Category: activities

If summer is a state of mind, it can’t truly be cancelled. So despite the uncertainty surrounding the next few months, what better way to rekindle the mood and possibly a few memories of summers past than by sitting down to enjoy a classic summer movie? From camp counselors to amusement parks to kids (and parents) facing the prospect of those dreaded family vacations, it’s the next best thing to lugging the surf, sand and hot sun into your home.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Streaming On: Netflix

“Righteous dude” Ferris Bueller gives Matthew Broderick his signature role as a slick suburban slacker with everything: a wise, beautiful girlfriend, a loyal best friend, a penchant for cutting classes, and the near-superhuman ability to never suffer the consequences. With graduation nearing, Ferris takes one last day off to enjoy the city of Chicago in a “borrowed” Ferrari. The late director John Hughes is known for deeply-felt teen films like The Breakfast Club, but with this clever, fourth-wall-breaking comedy, he delivered his masterwork. FOR AGES: 12 and up

Stand By Me

Streaming On: Amazon Prime

Adapted from Stephen King’s short story The Body, Rob Reiner’s coming-of-age drama finds four friends confronting life, death and their own demons during the 1959 Labor Day weekend — after which they will be set on different paths as young men. To paraphrase the film’s narrator, “I never had friends like the ones I had at 12. Does anyone?” FOR AGES: 13 and up

Dirty Dancing

Streaming On: Amazon Prime

A drowsy resort in the Catskills becomes the unlikely stage for a sweaty, salsa-stepping romance between spoiled teenager Baby (Jennifer Grey) and roguish dance instructor Johnny (Patrick Swayze). The movie’s iconic moments continue to be referenced elsewhere — from the climatic “Lift” to Johnny’s declaration, “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.” FOR AGES: 12 and up

National Lampoon’s Vacation

Streaming On: Amazon Prime

Hapless family man Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) insists on driving his wife and kids from Chicago to Los Angeles only to have his well-intended attempt at “quality time” go horribly wrong at every turn. Directed by Harold Ramis (Ghostbusters), the humor is broad and crude, but for anyone who has ever endured a forced summer getaway with their family, it’s impossible not to relate — and laugh. FOR AGES: 13 and up

Wet Hot American Summer

Streaming On: Hulu

This raunch-a-thon about summer camp counselors in the 1980s bombed when it was released in 2001, but developed such a cult following that Netflix revived it as a series in 2015. Of course, it helps when your largely-unknown cast includes such now-A-listers as Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper and Amy Poehler. As the title suggests, it aims to spoof the teen sex comedies of the era. FOR AGES: 16 and up

Dazed and Confused

Streaming On: Hulu

“Alright, alright, alright” — this 1993 Richard Linklater film is best remembered for Matthew McConaughey’s breakout turn as 20-something, high school hanger-on David Wooderson, who observes of high school girls, “I get older, they stay the same age.” Set during the last day of school in 1976, the film also counts a pre-fame Ben Affleck among its ensemble. FOR AGES: 16 and up 

Adventureland

Streaming On: Hulu

When his parents tell him that he needs to get a summer job instead of traveling to Europe, James (Jesse Eisenberg) winds up working at a run-down amusement park where he meets — and bonds with — a co-worker named Emily (Kristen Stewart). Ryan Reynolds turns up in a supporting role as the park’s sleazy maintenance man. FOR AGES: 16 and up

Now and Then

Streaming On: Amazon Prime

Four childhood friends — played by Demi Moore, Rosie O’Donnell, Melanie Griffith and Rita Wilson — reunite to recall a pivotal summer in their lives. Although a critical flop in 1995, this sentimental, female-led, coming-of-age story has developed a loyal following in the decades since its release. FOR AGES: 12 and up

Maybe you’ve been waiting for the lockdown on your gym to be lifted. Or you thought a weekly energetic stroll around the neighborhood would suffice. But let’s face it: it’s been two months since your last squat or lunge and it’s finally time to assemble your own exercise regiment. But before you shop online for expensive treadmills and bikes, think again. Instead, opt for some multipurpose equipment. Here are five essentials you will want when building your home gym.

