3 Escapist fare 5 Get outdoors
Tuck into a recent page-turner written by a local author, like “Bottle Grove,” a comedic look at San Francisco’s hipsters and tech bros by the city’s own Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket); “Squirrels in the Wall,” an interspecies romp by Oakland’s Henry Hitz; or “Sourdough” by bestselling Oakland author Robin Sloan. It’s about an overworked software engineer who finds joy as a baker. That sourdough starter though … it’s alive.
4 Stream something sunny
It is simply not possible to feel bad when you’re laughing your head off. And the hilarious, heartwarming “Schitt’s Creek” delivers with every single episode. The series won seven trophies at last Sunday’s Emmy Awards, including honors for lead actor (Eugene Levy), lead actress (Catherine O’hara), supporting actor (Dan Levy, Eugene’s son), supporting actress (Annie Murphy) and outstanding comedy series. The series follows the outcome after bankruptcy and scandal forces a once-wealthy family to move to Schitt’s Creek, a small town they once purchased as a joke. You’ll find seasons 1 to 6 on Fubo TV; and seasons 1 to 5 on Netflix, with season 6 arriving in October.
Will Ferrell’s “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” — also on Netflix — brings a similar mix of hilarity and warmth to its tale of Lars Erickssong (Ferrell) and Sigrit Ericksdóttir (Rachel Mcadams), two Icelandic singers with dreams of Eurovision glory.
We found the recent 30 consecutive days — seriously, 30 — of Spare the Air Days daunting. But when the skies clear, the Bay Area’s hiking trails and gorgeous landscapes beckon hikers, cyclists, paddle-boarders and anyone who loves the great outdoors. You’ll find half a dozen great urban and suburban hikes at bayareane.ws/hikes.
And there’s further inspiration to be found in a couple of excellent new hiking books, including Wendy Gorton’s “California: 50 Hikes with Kids” and Alexandra Kenin’s “Urban Trails East Bay,” which includes trails from Richmond to Fremont and Sunol.