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

Tale a Field Trip with Lori!

Stay Home, Hit Play

Mayor Lori Lightfoot ushers penguins into the Shedd Aquarium, where she feeds the sharks in the premiere of a new virtual Chicago “field trip” exploration series, "Stay Home, Hit Play," available online at hitplaychicago.org. The series also airs on WTTW at 5:30 p.m. Fridays and Mondays in partnership with Citadel. The series is intended to bring Chicagoans eye to eye with Chicago culture during the shelter-in-place. Along with each episode, students will find corresponding online educational activities to enrich their experience at not only the Shedd, but the Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry, DuSable Museum, National Museum of Mexican Art and more.

Tour a Gallery Virtually!

The Block from Home: 'Taking Shape: Abstraction from the Arab World, 1950s-1980s'

This week, The Block Museum at Northwestern University was scheduled to be putting the finishing touches on the installation of "Taking Shape: Abstraction from the Arab World, 1950s-1980s" and welcoming guests to the opening celebration. The Block hopes to present this extraordinary exhibition, organized by the Grey Art Gallery at NYU and the Barjeel Art Foundation, at a future date. Until then, its colleagues at NYU have created a rich web portal with images and text covering all the works from the exhibition at https://bit.ly/2KUfLWY.

Work it Out!

Joffery Ballet's Aaron Renteria's Workout Sessions

If you're stuck at home because your gym isn't open during the pandemic, how about this upper body workout on YouTube with the Joffrey Ballet's Aaron Renteria? Not too difficult, it features 30-second to 2-minute stomach planks to "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish. Renteria began studying at the San Francisco Ballet at age 13 and in 2016 he came to Joffrey, where he has danced in Jerome Robbins' "Interplay and Glass Pieces;" George Balanchine's "The Four Temperaments," Christopher Wheeldon's "Fool's Paradise" and "The Nutcracker," Alexander Ekman's "Midsummer Night's Dream" and more.

-Recommended by Suzanne Hanney, StreetWise editor

Stream This!

Live Music Streams

One of the ways that I have tempered my longing for being in the world is by staying tuned in to my favorite musicians’ live sessions on Instagram/whatever platform they can manage to work. Bonus adorable points if your faves are older and less technologically apt. I have found that these short livestreams have been great pick-me-ups. You get to hear music you love in a pretty intimate setting, get their perspective of the times and get a glimpse of their home lives, which if I’m being honest, is the best part of any livestream right now. Seeing band members figure out how to individually do shows or virtually collaborate has been interesting and has led to some great new music and exposition of talent. Who knew I needed a cooking tutorial from my favorite trombonist? Virtual DJ sets have also been excellent soundtracks to doing things around the house and lifting spirits. It’s definitely a weird forum, but I find it does feel like I am keeping connected while getting a little private show. Remember to tip what you can to those smaller artists who need the extra help! [Pictured: ska band The Slackers]

-Recommended by StreetWise reader Michelle Himsalam

In case You Missed It!

Roma

"It was about life in Mexico, a year in the life of a maid and her relationship with her employer. It was interesting to see how close she was with the family and the children. They all loved her and she was part of the family. The family went through some hardships and I was concerned that they wouldn’t be able to keep her on as a maid. The family was concerned with the happiness of the maid, too. She looked so serious throughout the movie, it was emotional. I wasn’t sure what the outcome of this movie was gonna be, but I liked it! I feel like I learned a little bit about Mexican culture in the '70s, too. I would say 5 stars." Now streaming on Netflix.

-Recommended by StreetWise Vendor V.W.

Entertain the Kids!

Laura Doherty Music Live Stream Kids Shows

Award-winning local family artist Laura Doherty is hosting three 45-minute live streams each week “in an effort to bring music and smiles to families during this difficult time” of COVID-19. Each show is streamed through the artist’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/lauradohertymusic/) and Instagram (@lauradohertymusic) and will have a specific theme. The shows are available to all at no charge but there is a virtual tip jar if you’d like to support the artist! Tuesdays 3 p.m.; Wednesdays 10 a.m.; Fridays noon. Doherty is also for hire to do virtual birthday parties for kids over Zoom or Google Hangouts!

Binge This!

Friends

Friends is a classic, beloved by so many people, and it is my favorite TV show. With the wide variety of characters, and with 10 seasons to get to know them, everyone can find themselves in the show. It is perfect for a time like this, because it makes people laugh, and we could all use some laughter! Even though the show left Netflix, you can still watch it on live TV (on TBS), stream it (single episodes and full seasons are available to purchase on Amazon, iTunes and YouTube), or buy the seasons on DVD. Even if you’ve seen the show before, the great thing about Friends is that new things can be found to enjoy each time you watch it - watching again will be like coming home to (dysfunctional) family.

-Recommended by Rachel Koertner, StreetWise editorial intern