ON YOUR OWN… IN JANUARY 2021 [Click for previous months: 11/20 12/20]
•	So you think it’s cold in Massachusetts? Try northern Sweden in the Arctic Circle. If that’s what interests you, you can try staying in an ice hotel there. Click here to find out more about it.
•	Most of us have heard of Billie Holiday, but how much do we really know about her? Watch this BBC documentary to find out about her life and her art.
•	Stuck indoors in the winter? Don’t want to travel by plane? Try a remote visit to Cornwall with Rick Steeves. You’ll learn a bit about the history and see the beaches and the mountains, the moors and the villages. And, of course, as with all Rick’s videos, you’ll sample the local cuisine with his “friends.”
•	Explore the Brooklyn Botanical Barden from your armchair. The website offers a number of possibilities, including a virtual visit to the Rose Garden, a stroll through the Japanese Garden , an article on the garden during the pandemic of 1918, performances in the garden, and more.
•	NEW… If you haven’t OD’d on virus information, you might want to find out more from the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture’s exhibit, “A World of Viruses” which explores what they are, where they can be found, and how they behave in both a positive and negative way. [Back to Top]
	DECEMBER 2020
•	The AARP is offering a “Holiday Soul Concert” Blues, jazz, and soul music fans: you’ll love the Holiday Soul concert featuring award-winning actress and singer Miche Braden and the dynamic blues and soul talents of the Alexis P. Suter Band. Date: Friday, December 18, at 7 pm - 8:30 pm. This virtual event is free, and registration is required. You can register online or call 877-926-8300.
•	It’s never been easier to attend concerts at the New England Conservatory. No traffic, no parking, just click here for a choice of programs from now until May 14, 2021. In December you can stream scenes from a number of operas, a holiday concert, “Winds on Wednesdays,” and the NEC Saxophone Ensemble.
•	Many Wellesley Neighbors members have attended concerts by the Wellesley Chamber Players at Dana Hall in the past. Not able to offer live performances during the pandemic, the group is offering a virtual concert on December 12. Click here for the details.
•	If you’re feeling nostalgic, you might like some videos about “The Sound of Music.” One option is to watch the ABC news segment about the 40^th anniversary of the movie, with the original cast. You can also see “The Story Behind The Sound of Music,” and conversations, including a yodeling lesson, with Julie Andrews and Maria Von Trapp.
•	Have you ever heard of Florence B. Price? Click here to learn about her, the first major female African-American classical composer. Although recognized during her lifetime (1888-1953) her compositions were lost until 2009. You can also see a performance of her Symphony No. 3 in C Minor.
•	“Dancing with Fred Astaire” N. T. Binh, a cinematographer and director living in France, made this compilation of dance scenes from Fred Astaire movies for Barbara Dent, an Australian author, to comfort her. Fred dances with Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Eleanor Powell, Rita Hayworth, and Cyd Charisse. The 30 minute film has subtitles in French.
•	“Standing on their shoulders” is a virtual tour of the history of women students at Harvard. Click here for an introduction and a link to the tour.
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in November
•	Have fun in Paris watching Vincent van Gogh art ALIVE - Atelier des Lumières (Paris, France) STARRY NIGHT. Lots of color, a feast for the eyes, and you can sing along!!!
•	Maggie Smith fans might enjoy an interview with her, which includes a conversation about her role in “Downton Abbey.”
•	How about 1 hour 40 minutes wafting above the Fiji Islands? A relaxing way to get your mind off the winter worries
•	Learning about past pandemics might depress you or interest you. If the latter, you can watch the documentary, “The Spanish Flu and How the World Recovered (1918-1929).” You can click on “Skip Ads” in the lower right corner for a better viewing experience.
•	Visit the 25 Most Beautiful Medieval Towns of Europe. Touristy, but you get to see old towns from north to south and east to west, all over the continent. BUT there are ads. To avoid them, click on “Skip Ads” on the lower right side of screen. If a Skip Ads box comes up in the middle of the screen: don’t click the words, do click ‘x’ on the right side of the box. Click here for the YouTube video. Bon voyage!
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