Over the past year, we’ve all been through a lot. But amid the difficult realities of living through a pandemic, there have been certain benchmarks—in the form of anniversaries, holidays, birthdays, births even—that remind us that we all something to be grateful for. Having healthy loved ones, in particular, feels more precious than ever—there's almost an urgency to savoring special moments with those we care about, whether that’s via Zoom or from six feet apart.
For those moments, when life keeps happening despite the fact that much of our normal routines has come to a screeching halt, we say, celebrate. In any way you can. Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite ways to mark special dates with ones you love, no matter how much distance sits between you. This year is unlike any other, but with some creativity, important occasions can feel as special as ever.
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Surprise them with a serenade
Few things brighten a celebration quite like live music. And in the same way you might send a friend flowers on their birthday, you can kick things up a notch by sending them a serenade. The sky’s the limit on the type of musicians available for hire: You can find entire mariachi bands on sites like Facebook and Yelp, or book a soloist (say, a lone saxist or acoustic guitar player to play a favorite song) via a quick Google search. Some performing arts schools, like The Juilliard School, have programs through which you can hire their artists for private performances as well. Rates of course, run the gamut—it's usually most affordable to hire one performer for an hour, though you can always pool money with friends and family for something larger.
Few things make a COVID-era birthday feel special like a distanced serenade.
GettySend them a sidewalk drag show
We all know that moment when you’re at a bar or wedding, when the lights flicker and you just know a drag queen about to strut out. Many of those same performers are now out of work—at least in traditional nightlife spaces—which means you can both support artists and surprise a loved one by hiring a queen for an impromptu outdoor show. There are sites like Book a Drag Queen that are designed for doing just that, but you can also email your local gay or queer-friendly bar and see if any of their usual performers would be up for a 10-minute surprise performance on your friend’s driveway.
Take a cooking class together
For a virtual birthday party that loved ones around the world can tune into, there’s nothing better than a great online cooking class—be that a lively sangria-making session, a guide to matcha-making, or perhaps a crash course on recreating Mexico’s best street tacos right at home. Airbnb Experiences has a wealth of these virtual classes, with incredibly helpful reviews to ensure you’ll love the experience you book. You can also DM or email chefs and bartenders you follow—or favorite bars or restaurants—as many are hosting things like this right now.
Set up a virtual dance class
Most of us are doing a whole lot of sitting around these days. Mix things up—and get a healthy rush of endorphins while you’re at it—by booking a private virtual dance class. Even better, choose a type of dance you’ve never tried before: say, a salsa lesson for the friend who had been planning to visit Colombia this year, or maybe a Caribbean dancehall class to make up for missing Carnival. You can find dance experiences like this on Airbnb, or through studios—many of which have shifted their offerings online during the pandemic (Brukwine in New York City, for example, does private and group virtual dancehall classes).
Send them a fantastic meal
If you want to send some love without necessarily being a part of the celebration, it’s hard to top a great food delivery. Splurge on Goldbelly, through which you can order food from just about anywhere in the country—be that a key lime pie from Florida or brisket from Texas. Other online marketplaces, like New York’s Citarella fish market, do gift baskets that feel extra special (Citarella specifically has a raw bar delivery packed with fresh seafood, shipped overnight). For recipients who prefer to roll up their sleeves and do the cooking themselves, there are no shortage of great meal kits: Eataly offers nationwide shipping on some pasta meal sets, and Cocktail Courier does the same with elaborate DIY drink kits with all the fixings. Of course, you can always support local restaurants, many of whom now offer fresh meal kits and multi-course takeout sets. And, in a pinch, you can always count on same-day booze deliveries from Drizly. (We've got nearly 20 other nationwide food gift ideas here.)
Get them a tarot or star chart reading
Nothing gets us looking to the future quite like a dose of the mystical. Give your friend a chance to shake things up with the help of a local psychic. Virtual tarot card readings are a fun gift, and a handful of readers, like Amber Blais of TarotByAmber, are offering them online. For your friend who never misses a horoscope, pay for a star chart reading, which can also be done through apps like Sanctuary. Raven, who typically works for hire for parties in New York, is also doing private and group palm readings via Zoom.
We’re reporting on how COVID-19 impacts travel on a daily basis. Find our latest coronavirus coverage here, or visit our complete guide to COVID-19 and travel.
February 22, 2021 at 10:00PM
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/easy-to-plan-celebrations-that-are-almost-as-good-as-traveling
6 Easy-to-Plan Celebrations That Are Almost as Good as Traveling - Condé Nast Traveler
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