Whether you're working from home with kids (bless you), or you're continuing to go in to work but have limited your extracurriculars, I think we all suddenly find ourselves with more free time at home than usual.Ìý
Over the weekend, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that events of more than 50 people be postponed or canceled for the next eight weeks. On Monday, the White House . Basically, public health officials are advising people to stay 6 feet away from each other, avoid crowds and social gatherings and stay home as much as possible to avoid further spreading COVID-19. Hello, .Ìý
And while we are totally on board to do our part and help our neighbors by staying home, we acknowledge the impact that can have on a person's sanity.
Thank goodness spring in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is so beautiful.Ìý
To help, we've created this guide of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ ways to pass the time at home with your family.Ìý
Note: If internet access is a challenge for your family during this time, Cox customers who qualify for low-cost service can now get a free month of its . The service is $9.95 per month after the first month. More info . Comcast is also opening all of its Xfinity WiFi hotspots for free. Go  for a map of hotspots. Comcast has also expanded its "Internet Essentials" low-income internet package. More info on that .
Use that library card
And you still can. Even though all Pima County Public Library locations and book drops are closed until further notice (don't worry — due dates are extended, too), the library still has tons of digital resources you can use for free with a library card. You can check out ebooks and audiobooks instantly with apps like Libby, Ìý²¹²Ô»å . The library also provides digital access to certain and .Ìý gives you access to eBooks for kids, plus animated, read-along picture books, videos, puzzles games and language learning. The library also recently launched a new eReading Room program, which has a .Ìý
You can also access several streaming services, including , where you can find thousands of films. The collection includes foreign language films, indie and film festival favorites and documentaries. There is also a collection.Ìý
If you need music in your life, the library's access to allows you to download five free songs every week to keep and stream three hours of music a day.Ìý
Learn more about these and other digital library resources .Ìý
Get crafty
will begin offering online workshops starting Thursday, March 19. Join the livestream via Zoom to ask questions or catch the video recording later. Each workshop will cost $15. Prior to the workshop, Creative Kind will send a supply list with links to recommended products so you have time to get your materials. Go for more information.Ìý
Here's the schedule for the next week or so.Ìý
• Beginner Art Journaling, Thursday, March 19 at 2 p.m.Ìý
• Beginner Embroidery: Three Cacti, Friday, March 20 at 2 p.m.Ìý
• Beginner Watercolor: Houseplants, Tuesday, March 24 at 2 p.m.Ìý
• Beginner Macrame Wall Hangings, Wednesday, March 25 at 2 p.m.Ìý
The shop, , is also going to start putting together craft kits. Think embroidery, sign painting, etc. Those will be available to order online and shipped or picked up in store or curbside. For more information, visit or follow the shop on Ìý´Ç°ù .
, , also has some you can purchase online. The adorable little shop does shipping or curbside pickup. Visit .Ìý
You can also take free with . You can pick up your supply kit from the studio, , for $12 or get a supply list and order supplies yourself.ÌýVisit .Ìý
Pick up an "Isolation Survival Kit" for your kids
Thank you, , for reading our minds. After you pick up your craft kit at Creative Kind, swing by the darling toy store that is literally next door for an age-appropriate kit with toys, games, puzzles and more. You'll find art kits, backyard fun kits, age-specific kits and more for $50. You can also message or call if you have something particular in mind. Visit  for more information.Ìý
The shop at La Encantada is currently offering curbside pickup, along with free local delivery for any online purchase over $30 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, according to a . Follow them on or go here for more information. Also, you should follow the Facebook page for virtual story times.Ìýâ¤ï¸
And, while you're stocking up on fun games for the fam, check out Prickly Pairs, a Go-Fish-style card game created by a ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ toy designer. Instead of matching fish, you're matching cacti. You can buy Prickly Pairs from Mildred and Dildred or online at . Use the code THISISTUCSON for free shipping until the end of March.Ìý
Listen to live, local music
Next week from March 23-27, Startup ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and Harbor Lighthouse Studios will livestream a digital concert every day from noon to 1 p.m to support ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ musicians. That sounds like a pretty good break in the middle of a long work-from-home day.
There is also a  page to support musicians who go through an application process.ÌýThe campaign is designed to help musicians and their families who need food, medicine, childcare and other essentials during these rocky times, according to a Startup ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ press release.Ìý
You can tune in on Ìý´Ç°ù . Go  for more information.
Get sweaty
Go for a run or take the family for a bike ride. Remember, despite this coronavirus craziness, it is spring in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, which means wildflowers, glorious temperatures and cool weather. The point of social distancing is not to stay indoors, it's to stay away from others. 🌼🌼🌼
Unfortunately Tumamoc Hill is now closed to the public but there are plenty of informal walks and rides — probably in your own neighborhood — you could go explore right now.
Social distancing advice is to stay away from crowded playgrounds with kids — and if you do go, wipe down surfaces with disinfecting wipes and bring hand sanitizer.
Jen Bond of digital, local workout options to help you get moving at home.
, for example, that the fitness studio will no longer hold in-person classes and will be livestreaming some of its more popular classes, like the 5:30 p.m. Cardio-Party-O class that you can catch digitally today (March 18). The class costs $7, which you can pay . Once you pay, you'll get a link to join the live class. For more details about Cardio-Party-O, upcoming classes and how to pay, go .Ìý
Or, if you want to use this new, work-from-home life to start a daily yoga practice, will be  at 9:30 a.m. through Friday. Go  for more information.ÌýÂ
Discover a new bookÂ
, , and , , are both offering curbside pickup for customers who order online or over the phone. Call the Antigone at 520-792-3715Ìý²¹²Ô»å Mostly Books at 520-571-0110 when you arrive, and someone will bring your books out to you.Ìý
We'd also like to offer you some ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥- and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥-related book recommendations. For the last two years, #ThisIsÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has created a , full of titles that have something to do with our region.ÌýAll of these books have a local connection — the author is from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ or ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, the topic is relevant to our region or the book is set here. Here is our and our .Ìý
We also have a on Facebook, where you can connect with other readers who love books and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.Ìý
Learn something new
Although the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Jewish Community Center is closed, the local JCC has created an amazing digital resource for everyone to use. The virtual community includes free access to  for grownups and physical activity ideas for kids.Ìý
The website has links to , international museums with online art showcases and suddenly teaching their kiddos at home. This includes several story time videos. Go to for more info.Ìý
Don Guerra of Barrio Bread fame is teaching bread-making lessons online. The course on baking sourdough bread from scratch is $30. There's also a free course on the site for making pizza crust from scratch. Yes, please. Visit for more information. Â
Order takeout
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ mayor Regina Romero Ìý²¹²Ô»å switch to takeout/drive-through and delivery operations until the end of the month.
Our food reporter Andi Berlin put together of restaurants doing takeout before the mandate, so we know there are far more restaurants offering that service now. Andi is updating this list as much as possible. Just consider it a starting point for supporting your favorite ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ restaurants. Check out this for updates.