A MAT

A critical component for bodyweight work, especially pilates, stretching and, of course, yoga. After all, if you’re not comfortable on your floor kneeling and contorting, then you’re going to resist the idea of working out at all. An online search will point you to the best mats — from thick to really, really thick. Not surprisingly, they are proving quite in-demand these days.

RESISTANCE BANDS

If you want to shape your body without overspending or taking up too much space in your home, you’ll need to pick up some resistance bands. These will give you the flexibility to perform a broad range of workouts. Rowing and pulling motions will work the upper back and core, for example. For more strenuous routines such as squats, you can double or triple up on bands.

A SKIPPING ROPE

It sounds deceptively easy, but a rudimentary skipping rope can give you a worthwhile cardio workout. Skipping for half an hour or more actually increases your aerobic fortitude. It also tones the upper arms and shoulders and boosts coordination. (There is a reason why every Rocky movie includes skipping as part of the climatic workout.) More practically, you take a skipping rope wherever you go and challenge yourself with increasingly intensive moves as you improve.

KETTLEBELLS

If bodyweight training does not appeal to you, a kettlebell can offer a range of strength-focused options. It is also an effective alternative to the professional gym equipment you have been locked away from. These cannonball-shaped weights have handles, so you can grip them with one or both hands. They are measured in “pood.” One pood is the equivalent of 36.1 lbs.

A MIRROR

You don’t need a personal trainer when you have a mirror. Watching yourself work out will help you adapt your form and reduce the chance of injury. But if you want something more than that slate of glass hanging on your wall, you could opt for the screen-turned-trainer digital program, Mirror, which transforms a mirror into a screen that plays live and recorded workouts. At $1,500, it isn’t cheap, but if you love working out to YouTube videos, it’s irresistible.

Black Widow is webbed up. Wonder Woman has been lassoed until August (at least). And James Bond’s license to kill is suspended until November. So what is a filmgoer to do? Basically, spend summer at home. With movie theaters shut down due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Hollywood has all but mothballed its blockbuster line-up. And the films that haven’t been postponed are instead headed straight to on-demand platforms, joining the original productions already planned to debut digitally on various streaming services. So while it may be the strangest summer movie season in memory, there will still be plenty to watch. Here are nine of the ones to look for while we wait for big screens everywhere to reopen.

Scoob! 

Debuts: May 15, VOD

Zoinks! Originally planned for a theatrical release, this computer-animated comedy is now beaming directly to on-demand platforms. Along with those meddling kids from the Mystery Machine — Scooby-Doo (Frank Welker), Shaggy (Will Forte), Velma (Gina Rodriguez), Daphne (Amanda Seyfried) and Fred (Zac Efron) — longtime fans can look for cameos from such other Hanna-Barbera characters as Dynomutt (Ken Jeong) and Blue Falcon (Mark Wahlberg).

The Lovebirds 

Debuts: May 22, Netflix

A newly-shredded Kumail Nanjiani stars with Issa Rae in this action-comedy about a couple on the verge of splitting up who becomes ensnared in a murder mystery when they witness a crime. Can they save their relationship — and their own lives? Promisingly, The Lovebirds is helmed by Michael Showalter, who previously directed Nanjiani in the 2017 indie hit The Big Sick.

The Vast of Night

Debuts: May 29, Amazon Prime

Actually, Amazon is opening this 1950s-set science-fiction mystery in theaters before its Prime Video launch — drive-in theaters, across the country May 15 and 16. (Moreover, tickets for each car will be priced at 50 cents.) Drive-ins have been surging in popularity as they allow people to gather while also maintaining a social distance. Plus, the 1950s marked the pinnacle of the drive-in’s popularity. In the movie, a small-town switchboard operator Fay (Sierra McCormick) and a radio DJ Everett (Jake Horowitz) attempt to trace a frequency that may be alien in origin.

