Sitting down to inform you all of the fun stuff to do in Boulder this weekend, as I do each week, I realize that most of the places I normally have listed (and most everywhere besides that) are either closed, or severely limited in their services because of the COVID-19 virus. This weekend, as well as however many more weekends it takes to get us out of danger, it’s best for the Boulder and wider community if we all stay home and avoid going out if at all possible. It’s social distancing, even if you’re not yet sick, and all the experts say it’s for the best.
So what to do in lieu of the tons of movie screenings, live music, restaurant deals, nightlife, coffee shop culture, and theatres and galleries that would normally be listed here? There’s still lots to do:
Streaming
Most streaming services are offering deals, credits, and free items that normally would be hard to find, all because these services know that we’re all doing our movie and theatre watching from home right now. Pop some popcorn, wash your hands, and watch your favorite movie or series about isolation or widespread pandemics or a post-apocalypse. Mad Max, The Thing, The Walking Dead, Whiteout, Hunger Games…. No? Well there’s plenty of good escapism, too–I hear Frozen 2 will be released early on Disney+ just for us holed up at home.
Reading
Lots of local authors are offering deals and freebies on e-books right now, as well as audiobooks, so it’s worth a search to see what your favorite author is doing online for us right now. Plenty of authors are doing online readings, too, and the Boulder Public Library, though physically closed, is open for business to borrow all sorts of items you’ll need to while away your off time, or supplement the schooling of any aged kids you may suddenly have at home.
Culture
Museums and galleries across the nation are offering free tours and walkthroughs, since their physical facilities are closed, and many are offering free unlimited downloads of all stripes of classical art for your enjoyment. The Metropolitan Opera and several theatre groups both locally and nationally are streaming their performances for free. Local burlesque groups in Boulder County, too, are putting up livestream performances, with each performer streaming from the comforts of their own homes. Two of these many shows I’ve heard of are: Panty-demic (with Pearl’s Treat burlesque who normally perform in Longmont), and the COy-VIDeo show, which is a gathering of acts from Boulder and Denver. Facebook Live is popping up all over, too–you can’t go online, it seems, without finding a high end or a lowbrow bit of culture to enjoy at a safe distance.
Delivery and Take Out
Most restaurants and bars are closed in and around Boulder, but several, like the Mountain Sun group of pubs and breweries, are doing sanitized curbside takeout deals, and plenty of places are doing deliveries. Many delivery services around town are waiving delivery fees, too.
Learn Something
From dance classes to yoga sessions, there are so many schools and studios that are live-streaming their lessons, often for free. Boulder is such a yoga-centered city, it’s hard to imagine us not doing our yoga or our Pilates. This way, we don’t have to.
This will be the last weekend “calendar” piece for the time being, Boulder–I’ll pick back up with all our weekend activities once Boulder has opened back up and gatherings of more than a couple people are once again deemed safe. Stay tuned, and till then, have a happy and cozy time of it in the pandemic, Boulder!
