Make Social Distancing Fun

In April 2020, Do, Web Exclusive by Raleigh MagazineLeave a Comment

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WEB EXCLUSIVE: Just because you have to stay home and at least six feet away from other people doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself. Local businesses have introduced innovative ways to keep you and your family entertained while still upholding health and safety regulations that are either government mandated or strongly suggested. Make the most out of the coronavirus shutdown with these locally inspired activities!

Take-Home Paint Kits
Keep embracing your creativity at home with Wine & Design’s take-home paint kits, great for kids and adults. Each kit comes with a canvas, a print of a finished painting, brushes, paints, a paper plate and napkins. Wine & Design partnered with Quail Ridge Books to offer story time paint kits that include a book and painting kit with a design to match the story’s theme. Order kits at wineanddesign.com/locations/raleigh for curbside pickup Monday through Thursday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Drive-In Movies
You can’t go to the movie theater but you can make like it’s 1950 with free drive-in movie nights at NoRa Cafe (formerly Maude’s Coffee) and V Pizza. NoRa Cafe’s old fashioned drive-ins start at 7:30 p.m. each night. Get there early to grab a coffee or a muffin to snack on during the show—staff will bring snacks safely to you while you stay in your car. Check out the movie schedule at maudesgarden.com. Meanwhile, V Pizza’s drive-in movies begin at 7:45 p.m. and are best enjoyed with a takeout order of pizza, wings and a newly added curbside pickup of pre-packaged Bond Brothers Beer. Check the V Pizza Instagram (@vpizzacary) each day for that night’s chosen showing.

Virtual Happy Hour
Tune in to Kingfisher’s Happy Hour every day at 4:30 p.m. to get live cocktail making lessons from owner Sean Umstead. So far, he’s taught viewers how to make cocktail syrups, Emeralds, Mojitos and Negronis, among others. Cocktail book author Kara Newman and Carlo Caroscio, the head bartender at Backbar in Massachusetts, have already made special guest appearances. If you’re out shopping, grab some basic cocktail ingredients to recreate the drinks at home and tune in daily on Kingfisher’s Instagram page @kingfisherdurham.

Virtual Bitters Classes
Crude Bitters’ normal bitters classes now take place virtually on Crude’s IGTV channel. Follow along on the Crude Bitters Instagram page (@crudebitters) to learn how to make drinks including the classic Manhattan and different variations of sours, such as a bourbon and maple sour, using two of Crude’s fantastic bitters. You can also order bitters and other mixers and cocktail making tools online for pickup Thursday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. at bittersbittersbitters.com/shop.

Living Room Live!
Lauren Kennedy Brady, Theatre Raleigh’s producing artistic director, will interview Triangle performing artist Yolanda Rabun live on YouTube today (Thursday, March 26) at 7:30 p.m. A live concert experience broadcast from Rabun’s own living room will follow the interview. Tune in on Theatre Raleigh’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/channel/UCBrPHqUNhtfRMWQ2Ej8Fxeg.

Talent Show
We’ve all got plenty of time to work on our various talents while we’re stuck at home so why not show off what you’ve got in Theatre Raleigh’s virtual talent show. On Friday, March 27, Theatre Raleigh will post a submission form on its social media pages (@theatre_raleigh) asking for a 30-second to one-minute video of performers singing a song, doing a dance, reciting a monologue, performing a magic trick or any other talent they can dream of. On Friday, April 3, Theatre Raleigh will announce its three favorite performers.

History at Home
Experience the NC Museum of History virtually with the museum’s new History at Home program! Explore exhibits, engage with collections, tune in to podcasts and view blog posts to learn more about North Carolina’s history with all your newfound free time at home. View all of the museum’s offerings at ncmuseumofhistory.org/history-at-home.

Wake County Library At-Home Access
Now’s the perfect time to dive into all those books you’ve been meaning to read. While Wake County Libraries are closed to the public, they’ve put all of their online book, audio and magazine resources in one place and created a way for those without a library card to get a temporary card online. Get remote library access at wakegov.com/libraries/services/Pages/remoteresources.aspx.

Virtual Comedy Show
Goodnights Comedy Club continues to provide laughs—at a time when we need them most—through virtual live comedy shows. Follow Goodnights on Instagram (@goodnightscomedy) for updates.

Experience Downtown Culture Virtually
Many Downtown Raleigh museums, performing art institutes and performance venues are offering ways to experience downtown culture from your home. Immerse yourself in one of CAM’s vibrant galleries, watch a science talk from the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, or listen to a digital broadcast of the NC Symphony. For a full list of virtual downtown experiences, visit downtownraleigh.org/post/dtrvirtualexperiences.

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