Coronavirus
Enjoying virtual KC: How to help fill that pandemic-induced void in your life
As the COVID-19 crisis intensifies, it’s time to leave denial and frustration behind and start coping.
Attending sporting events, concerts and movies is out, as is visiting museums, malls and gyms. But, thanks to the internet, we have alternatives that can at least partially fill those voids in our lives. We can enjoy from home many of our favorite pastimes —at least virtual versions of them. Much of this entertainment is also educational, a plus for students who are suddenly all home-schoolers.
And you never have to change out of your pajamas.
Most people were shopping online and streaming movies and music long before “coronavirus” became a dirty word. But much more awaits in the virtual world, including local content that will remind you what makes Kansas City such a great place to live.
Here are eight possibilities:
Visit a museum
Take advantage of the websites of area museums and galleries to explore their collections without the fatigue that accompanies all that walking when you go in person.
▪ National Museum of Toys and Miniatures at toyandminiaturemuseum.org/collections
▪ National WWI Museum and Memorial at theworldwar.org. Click “explore” and then “exhibitions.”
▪ Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art at nelson-atkins.org/collections
▪ Truman Presidential Library and Museum at trumanlibrary.gov. Click “online collections.”
▪ Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at nermanmuseum.org/collection
▪ Airline History Museum at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport, photos and histories of aircraft at airlinehistory.org
▪ Shoal Creek Living History Museum at shoalcreeklivinghistorymuseum.com. Click “more” to watch re-enactment videos.
▪ Sea Life Kansas City videos at youtube.com/user/sealifekansascity
▪ American Jazz Museum tour (along with other goodies) at americanjazzmuseum.org/museumfromhome
▪ Kansas City’s own TWA Museum at twamuseumarchives.org
▪ To widen your possibilities, more than 2,500 museums and galleries are accessible through artsandculture.google.com.
Get some culture
Even though area libraries are closed, they provide massive amounts of possibilities online. Check out the Kansas City Public Library (kclibrary.org), the Mid-Continent Public Libraries (mymcpl.org) and the Johnson County Library system (jocolibrary.org).
Or buy a book — and support a local business rather than Amazon or Barnes & Noble — through Rainy Day Books. You can order by phone (913-384-3126) or online (at rainydaybooks.com).
Other options:
▪ Videos, podcasts and more from the Kansas City Symphony at kcsymphony.org/watch-listen
▪ PBS shows at kcpt.org/anywhere (must download the PBS Video app)
▪ Articles, podcasts and other gems from the State Historical Society of Missouri at shsmo.org, highlighted by historicmissourians.shsmo.org
▪ New or classic films through Tivoli at Home at nelson-atkins.org/tivoli
▪ Independent movies through Screenland’s virtual screening room at screenlandonline.com
Keep the kids busy
Science City provides a bevy of links to websites that will entertain and educate the little ones who are stuck at home, including links to Bill Nye the Science Guy and a variety of science apps and STEM information. See unionstation.org/sciencecity/science-city-resources and click “Resources.”
▪ Acting class at thecoterie.org/spring-drama-classes
▪ Dance lessons through Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey at kcfaa.org/take5withty
▪ Mid-Continent Public Libraries’ access to games, activities and videos at mymcpl.org/kids/fun-and-games
▪ Mid-Continent Public Library’s new Spring into Reading Challenge at mymcpl.org
▪ Royals downloadable coloring pages at https://www.mlb.com/royals/fans/activities
▪ More coloring pages for free at luxandtrip.com
▪ Search “#OperationStoryTime” on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for children’s book authors’ virtual storytimes
▪ Search “walt disney world rides” on YouTube for a trip to Disney World
Tour the town
You would be amazed by the variety of views of Kansas City that are available online. Likely the most popular are at the Kansas City Zoo, where virtual visitors can keep tabs on the penguins, polar bears and giraffes at kansascityzoo.org/animal-cams. The zoo also offers a collection of clips at youtube.com/user/kansascityzoo/videos.
▪ Local weather cams at weatherbug.com/weather-camera/kansas-city-mo-64106
▪ Trains in the West Bottoms (among many others in the U.S.) at railserve.com/railcams
▪ Traffic and construction throughout the area at kcscout.com
▪ Cameras from around the world on the EarthCam Network (search box provided) at earthcam.com
Go outside inside
Among the few things that haven’t closed is the outdoors. Cities are encouraging residents to get out and enjoy most parks and find places to walk, hike and run, as long as they keep their distance of six feet apart.
But if you’re physically unable to perform those activities or must stay in your home, you can enjoy the outdoors virtually.
▪ Powell Gardens’ photo collection at instagram.com/powellgardens
▪ Local Earth Day celebration (April 18-26) at climategkc.org/ef20
▪ Search “kansas city hiking trails” on YouTube
▪ Virtual tours of national parks at artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service
Work up a sweat
Looking for something a bit more physical? The annual Trolley Run, originally scheduled for April 26, and AIDS Walk Kansas City, scheduled for April 25, are now virtual events. Participants pick their own routes and then share their run via social media.
Sign up for the Trolley Run, which benefits the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired, at trolleyrun.org. Help continue the fight against AIDS at aidswalkkansascity.org.
Also, several gyms are temporarily offering free classes online, even for non-members.
▪ goldsgym.com/anywhere/?click_referral=home-vid, click “At-Home Fitness Options.”
▪ onepeloton.com and get a 90-day free trial on the app.
Support the home teams
Opening Day of the Royals’ season is on hold, as are almost all other professional and amateur competitions, but sports live on in the online world.
The Royals have relaunched their YouTube channel and are sharing videos filmed during spring training at youtube.com/royals. You can also relive their glory days through photo galleries at https://www.mlb.com/royals/hall-of-fame.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs provide a ton of content at chiefs.com/video, including a link to a replay of their Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers. (It seems so long ago.) For even more on that game, search YouTube for “Super Bowl LIV.”
Also, replays of classic men’s basketball NCAA Tournament games, including several involving the University of Kansas, are available at ncaa.com/video/mml-classics.
Take in a live event
With no live entertainment, theaters, bands and concert promoters have begun to stream events.
Among local musicians who have already gone the live-stream route are Danielle Nicole, Various Blonde, Calvin Arsenia and Mark Lowrey. Kansas City reggae singer-songwriter Zach Mufasa will perform at 8 p.m. March 29. Search for him on facebook.com./events/505118580392636
You can see local duo Victor & Penny in concert while supporting local musicians through the Midwest Music Foundation at 3 p.m. April 5 at facebook.com/events/841331146359957
Check Facebook to see whether your favorite artists have concerts scheduled. Also visit do816.com/p/livestream-concerts and twitch.tv/bandsintown.
Also, Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s OriginKC: New Works Festival presents world premieres of “Frankenstein: A Ghost Story” and “Legacy Land” at kcrep.org (through April 15)
Finally, the White Theatre at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City has provided a link to a video of “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” for those holding tickets to canceled performances. The Jewish Community Center recently launched the Virtual J (thejkc.org/virtualj) with a variety of programs and activities, many of which are available to the public.
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