Arts & (Home) Entertainment

Since being stuck inside, which shows have you been watching? Which movies? Have you read any good books lately? Any new music releases have you dancing in your living room? StreetWise vendors, readers and staff are sharing what is occupying their attention during this unprecedented time. To be featured in a future edition, send your recommendations and why you love them to Creative Director / Publisher Dave Hamilton at dhamilton@streetwise.org

Make This!

Stuck in a bind: Intro to bookbinding

Ever wanted to learn how to make a journal or art book using household recycled items? During this hour-long workshop, you will learn how to do just that without leaving the comfort of your home! All you will need is: 24-48 sheets of paper, 1 piece of cardboard (soda box, cereal box, etc), a needle, a ruler, and some thread!

By the end of this workshop you will have a handsomely bound book ready to be filled with all your post-rona dreams. Following the workshop, all participants will receive emailed directions with additional tutorials for decorating book covers using easily accessible materials found at home. This workshop is ideal for adults and great for children 8+ with adult support. This workshop includes one hour of in-person instruction, along with additional guidance and resources that will be sent to participants in advance. Please note that this is a virtual class. Attendees will receive a link to access the live class 2 hours before it begins. $15 - $20 at https:// plantchicago.org/events/stuck-in-a-bind-intro-to-bookbinding/

Dance Along!

Wiggleworms Online w/ The Old Town School of Folk Music

Mix it up with The Old Town School of Folk Music online! It’s a musical adventure as they sing, shake, and dance their way through Wiggleworms greatest hits. This drop-in experience features a different Wiggleworms teacher every week and is open to all children under age 6 and their grown ups! It's a great way to continue your child’s music education and support a valued Chicago nonprofit during COVID-19. 10:30 a.m. weekdays, $13 for non-members/$11 for members at www.oldtownschool.org/classes/online/

Get Up!

Orangetheory At Home

"The pandemic and closure of gyms threw a wrench in a lot of people's workout routines. Fortunately, many gyms are adapting and providing online content. I've tried to stay active during this crisis, for my physical and mental health, by running outside, taking long walks, and doing free Orangetheory workouts. There's a new workout posted every day. You don't need to be a member and you don't need any special equipment. I like not having to think about my workout. Just press play and go." New video every day at www.orangetheoryfitness.com or in the Orangetheory app. -Recommended by Amanda Jones, StreetWise director of programs

Put it Together!

Puzzle Exchange

"Puzzles seem to be making a huge comeback during this time of staying at home! The problem I've found is that it's just as hot a commodity as toilet paper. They are impossible to find in-store and online! So, I turned to my favorite social media site, Nextdoor! It's a way to connect with people in your neighborhood, and apparently a great vehicle to keep your puzzle game fresh! We posted a picture of our finished puzzle, and had responses from some neighbors with their finished puzzles that they were more than happy to swap. We sanitized our puzzle, packaged it up, leashed up the dog and went for a walk to meet (from a responsible distance) our neighbors and get a new puzzle. We did the exchange, let our puzzle sit in a corner of the house for a few days just to be safe, and then when its quarantine period was up, we got started. Puzzling has become a new addiction in our house, and it is a great way to pass the time!" -Recommended by StreetWise reader Lee Berman

Watch This!

BlacKkKlansman

"I thought that BlacKkKlansman had the Oscars written all over it. There was so much emotion and feeling displayed that I was able to enjoy it a lot more. It was also suspenseful and made me look forward to continue watching the movie. I think that the movie will win some of the awards that it’s nominated for. After watching the movie, I had a lot of questions about the book and what really happened in the end. I would give the movie 5 out of 5 stars. The history of hate and injustice was really valuable and the movie shows us that we have to be aware of these issues. This movie was a great way to display that." BlacKkKlansman is available for digital purchase from Vudu, Amazon Prime, and YouTube starting at $14.99. -Recommended by StreetWise Vendor V. W.

Chill Out!

Phish Dinner and a Movie

"Every Tuesday night the Phish community is gathering online for Phish Dinner and a Movie. The concept is simple - broadcast one of their legendary live shows each week and share a recipe for people to cook and enjoy with the show. The weekly event is definitely cheering fans up who may feel down with disease! The broadcasts are named after the Phish song 'Dinner and a Movie,' a live rarity and fan favorite single from the album Junta. The band is picking famed shows from their catalogue that have not been previously available online. Each week the band picks a charity to raise money for COVID-19 relief during the broadcast through their own Water Wheel Foundation. FREE every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m." -Recommended by StreetWise reader Kathleen Hinkle

Binge This!

New Girl

"Looking for something weird and quirky that you could easily binge? I recommend the show New Girl, which you can watch on Netflix. It is definitely a bizarre show, and you need to have that type of humor, but if you do then it can be hysterical. It can be the perfect pick-me-up in these crazy times! I bonded with the characters very quickly, and I bet you will too. There are seven seasons on Netflix, so you have plenty of material to watch, but also each episode is only about 20 minutes long, so it is good for people who want small doses and good for people who want to binge! Just be prepared for a lot of weird, in the best way." -Recommended by StreetWise intern Rachel Koertner