Science at home, spring break at MoAR, short films for kids, and more virtual weekend events

I don’t know, do we still call the weekend the weekend anymore? I know it’s a spectrum of how this is affecting everyone’s work. For some, it’s been time off (hopefully with some sort of pay), for others, it’s been double time. Either way, I think many of us can agree the days are starting to blur together (more and more so for those who already have lost grasp of time).

It’s tough, but here’s a healthy roundup of streams, curated lists, and even some hands-on DIY for your weekend in quarantine.

Be well, friends. Enjoy yourself however you can!

Science from Home

Not everything has to be in front of the screen these days. The Academy of Natural Sciences has a list of interactive, hands-on activities that are easy and DIY with materials you probably already have at home. The list might be geared towards children, but you surely can use this as a chance to exercise your grown-up imagination.

Writers Resist PHL digital reading benefit

On Saturday, April 11 at 4pm, 215 Festival hosts Writers Resist PHL on Instagram Live for a digital benefit reading in support of the Philadelphia Writers Emergency Fund. Join in for readings from local authors including Herman Beavers, Emma Eisenberg, Sara Novic, Cynthia Oka, Vikram Paralkar, and Raena Shirali. Follow 215 Festival to tune in.

BlackStar Film Fest curates films for kids

The folks over at BlackStar have curated a list of short films geared towards kids. Check them out online, and maybe have a family-friendly film festival at home this weekend!

Hold These Truths

The once upcoming performance from People’s Light is now getting the virtual treatment for a limited time. Hold These Truths, the story of a young university student and practicing Quaker torn between admiration for the U.S. Constitution and the government’s Japanese internment orders, is now viewable on-demand online. You’ll have to pay to play, which helps People’s Light honor their financial commitments to the artists’ work. The video is available until May 3, so don’t wait too long.

MoAR does digital spring break

The Museum of the American Revolution is hosting a free virtual spring break until April 17 in honor of the museum’s third birthday. Make-at-home craft activities, virtual storytime, living history demonstrations, and more are lined up for the celebration.

I Don’t Want To Die Poor

Uncle Bobbie’s is hosting a discussion with bestselling author Michael Arceneaux for his new release I Don’t Want To Die Poor, which dropped this week. The book is comprised of honest essays articulating how debt and poverty affect all facets of life, from dating to medical care, and wrestling with career path choices and economic anxiety.

Tune in to the discussion on Thursday, April 9 at 2pm, with a link to the live discussion posting on the Facebook event page. Books are available for purchase now on Uncle Bobbie’s online store.

Uncle Bobbie's welcomes bestselling author Michael Arceneaux in discussion with Bassey Ikpi on his new release "I Don't Want To Die Poor", out Books will be available for purchase at our online bookstore.

Hoofers at Home

Fun fact about me: I did a little tap dancing in elementary school. And while it’s been decades since I’ve put on those dancing shoes, that doesn’t mean there’s no room to appreciate the art. The Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble presents #HoofersAtHome, a weekly series of short dance films for their audiences. Assigning a new song each Friday, the Lady Hoofers have been tapping away the last few weeks of the quarantine. Their next tribute is a nod to “Singin’ in the Rain.” Videos premiere weekly on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Check out their last three performances on their YouTube, too.

A dose of philosophy, ideology, and history
A series of weekly lectures and discussions continue with Dr. Anthony Monteiro as the talks go virtual. On Sunday, April 12 at 2pm, join in for a futuristic examination through the eyes of W.E.B. DuBois, James Baldwin, Descartes, Hegel, Marx, and Martin Luther King. You can find the stream link via Facebook.

A Novel Witch book club

As the pink Libra moon waxes over us (or I guess wane by the time this event happens), A Novel Idea is hosting an online Witch Book Club meeting, discussing The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman. The story follows generations of a family curse stemming from 1620 into 1960s New York City. The link will be posted here, but you’ll have to purchase the book from A Novel Idea to participate in the discussion. Join in on Tuesday, April 14 at 7pm.