Yesssss I’m fully vaccinated!!! Things are opening up (Broadway will open at 100% capacity in September!) but with new variants and crazy anti-vaxxers running around, I’m trying to remain smart and cautious. No sharing drinks with strangers, ya know? Since I’m still being careful, I’m still compiling lists of ideas that I’m happy to share with you. For more, check out: Part 12, Part 11, Part 10, Part 9, Part 8, Part 7, Part 6, Part 5, Part 4, Part 3, Part 2, and Part 1.
Activities
- Cooking/Recipes:
- This Greek skillet is calling my name, but I have the idea of turning it into a pita with some fresh lettuce and a creamy feta sauce.
- I think these Mexican Beans will be a nice addition to an upcoming Taco Tuesday.
- Other Activities:
- After our adventure to The Cloisters, I realized there’s so many cool spots in our NYC backyard. Now that it’s warm out, I’m interested in checking out as many as possible. Next on my list: City Island aka the Cape Cod of New York and right up the road in the Bronx.
- Shakespeare in the Park is back and it’s been on my bucket list since I moved to NYC. Could this finally be the year that I get there?!
- I’m very interested in exploring the area and going on as many hikes as possible. I just learned about the AllTrails app and intend to use it to plan some adventures.
Content
- Books:
- Yolk is at the top of my YA list and The Lion’s Den was recommended to me as a fun summer read.
- Am I the only one who hasn’t read The House in the Cerulean Sea? Does that need to change?
- One of the challenges on my 2021 Reading Challenge is to read a book in a single day. I’m liking this list for inspiration.
- Movies:
- Operation Varsity Blues: This film (about Aunt Becky and the college admissions scandal) did a great job giving a more cinematic treatment to a documentary.
- Promising Young Woman: I wrote about wanting to watch this in a previous Quarantine Q&A post and now I’ve watched it. LOVED it. What a brilliant piece of work that will hopefully make men and women reconsider complicity, accountability, and what is and is not acceptable. Emerald Fennell is a genius.
- TV:
- RHOD: I’m so happy one of my friends told me I needed to start watching the Dallas franchise of Real Housewives. I’ve started from the very beginning and taking my time but enjoying watching these ladies. (Bravo!)
- Daughters of Destiny: Currently watching this four-part docuseries following young children from India’s poorest neighborhoods receive an education (and a chance) at a boarding school. I loved the book Behind The Beautiful Forevers and this feels like a nice extension. (Netflix)
- Mare of Easttown: Haven’t started this – hadn’t even heard of it until a week and a half ago – but all of a sudden everyone seems to be talking about it. Might have to be my next show. (HBO)
- Farmhouse Fixer: Jonathan Knight from New Kids On The Block loves restoring old Massachusetts farmhouses and is running around doing just that. It’s the combination of his boy band career, heavy accent, and pet chicken that makes no sense but also all the sense. (HGTV)
- Chad: Nasim Pedrad plays the most socially awkward 14-year-old Persian boy in this hilariously cringy sitcom. (TBS)
- Handmaid’s Tale: It’s back for season four. (Hulu)
- Cruel Summer: Each episode of this show flips between ’93, ’94, and ’95. In 1993, Jeanette is sweet but awkward while Kate is the most popular girl in their small Texas town. In 1994, Jeanette is popular and Kate has just been rescued after months abducted. By 1995, Jeanette is hated across America and Kate has turned tough. Figuring out what happened between each summer is addictive. (Freeform)
- Podcasts:
- Absolutely Not: Heather McMahan is hilarious and I love listening to her simply bitch about the day to day.
- Ja’miezing: I laughed out loud watching Ja’mie: Private School Girl (it’s a cult fave that I beg you to find online somewhere) and this is simply the same kooky character in podcast form.
- Genius Generation: I think the intended audience for this show is for kids/teens, but I love it. Each episode talks about one invention or business and the young person who developed it. It’s hella inspirational – I was picking my fingernails when I was their age and they’re out here changing the world.
- Guilty Pleasures: Three comedians talk about tv shows and movies they love, despite many people thinking they’re stupid/trashy. I pretty much love all the pieces of content they cover on this show so I feel right at home.
- Doodie Calls: In episode of this podcast, host Doug Mand interviews a fellow comedian about their most embarrassing poop incidents. They’re not recording anymore, but there
- The Real Question: Two friends and academics tackle life’s big questions with the help of pop culture and other texts. For example: using Game of Thrones to figure out what we actually owe our neighbors.
Peaches to Apples 