Lockdown season: Making the most of it
How to give away $1,200
“Don’t need that $1,200 stimulus check?” asked Amelia Nierenberg in The New York Times. You can always direct the money to someone in greater need. Charity Navigator and CharityWatch, two watchdogs, are good places to find charities that have been vetted and are responding directly to the Covid-19 crisis. To get food to the hungry, consider Feeding America, which supports food banks nationwide; No Kid Hungry, or Meals on Wheels for seniors. To help strained medical workers, look to Direct Relief (directrelief .org), which is delivering protective equipment to at-risk health-care workers, or to the CDC’s emergency response fund (give4cdcf.org), a catchall for donations to local health departments and global response efforts. The Covid19 Solidarity Response Fund (covid19response fund.org) is supporting the World Health Organization on testing and vaccine development, and Partners in Health (pih.org) helps vulnerable patients in developing countries.
Social distancing beneath the stars
If backyard astronomy is something you’ve never considered filling your evening hours with, “well, nothing is stopping you now,” said Dustin Nelson in Thrillist.com. This is a great month for beginners, because the Lyrid meteor shower is peaking on April 21, when about 15 meteors will be visible per hour wherever weather and a lack of light pollution permit. Venus, which is the brightest object in the night sky after the moon and this spring appears in the west at twilight, will be at its most brilliant on April 27. If you have a telescope, you might even be able to catch a glimpse of Comet Atlas, discovered in late December, as it sweeps past on its way toward the sun. Look for it in the north-northwestern sky near the constellation Camelopardalis.
A chance to dance
Simple exercise isn’t the only way to keep moving while cooped up, said Makeda Easter in the Los Angeles Times. With many dance studios closed, instructors are turning to YouTube, Instagram, and other online platforms to stream free classes. Just think—“you can dance in the comfort of your home and try a new style without pressure.” Check out the offerings on the Instagram page for Hollywood’s Edge Performing Arts Center, one of the premier places to train for a dance career, or plug into New York’s Alvin Ailey Dance Theater at AileyExtension.com. A 305 Fitness’ dance cardio class, even on YouTube, “feels like an ’80s-style aerobic workout.” And don’t forget: You just need some music to dance.