Here are 20 things to do for fun at home or while social distancing during coronavirus
Statewide stay-at-home orders have landed, but it pays to live in one of the smartest most creative hubs in the country.
As you scramble to find ways to entertain yourself beyond binging and a billion dog walks, our community’s creativity has sparked more than ever with innovative ways to entertain you, from outdoor opportunities to digital culture and workouts to education offerings and even take-home cocktails and pints from your local faves.
And this list just keeps growing. Check out our best bets this week and stay tuned for the next set. Email featureseds@newsobserver.com with your favorites.
Dix Park
The outdoor oasis with views of the downtown Raleigh skyline and 308 acres to spread out and responsibly abide by social distancing orders while getting out of the confines of your house or hood. According to Wake County’s stay-at-home order, “the only permissible use of Raleigh Parks, including Dorothea Dix Park, will be open park areas and greenways. All amenities are closed, including dog parks, effective Friday, March 27 at 5 pm through April 30.” dorotheadixpark.org
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Science Cafe
“Learn. Discover. Distract.” Bring home the recurring ever-popular Natural Sciences Science Cafe series — where real scientists lead lectures, discussions and presentations about new weekly topics (think deadly stars, trees in the City of Oaks and more) — with 200-plus on-demand presentations. livestream.com/naturalsciences/cafe
Parks Update
North Carolina has closed all facilities at parks (think bathrooms - so go before you go…) and is monitoring and updated individual parks. Parks (and their trails) now closed include William B. Umstead State Park, Eno River State Park and Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Park Area. Many trails and park grounds remain open, including the N.C. Museum of Art outdoor park and trails, Greenway trails and more. Stay up to date by checking the NC parks site: ncparks.gov/newsroom/alerts; ncartmuseum.org/visit/the_park
DPAC Virtual Food Drive
Donate food from the comfort (confines?) of your own home as the Durham Performing Arts Center hosts its virtual food drive in partnership with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle of the Triangle. For every dollar donated, 2 1/2 meals are able to be provided to those in need in our community. “If each of us who read this gives just $5, we would provide thousands of meals for those most in need.” tinyurl.com/ujyz4mw
Triangle Rock Club
The local rope climbing and bouldering terrain fitness house jumps into the mix with live streaming workout opps to keep you from going stir crazy — er, in shape. With two to three classes per day with a schedule up for the week ahead, TRC challenges you to core strength, handstand fitness, yoga and more — no membership required. facebook.com/trianglerockclublive/
North Carolina Symphony
Watch and learn with the renowned NC Symphony. The symphony has set out to continue its mission of bringing music during social distancing via its 33-minute digital broadcast of an NC Symphony Education Concert. It features footage from a previous filmed Raleigh concert with music by Beethoven, Brahms, William Grant Still and more. You can also access free companion materials for students and teachers, parents and audiences of all ages. Insider tip: This is a password protected page. The password is 1932 (the year the symphony was founded). ncsymphony.org/virtual/
Photo surf the State Archives
State Archives collects and preserves historically significant North Carolina materials (think photos, audio, maps, family records and more). It also has a Flickr account with 100,000-plus pics (some more than a century old) organized by date, place or event (think the Fair, Raleigh’s first Pride and more). flickr.com/photos/north-carolina-state-archives/albums; archives.ncdcr.gov
YMCA Virtual
Alexa, cue “YMCA” song. Sing it with us (sligthly altered): It’s fun to play with the YMCA! … The Y’s #StayWithUs campaign offers access to free resources for kids to learn as well group fitness classes via Y360 virtual fitness, ranging from beginners yoga to Barre to boot camp and many more. ymcatriangle.org/virtual-ymca
Pick Up Your Fave Local Cocktails or Pints To-Go
Thirsty? From Oakwood Pizza to House of Hops and a collab between The Haymaker and highly anticipated newbie Killjoy (and more), the Raleigh community is coming together to keep you deliciously lit with local cocktails or happily sated with mocktails.
