The local and national media have you covered with the negative news about the quarantine, but we want you to know there are a lot of good things you can be doing during this time.
A round-up of things you can do while cooped up at home… with kids or not.
St. Louis Zoo Virtual Fun
Sat. April 25- CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL– AT HOME VERSION
CLICK HERE to watch
Saturday, April 25th – Go to this link to watch it online: https://www.facebook.com/MOCherryBlossomFest/
8 AM: Presidential Prayer Breakfast: “Choose Happy; Finding Contentment In These Trouble Times.” Featuring Sally Tippett Rains Rob Rains, Dreama Denver, Samii Taylor Yakovetic, Nicholas W. Inman, Sheryl Godsy
9:30 AM: Dr. Larry Cook (Presidential Historian) interviews Kim Fuller (niece of President Jimmy Carter) and Executive Director of the Friends of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site.
10:30 AM: Myra Miller (WW II author and historian) interviews Dorinda Nicholson (Pearl Harbor Child)
11:35 AM: “Working on board the flying White House” panel- moderated by Richard LaMotte.
12:35 PM: Joseph Yakovetic interviews Morgan Brittany (Actress, Dallas).
1:35 PM: “Legends of Television and Screen” panel-moderated by Richard LaMotte. Participants: Kami Cotler (Elizabeth, The Waltons), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson, Little House on the Prairie), Lulu Roman (Hee Haw), Dreama Denver (widow of Bob Denver), Cissy Wellman (The Waltons) and Tammi Bula (Marcia Woolery, The Waltons).
2:35 PM: “FDR and Lucy”- Dr. Larry Cook (Presidential Historian) interviews author, Resa Willis on the 75th anniversary of the death of President Franklin Roosevelt (32nd President of the United States).
3:25 PM: “Presidential Family Forum” panel- moderated by Dr. Larry Cook (Presidential Historian). Participants include: George Cleveland (grandson of President Grover Cleveland), Ulysses Grant Dietz (great, great grandson of President Ulysses Grant), Tom Washington (President George Washington family), Jennifer Harville (great granddaughter of President Calvin Coolidge), Sheridan Harville (great, great granddaughter of President Calvin Coolidge), Shannon Lanier (President Thomas Jefferson family) and Devon Nixon (great nephew of President Richard Nixon).
4:35 PM- “It’s a Wonderful Life” interview with Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu Bailey, It’s a Wonderful Life) and Jeanine Roose (Violet Bick, It’s a Wonderful Life)- conducted by Joseph Yakovetic
Sunday Nights in April/May- ESPN Series on Michael Jordan
This 10-Part series called “The Last Dance” will be airing onESPN over the next 5 Sundays in two episodes per night– 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. central. The show was supposed to be coming out this summer but due to the lack of programming because of sports being closed down they moved it up.
Baseball Hall of Fame Virtual Series
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is hosting their “Safe at Home” virtual series and Curt Smith will be one of their first guests this Friday, 10 am Central. Smith will discuss the history of real world events that have affected the playing of major league games, including the impact of World War I on the 1918 season and the decision to continue baseball during World War II. For more information on Curt’s Zoom presentation CLICK HERE
To find out about the other talks the HOF is doing: CLICK HERE
Mercantile Library Globe-Democrat Exhibit online: CLICK HERE
NOW through June 26- VIRTUAL RACE–Gateway Resilience Run
Fee: $25-$60 (varies according to distance, see website for details)
Over 250 races in the STL area have been cancelled and to keep runners, walkers or cyclists spirits up and to help organizations, the Gateway Resilience Fund and Big River Race Mgmt. have come up with an idea. Run or ride anywhere you’d like! Even indoors if you can’t find a course you like. The Gateway Resilience Run is a virtual run or ride that participants can complete on their own where and when it is convenient for them. Participants will receive a custom limited edition t-shirt, finisher medal and incentives/offers to patronize local businesses all over the St. Louis region. For information CLICK HERE.
Little House On The Prairie
Allison Arngrim, who played “Nellie Oleson” on Little House on the Prairie is reading parts of Little House on the Prairie aloud on her Facebook page every day. CLICK HERE for her Facebook page.
Paula Deen’s Quarantine Cooking
Paula Deen has come up with a way to interact with her fans during this time and that is by doing “Quarantine Cooking”— recipes with ingredients that you may have in your pantry. The videos contain recipes that are easier than her normal recipes and aimed at people who may not normally cook as well as those fans who have always liked cooking. To see the list of recipes: CLICK HERE
Watch this Video by Mo. History Museum
If you are from St. Louis, this short video will empower you and make you proud of your city.
Free Online Toddler “Frozen” Class
CLICK HERE for a fun way to entertain your toddlers who love Frozen.
Grand Ole Opry Streaming Concerts
The Grand Ole Opry will not miss a beat. The Opry’s 4,917th consecutive Saturday night show went on– albeit in a different fashion– as Vince Gill, Amy Grant, daughters Jenny Gill and Corrina Grant Gill took the stage for an intimate live performance with host Bobby Bones. After the Gill-Grant first one there have been some great ones and more are planned. For info on how to watch the videos or the next concert CLICK HERE.