Artemis Fowl 

Debuts: June 12, Disney Plus

When his villainous father (Colin Farrell) goes missing, 12-year-old genius and budding criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl (Ferdia Shaw) sets out to confront the mysterious, supernatural forces who may be responsible for his father’s disappearance. Kenneth Branagh directs this first installment of what presumably could be a franchise, considering that Eoin Colfer’s bestselling fantasy series spans eight novels.

Da 5 Bloods 

Debuts: June 12, Netflix

Lured by the promise of buried gold and still haunted by the Vietnam war, four African American veterans — Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis and Isiah Whitlock, Jr. — return to the country to search for the remains of their squad leader (Black Panther’s Chadwick Boseman). Filmmaker Spike Lee directs what many expect to emerge as a serious Oscar contender.

The King of Staten Island 

Debuts: June 12, VOD

Following everyone from Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy to Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, Pete Davidson is the latest Saturday Night Live star to leap to the big screen. Or at least he was supposed to be before movie theaters shut down around the world. Now this semi-autobiographical comedy is bound for on-demand platforms. Judd Apatow (who previously launched the film careers of Seth Rogen, Steve Carrell and Amy Schumer) directs.

7500

Debuts: June 19, Amazon Prime

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Looper, The Dark Knight Rises) stars in this confined nail-biter about the co-pilot of a packed international flight who finds himself locked in the cockpit during a terrorist attack. Unable to make an emergency landing, he must save himself, the passengers and what’s left of his crew without letting the hostage-takers seize control of the plane.

Hamilton

Debuts: July 3, Disney Plus

Disney — which reportedly paid $75 million for the rights to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash musical — will debut Hamilton on its streaming service almost a year ahead of its previously-announced theatrical bow. Unlike such other musical adaptations as Mamma Mia, the Hamilton movie is an actual recording of a staged performance with the original Broadway cast. Nevertheless, it is expected to be event viewing — especially since tickets to a live production of the Broadway phenomenon can cost hundreds of dollars.

The Old Guard 

Debuts: July 10, Netflix

Once again cracking skulls and thumping bad guys after roles in Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde, Charlize Theron — who is also the producer of this action-heavy graphic novel adaptation — stars as an immortal mercenary whose team of fellow immortal warriors has been protecting us mere mortals throughout the centuries.

Whether you’re sore after spending weeks at your new home office — otherwise known as the sofa and coffee table — or simply stressed about the state of the world, we could probably all use a spa day right about now. So while the businesses themselves remain temporarily shut down — along with most vacation plans involving oceanside massage tables — why not bring the spa experience home to you? For one thing, it’s not complicated (because it’s not like you need another thing to stress about). And for another, a little wellness can do wonders — even if it’s from the normalcy of your own bathtub.

EMBRACE THE ESSENTIAL OILS

Known for their revitalizing properties, these flower and plant extracts can boost skin health as well as restore its vitality. At the spa, you will find them in everything from moisturizers to body scrubs. If you don’t have any essential oils at home, turn to your kitchen cupboards for such alternatives as salt (preferably sea salt, but even table salt will do) and sugar (which moisturizes while removing toxins), as well as olive oil and coconut oil. From there, choose from any number of recipes for making home-made bath salts or scrubs.

TREAT YOUR SCALP

By now we could all probably use a massage therapist to help unknot our tense, tired muscles. But how about a simple scalp massage instead? Studies have shown that scalp massage can boost serotonin levels as well as relieve chronic migraines. If you’ve been hunkered down at your desk or on your laptop while working remotely, it can ease the strain suffered by both your neck and eyes. And if you’re self-isolating alone, with no one to lend their helpful hands, there are video tutorials to teach you how to give one to yourself.

