#WeApplaudORC
“Dot.calm” by Jane Silverman
It’s the cheer heard around the world. The sound is an awesome and heart-warming awakening. Every evening from Milan to Vancouver, New York to Paris to Madrid to Istanbul, people on lockdown are flinging open their windows, flickering their lights on and off, and banging pots and pans to give a round of applause to first responders and healthcare and essential workers; it’s a nightly celebration to thank those risking their lives to help save ours.
Can you feel it? There is a pendulum-like swing of the world tipping from looking inward to looking outward; perhaps our New Normal will be a kinder and more caring society?
Search online for
#WeApplaud,
#WeApplaudUSA,
#HealthcareHeroes,
#TousAlaFenetre (All at the Window), and
#ClapBecauseWeCare
to see for yourself.
No Time to Skimp
I may not be able to help you find toilet paper or Lysol wipes, but this is a great time to support American businesses affected by the closure of restaurants, bars and hotels. There is nothing more comforting than spoiling yourself or loved ones with home delivery.
No Time for Whine
I usually rely on word of mouth or my own umami moment to discover new wines, that is until Diane and Mike Jones introduced me to Wines ‘Til Sold Out wtso.com and its app. It’s a super site for famous wines at unheard of prices and a great source for exploring new wines – delivered right to your door.
Where’s the Beef?
With wine on its way, be sure and order some beautiful Prime or Wagyu steaks or Kurobuta Pork from the Jones’ favorite delivery service: Snake River Farms snakeriverfarms.com in the Pacific Northwest. This family-run farm prides itself on being hands-on from ranch to table with what they call, “beef, beyond belief.”
The Maine Course
For over 30 years, LobsterAnywhere.com has been providing Live Maine Lobsters, PEI Mussels, North Atlantic Sea Scallops, Chowders and Bisques across America. They are wholesalers selling direct to the public without retailers or middlemen; they source their seafood from local lobsterman and fisherman and overnight them to you. Lobstah Anyone?
Feast on Maryland Crabs
The family-run Cameron’s Seafood cameronsseafood.com is Maryland’s largest local retailer for crab cakes, crab bisque, fresh seafood and whole blue crabs, male or female, in standard, premium and colossal sizes. They arrive pre-cooked (live crabs don’t travel well) and are easily steamed at home. Be sure and get some mallets and prepare to pick!
Side by Sides
Worried about leaving home to shop? Visit Farmbox Direct farmboxdirect.com and its app for a selection of organic fruits and vegetables brought to your door. Liberty Fruit in Kansas City packs each box under strict anti-COVID-19 guidelines ensuring the health of their workers and of you.
Say Cheese!
For every photo you upload onto the Donate a Photo app, donateaphoto.com Johnson & Johnson donates $1 to your choice from over 200+ trusted causes from their curated list. If a picture is worth 1000 words, imagine what 1000 uploaded photos can do to help with the fight against COVID-19, benefit neurotrauma research, help an infant to breathe, and more.
Hammer Price
Feeling bored? The LiveAuctioneers app liveauctioneers.com lets you treasure hunt (or window shop) like a pro. It’s a safe and trusted site for one of a kind items, antiques, collectibles, and luxury goods. Find the next estate sale or auction from 5000+ recognized auctioneers: browse the site, send questions, and place bids before the auction or participate in realtime. It’s a guilty pleasure and so easy to use.
A Little Class Goes A Long Way
Now is as good a time as any to try the Masterclass app masterclass.com which brings online-learning to a whole new level of intellectual stimulation: Carlos Santana teaches the art and soul of guitar; Helen Mirren teaches acting; Annie Leibovitz teaches photography; James Suckling teaches wine appreciation; Itzhak Perlman teaches violin; Bob Iger teaches business. You get the idea. Twenty+ lessons per class with workbooks and often video feedback. Browse the catalog and find your muse.
Online Inspiration:
I discovered this on a Twitter post:
“When you go out and see the empty streets, the empty stadiums, the empty train platforms, don’t say to yourself, it looks like the end of the world. What you’re seeing in that negative space, is how much we care for each other, for our grandparents, for the immune-compromised… for people we will never meet. People will lose jobs over this. Some will lose their businesses. And some will lose their lives.
All the more reason to take a moment, when you’re out on your walk or on your way to the store or just watching the news to look and marvel. It isn’t the end of the world — it is the most remarkable act of global solidarity we may ever witness.” Amen.