As long as the quarantine is in effect Grand Ole Opry fans can tune in to the livestream events at 8PM ET / 7PM CT on Saturday nights at Circle All Access on Facebook, or Circle All Access on YouTube.
As the Opry’s website says: “We’re keeping the music playing and the circle unbroken.”
Billboard Magazine has a list of “live streamed” concerts. CLICK HERE
Thirty Days; Thirty Music Stories
St. Louis area band leader Gene Ackman (shown in photo, left) who runs Butch Wax and the Hollywoods and Garden Party bands has played or interacted with some big name bands and musicians. While quarantined in his home, he is doing videos with memories of interactions with the musicians.
Check out his Facebook page to hear him tell stories about Chuck Barry, The Rascals, The Beach Boys and more.
Check out our Daily Quizzes
During this time when we are urged to stay away from others, Rob and Sally Rains ares providing quizzes, Monday-Friday to give readers something to do. The quizzes are about topics ranging from sports to movies, to Missouri history. CLICK HERE to test your skill.
Cardinals Printable Activity Sheets for Kids
The Cardinals are pitching in to help families by posting online activity sheets CLICK HERE.
Online Church Services
If you have a church home, chances are the services are being broadcast online so be sure to check your church’s website. For those who don’t have a church, Rooftop Church in Affton, Missouri has online services. CLICK HERE to check them out.
Church Activities for Kids
Rooftop is also doing “Kids Church” and they have even posted some activity sheets for kids of all ages. Need something constructive to occupy you kids for a few minutes? CLICK HEREfor the “Roof Tots”video and activity sheets.
Dolly Parton Will Read Bedtime Stories Online
Starting April 2 at 6 p.m. central time, Dolly Parton will be online reading to kids. She posted on Facebook Monday that she will start reading to kids every Thursday night for the next couple of months.
Calling herself “the book lady,” Dolly invited everyone to join her for “Goodnight with Dolly.”
“I want you to join me April 2 when I start ‘Goodnight with Dolly.’ I’m going to be reading some stories from the Imagination Library,” she said.
You can join the event here.
Walk With Waino
During Spring Training, Rob Rains did a story on a daily Bible Study that Adam Wainwright is doing called “Walking With Waino.” Wainwright told us that after that story he got hundreds more people joining the online Bible Study. Who knew that just a week later Spring Training would end and here we are isolated from each other. For those who sign up for his emails, the emails show up every morning and it is just another way people can stay in touch and get hope and encouragement.CLICK HERE
Choose Happy Blog
Speaking of staying in touch, Rainbows for Kids has a “Choose Happy Blog” which offers weekly encouragement and inspiration. CLICK HERE
The Radio City Rockets Will Have Online Dance Classes
The famous dance group will start giving live dance classes on Instagram every Thursday beginning April 2, at 11 a.m. Central. Their class: they will teach the choreography from “Christmas Lights,” the finale to the yearly Christmas Spectacular. Click here to follow @therocketts on Instagram.
To find out more: CLICK HERE
Play Games
Get out those old games and play them. It doesn’t matter what our age is and it really doesn’t matter if you are quarantined alone– with all the technology we can play games with people who aren’t even in the same house as we are.
Spreading Stones of Friendship
Joan Spink of St. Louis County had a great idea. She is taking walks– social distancing, staying six feet from others– and picking up rocks and stones. After she gets home with the stones she decorates them and puts them out for others to find, in hopes it will bring them joy and happiness.
“I painted these rocks a few days ago,” she said. “After you paint and seal the rocks, take them with you on your walks and ‘hide’ them for others to find. I just ‘hid’ some along the Gemp trail off of Sappington Road in the Crestwood-Sunset Hills area.”
Spink hopes others can have fun themselves by doing the painting and provide fun for others who find the rocks. For those who are not painters, another thing that can be done is modge-podge the rocks
“I hope you find them and they give you joy,” she said. Each day I am going to hid more, and I encourage others to do it too. Have fun, stay healthy and positive.”
In addition, Cardinals Care is working with the Stan the Man, Inc. to support hunger relief efforts for the St. Louis Area Foodbank. Starting Thursday, fans who donate to the Step Up to the Plate campaign will be entered into a drawing to win one of several baseball-themed prizes. Fans can find more information at stlfoodbank.org.
Social Media Activations
As part of the ‘Stay Home Opener,’ the team encourages fans to show their team spirit by wearing St. Louis Cardinals gear and by sharing their Busch Stadium home opener memories on social media using #STLStayHomeOpener.
Digital and printable signs stating “I Stay Home For ________” will be available for download from the team’s website, providing people the opportunity to show support for medical professionals, emergency personnel and others in our thoughts during this time.
The team will engage with fans and influencers throughout the day across @Cardinals social platforms, and will highlight exclusive Opening Day videos and photo collections from previous years.
Bobble Head HOF Museum Releases New Cardinals-Cubs Rivalry Bobbleheads
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed St. Louis Cardinals vs.Chicago Cubs Rivalry dual bobblehead on Thursday April 2– which would have been the Cardinals home opener. They bobbleheads are available in the National Bobblehead HOF online store at the following link.