▪ The Haymaker and Killjoy have joined forces to provide some of your fave cocktails or nonalcoholic bets for pickup and delivery (see site for menu). Pickup is available at The Haymaker Monday through Saturday (4-8 p.m.). Doorstep delivery inside the Beltline is available Monday-Saturday (3-7 p.m, $5 delivery fee). killjoycocktail.com
▪ House of Hops has added its inventory to untappd.com (with 20% off all six-packs on Mondays) and is delivering bottles, cans and growlers, as well as open shop (noon to 7 p.m.) or curbside pickup of the former, plus pints to go. instagram.com/houseofhops_raleigh/
▪ Over at Oakwood Pizza, the staff at sidebar has bottled custom cocktail mixes (like painkillers (fitting), margs and Greyhounds) for purchase at Oakwood. Liquor not included in mixes, obviously. restaurantji.com/nc/raleigh/oakwood-pizza-box-/
S.P.A.R.K. at Home With Kid Lab
Downtown Raleigh Nonprofit community art collective Kid Lab (arts and crafts, birthday parties, workshops) is here to answer your digital dreams (re: healthy child entertainment) with the rollout of S.P.A.R.K. series (STEM, Play, Art, Reading and Writing, Kindness and Collaboration) with daily activities. March’s theme is oceans, with April slated to cover bugs (yum). Intended for kids 10 and under, S.P.A.R.K. delivers playful ideas, a weekly video lesson, printable worksheets, among other fun entertainment and learning tools. Check the site, Instagram page or YouTube channel for info on joining in on the free fun. kidlabraleigh.com/stemocean
Netflix, Quarantine and Chill
It’s not just local, but it’s definitely worth noting. Missing mom or bae? Now you can watch a movie together (and not just via Zoom or FaceTime). Chrome has an extension called Netflix Party allowing you to simultaneously stream Netflix with friends and fam — even equipped with a pause option and chat window to keep you in sync and on the same page (literally). netflixparty.com
Save Lives
In the face of COVID-19 concerns, blood donor turnout — and thus blood supplies — are low, and the need for blood is real. If you are healthy, here’s your chance to help save lives and be a hero — while ditching the house (if permitted) — by giving blood (The CDC not only says it is safe, they are encouraging it, and supply is short). There are many locations set up throughout the Triangle. Check the site for dates and locations. thebloodconnection.org/enc-blood-drives/
And don’t forget about...
Carolina Ballet virtual performances
The Carolina Ballet offers online performances featuring past works. “In the Gray” was released March 24, with “Frankenstein” on March 27 and “Variations on a Theme” on March 31. Future shows will include fan-fave “Bolero.” Check back regularly for new uploads: carolinaballet.com/performances/
NCMA Curate From Your Couch
The N.C. Museum of Art has put out a call to curate exhibits — online, of course — while the galleries are closed. The NCMA is hosting a virtual Q&A to compile your fave works from museum collections, and, you guessed it, your feedback will inform the new weekly #MuseumFromHome series NCMA Recommends launching Friday (March 27). Fill out the short form or head to the Favorites highlight on Instagram (@ ncartmuseum) to share via social media. ncartmuseum.org
History at Home, NC Museum of History
Experience the N.C. Museum of History digitally with History at Home. Explore exhibits (our pick: “Long Story Short,” 14,000 years of state history in 10 minutes — we dare you), tune in for podcasts (60+ await), search collections, scan blog posts and enrich your learning with At-Home Learning Packets, leading the way as part of the trending #MuseumFromHome response to quarantine. ncmuseumofhistory.org/history-at-home
Marbles Daily Dose
Marbles Kids Museum may be closed, but the team has online options for play inspiration, playful parenting tips and hands-on learning at home, with 24/7 access to these tools on its website and social media. Follow on Facebook for daily playful parenting tips, and subscribe to its YouTube channel for an ever-growing video library. marbleskidsmuseum.org/playtools
Wake County Libraries Go Digital
Wake County Libraries have put their entire online book, audio and magazine resources at wakegov.com/libraries. Bonus, you can get a temporary library card while facilities are closed.
State Farmers Market
The State Farmers Market remains open for business with sanitation stations and fresh-air open spaces for you to practice plenty of social distance while you pick up farm-fresh food for your family and support local farmers and vendors. 1201 Agriculture St., Raleigh. ncagr.gov/markets
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 5:45 AM with the headline "Here are 20 things to do for fun at home or while social distancing during coronavirus."