MAKE YOUR OWN FACIAL MASK

For a homemade facial mask, look no further than your fridge. Whether it’s honey (with its antibacterial properties) or avocado, matcha or green tea, olive oil or egg yolk, oatmeal or orange juice, your kitchen is packed with possibilities. Got powdered milk? Mix well with water. And if you don’t know what to do with those bananas you have? Mash them into a paste with orange juice and honey. And those are just some of the facial mask possibilities.

SET THE MOOD 

Scented wellness candles containing essential oils will not only provide the appropriately-dim, stress-freeing illumination but also produce a pleasing aroma. From lavender to peppermint to rose, there’s probably a scent suited for you, so confirm you will enjoy it before you light it. Now that you’ve arranged the stage, fill the room with soft, ubiquitous music. A soothing soundtrack will lower your heart rate and blood pressure as well as set your mind adrift.

SOAK IT UP

Once you’ve introduced the bath salts or essential oils (possibly in the form of a bath bomb, which will also add fragrances and color to the water), lit the candles and cued up your spa-like sounds, you’re ready to slip into the tub for a long, hot steep. Although many of the benefits of taking a bath are obvious — such as improving your mood or reducing aching muscles — others are less so. For example, because heat can boost blood flow, you are actually burning calories while you soak — roughly the same amount as if you had gone for a walk instead.

Call your mother already. And then what? With stay-at-home orders in place and everyone’s health at risk due to COVID-19, the annual afternoon brunches and family gatherings are out of the question. Besides, how is she supposed to see your smiling face behind a mask? But that doesn’t mean you still can’t take Mom to the movies (sort of). Consider this playlist for the perfect Mother’s Day movie marathon. Maybe you (and other family members) can even Zoom in to watch it with her. Bonus points for having her favorite snacks delivered to her door.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Streaming on: Disney Plus

One of the most popular and enduring movies of all time (literally — in adjusted dollars, its box office gross is more than $2 billion), this 1965 Best Picture Oscar winner has everything you could want in a movie for Mom: rapturous music, breathtaking mountain scenery, an aloof but charismatic aristocrat, looming peril in the form of Nazis and a family that needs a woman to pull them all together. Julia Andrews stars as the young nanny who takes charge of seven motherless children and ends up being much more to them — and their father. Odds are you have already seen this classic with your mom. But really, why not again? FOR AGES: 6 and up

MAMMA MIA! and MAMMA MIA!: HERE WE GO AGAIN

Streaming on: Hulu

ABBA songs, Greece and Meryl Streep — how can Mom possibly resist? Amanda Seyfried stars as Sophie, a young woman who invites three strangers (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard) to her wedding after learning one of them is her father. Music (including the title track) and romance ensue along with the predictable emotional fireworks between Sophie and her mother (Streep). As a bonus, the sequel introduces Cher. FOR AGES: 12 and up

STEPMOM

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

Julia Roberts stars as a woman planning to marry an older man (Ed Harris) while struggling to be accepted by the two children he shares with his less-than-warm ex-wife (Susan Sarandon). But what begins as a family dramedy emerges as a five-star salute to motherhood when the unexpected happens. Prepare tissues and your ugly crying face. FOR AGES: 12 and up

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN

Streaming on: Disney Plus

There is nothing a mom loves more than confirmation everything would fall apart without her. Which is more or less the plot of this family farce about a couple (Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt) with 12 children who move to the big city after he gets a job coaching his alma mater’s football team. But life is truly thrown into disarray when she goes on a tour to promote her new book, leaving her husband and the kids to fend for themselves. FOR AGES: 10 and up 

LADYBIRD

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

This tender, affecting coming-of-age drama follows the volatile, bittersweet relationship between a creatively-inclined high school senior (Saoirse Ronan), who dreams of leaving her hometown of Sacramento for somewhere more cultured, and her strong-willed mother (Laurie Metcalf). The film was nominated for multiple Oscars, including for Best Picture, Best Actress (Ronan), Best Supporting Actress (Metcalf) and Best Director (Greta Gerwig). FOR AGES: 16 and up