Finding yourself staying in a lot more these days? Like, all the time? Yeah, us too. Fortunately, with many local events switching to online formats, there are still loads of free (and interactive) events you can take part in from home to keep yourself feeling good and engaged with all your usual crowds and haunts. We’ve rounded up some of the best free things to do at home this week – share the links with friends and come together as a community to support each other through this crisis.
Usually held at The Deaf Institute, Manchester’s coolest pub + venue are still running their pub quiz – they’re just doing it from their Facebook page so you can take part from the comfort of your own home. Get a Skype team together and a couple of drinks in – once that tip-of-your-tongue trivia gets started, you’ll never know the difference.
Manchester’s award winning comedy club XS Malarkey, usually housed at The Bread Shed, are broadcasting a Twitch show on their regular Tuesday night. Featuring some of the club’s finest comics, you can tune in for free but you can buy a ‘ticket’ to support the comedians and club, who are naturally facing a lot of uncertainty at the moment.
Ever wondered what it would be like to embark upon an 84-hour bike ride through the Scottish hills? Rainspotting, a new short film from cycling tour company Pannier.cc, explores this very bike ride, ‘hosted’ by Rapha Manchester, a bike shop and cafe. The watch party will take place via Facebook and might make you grateful for the warm dry security of your house.
Natasha, of Droylsden’s Zumba group, will be hosting a Zumba Gold session live from her own kitchen. It’s important to stay active even when stuck inside, so get yourself moving and dance along with a Zumba group completely free of charge. Natasha intends to run these classes for free throughout the crisis but is accepting donations.
Calling all party people – you might not be able to get out to your favourite club during the lockdown, but Resurrection, one of Manchester’s newest and coolest house, dance and techno club nights, is bringing a 12-hour digital event to make sure the weekend is properly marked. Get a couple of drinks in, don your finest and get ready to party. The best part? No long queues at the bar for drinks…
Having closed its doors due to the current situation, HOME are giving the Manchester Open Exhibition a platform on their website, allowing audiences to continue to explore the works on offer from their own home. You can see images of the art and of the opening night, watch short films going Behind the Art and read interviews with the artists.
- Words:
- Amy Callaghan
- Published on:
- Sun 22 Mar 2020
There’s never been a better time to join a book club, and Shelf Help puts the focus on the connection and kindness that’s often found in support groups into the book club format. Often interacting online in their Facebook group anyway, this week’s book club meet-up has been replaced by a mega virtual book club – it’s a great time to get involved, chat to new people and connect over books.