Events - April 2020
By Dear Denver
For more events, check out deardenver.net
Thanks to Deborah Lastowka with Dear Denver.net, for coming up with some great ideas for entertainment people can enjoy while social distancing.
Hello, Denver. Given the recent event cancellations, venue closings, and guidance around social distancing, we are forgoing this month’s list of events. Instead, we bring you a suggested list of activities you can partake in while keeping everyone around you safe.
Zone out with online entertainment
While there is absolutely no shortage of online content these days, these are some of my favorite programs to recommend.
Fargo – I had several friends tell me this show was good, and my reaction was always, “why did they even make a show about this movie?” Finally, I broke down, watched it, and absolutely loved it. While the seasons are only loosely related, start with Season 1 and be prepared to be unprepared. Available on Amazon Prime, Hulu, and YouTube.
Queer Eye – This rebooted classic will restore your faith in humanity while bringing a tear to your eye. Available on Netflix.
Long Shot – Not the movie with Seth Rogen. This movie is sort of about baseball, but honestly, the less you know about this short doc, the better. Available on Netflix.
High Maintenance – A show about a guy who delivers weed on his bike in New York City. But also about the people he delivers to. Available on HBO, Hulu, iTunes, Amazon Prime, and YouTube.
Insecure – Laugh, love, and cringe with Issa Rae and her friends in modern-day Los Angeles. Available on HBO, Hulu, iTunes, Amazon Prime, and YouTube.
Give your eyes a break
Podcasts have soared so much in popularity that nowadays, most people either host one or have one that they swear by. But maybe you haven’t quite jumped on this train yet – not a problem. Here are a few national and local shows that you can dip your toe in, without having to sanitize it afterward.
This American Life – The OG of podcasts. Each week the show’s producers choose a theme and share three different stories based on that theme. A timeless classic.
Heavyweight – Host, Jonathan Goldstein, helps people return to a moment in their life when things changed significantly. Combining powerful storytelling, humor, and universal themes, this series will make you pause. All eps are pretty great, but I would recommend starting with either #21 - Rachael or #12 - Jesse.
The Narrators – Sort of like a homegrown This American Life, local writers, musicians, activists, artists, comedians, and folks just like you and me, share a story on a common theme in front of a live audience.
The Grawlix Saves the World – Local funny men, Adam Cayton-Holland, Ben Roy, and Andrew Orvedahl, take on a new challenge each episode, including eating outside of their comfort zone, trying online dating, taking a break from social media, and more.
LEARN, BE, DO
All caught up on your favorite shows or podcasts? Want to learn something new? Check out these activities.
Challenge yourself in the kitchen. – A plant-based diet is becoming more common these days, based on its health benefits and reduced environmental impacts. And nowadays, you can veganize pretty much anything, including mac and cheese, breakfast sandwiches, lasagna, shepherd’s pie, sloppy joes, and enchiladas. Think of your favorite dish and try to veganize it, just to see if you can. You may be surprised. Some of my favorite recipe sites are It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken, Minimalist Baker, Naturally Ella, Cookie, and Kate, and Oh She Glows.
Learn a new skill – LinkedIn Learning offers over 15,000 courses on a variety of topics, including video editing, search engine optimization, coding, digital marketing, data science, and design. First month is free. After that, plans start at $19.99/month.
Practice a new language – Duolingo is a free app that offers bite-sized lessons in the form of games and competitions. Choose from Spanish, French, Dutch, Italian, Hindi, Portuguese, Japanese, Polish, Swahili, and more. Ad-free version is also available for $6.99/month.
Get outside – So far, it seems like getting outside for a walk, run, bike ride, and/or hike by yourself, and/or a (healthy) household member is a fairly safe bet. Breathe deep and soak in that vitamin D.