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By Katie Bianco, Jess Feldman, Holly Gambrell, Michele Kettner and Jennifer Zeleski
The sun’s still shining
It’s looking like our summer (at least the beginning of it) will be similar to how our day-to-day routines are currently operating: apart from one another with a lot of time spent at home. I’m trying to not think about all of the vacations and plans that have already been canceled this summer, and I have vowed to try to recreate those “in paradise” feelings on my own balcony by sprucing it up with new decor and furnishings. This week, I’ll do some online shopping and go on the hunt for pieces similar to these 10 patio items that are perfect for the upcoming season. -Holly Gambrell, Digital Editor
Memorial Day weekend with a twist
Now that I’ve moved back in with my roommates in Arlington, I’ve realized just how creative they really are. From weeknight rituals like Music Monday (where we watch two music-themed cable TV shows, of course) to a made-up, three-hour game based on University of Maryland landmarks (where we all met), they’ve been far from bored during this quarantine. So while our plans to travel to Dewey Beach for Memorial Day weekend may have been canceled, we are still going to make the most of the long weekend. To kick it off, we will go on an adventure to find these public murals, all of which were hand-painted by local artists. When driving from one destination to another, we’ll have a chance to see more of the region, something we were waiting to do until the weather warmed up. Then when the sun goes down, we will sit around our brand-new fire pit located in our makeshift outdoor space and enjoy some s’mores. I wouldn’t have it any other way. -Jess Feldman, Editorial Assistant
The next star baker
My partner and I rarely watch TV. Sure, we’ve watched all of Stranger Things and caught one episode of Tiger King—we’re not that out of touch—but without cable, we just tend to find entertainment in other things. Social distancing has changed us a bit though, and a new nightly ritual has brought us back to the couch with The Great British Baking Show. We’re on season four now and the obsession keeps ramping up. I just made my first Victorian Sponge Cake and ordered a finalist’s book of essays from Amazon Prime, and my partner has learned how to play the theme song on the piano. So, if you’re like us and have also been wanting to ace your own technical challenges in the kitchen, here are the top 10 essentials you need to slice, dice and peel your way to success. And, of course, the list includes my favorite cake pan too. -Jennifer Zeleski, Editorial Assistant
Keeping the kids creative
It’s hard for most parents to admit, but I’ll raise my hand and say that my kids are watching way too much television during this time in our lives. With two parents (thankfully) working full-time, it’s kind of inevitable. But that doesn’t mean I can’t redouble my efforts to get them more engaged throughout the day in creative pursuits. My colleague put together this list of great summer reads for kids. Roberta Cullen of Alexandria Children’s Theatre recently shared her tips for sparking kids’ creativity. The National Park Service recently released lots of resources for junior rangers. And if I give up and let them have more screen time? There’s always these virtual story times and these fun animal cams. -Katie Bianco, Editor
Yer a wizard, Harry
Like many people my age, I fell in love with J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series as a kid. From the books to the movies (and even a midnight premiere), I couldn’t get enough. My dad still cracks jokes when I spend an entire weekend re-watching the movies whenever there is a Harry Potter marathon on TV. So you can imagine my excitement when I heard the actors from the wizarding world were going to be reading the books virtually for fans. Personally, it’s the highlight of my quarantine. Now that I have found myself listening to more podcasts while working, I decided it is the perfect time to dive into the story about “The Boy Who Lived” and relive all of those magical childhood memories. -Michele Kettner, Editorial Assistant
