2020 Calendar of Events
By Catharine Hadley, Arts and Entertainment Editor, catharinehadley@gmail.com
The theme of this column is "trying new things." I'm happy to be starting this new project of writing the entertainment column for Leisure Living Magazine! I've done all I could to make the entertainment listing complete and varied, so there should be something for everyone. Although I've done my best to make sure all the information is accurate, please go online or call ahead to confirm your plans.
Any suggestions and details of your upcoming events can be sent to me at catharinehadley@gmail.com.
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I like to work ahead on this column. I write myself notes, and I keep a file of the things that I figure are sure to happen, so I'm never pressed when I get close to a deadline.
All those things that I thought were "sure to happen" are in limbo. Box offices and museums are temporarily closed. I'm not sure that the events that I find won't be canceled. At a moment in time when many people have real problems, I find myself trying to figure out how to write an entertainment column.
Outside is still open. Even though I have lived most of my life in the area, there are places I have not yet explored. Maybe now is a good time to start doing things I have not done! Beaches, parks, the Marblehead Lighthouse, Water Works Park in Port Clinton, East Harbor State Park, the North Coast Inland Trail, Veterans Memorial Lake Park in Norwalk, Erie MetroParks, and other natural areas are, at the time I write this, open. Check ahead before going to a park. At some, the parks are open but the restrooms are closed - a good thing to know!
Of course, you can also go to the British Museum, the Louvre, the Smithsonian National Museum of National History, the Shedd Aquarium, the San Diego Zoo, and plenty of other destinations, all online. You can also watch Broadway shows and go to Walt Disney World, too. Virtual tours are a lot of fun, let alone safer and less expensive than the real thing. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Toledo Museum of Art, and Toledo Zoo and Aquarium have online resources and videos. My favorite videos are of the penguins at the Shedd Aquarium when they get the chance to wander through the exhibits.
Streaming concerts are my new favorite thing. I recently attended a concert presented by The Listening Room in Port Clinton. I was in my favorite pajamas sitting on the sofa eating take-out food. Viewers could use Venmo and PayPal to tip the performer. The venue is planning to have more shows like that one. "Like" the venue's Facebook to get advance announcements of performances.
I try to support local artists and businesses when I can. It's a little more challenging now, but certainly not impossible. Purchasing gift cards helps business owners get through these tough times. Consider purchasing season tickets from non-profit theater or musical groups, a zoo, or a museum, ahead of time. These can make great gifts! Many non-profits hold fundraisers each spring, and those could end up being canceled.
My social life at the moment is confined to talking to my neighbors from their front yards, and hanging out with Gov. Mike DeWine at 2 p.m. most days. Like most people, I've been trying to look on the bright side of things.
As we move through the Recovery Plan, we strongly suggest that you check ahead for open dates and times of local businesses and events who are hoping to welcome you soon.
Please, please, call ahead before you make any plans.
updated 04.20.20 CAE
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