). In a similar vein, Jon Burgerman is bringing the joy of googly eyes to all on his YouTube channel.
5. Irish author Oliver Jeffers, who makes books that are as charming and delightful for adults as they are for children, is also doing daily readings.
Until tomorrow, I’ll leave you with this pic I took while running in Prospect Park, of two women who were practicing 6-feet-of-social distance while they walked.
Stay safe, stay sane
Your neighbour
Nadia