Daily distraction: 92nd Street Y online, free yoga, Jewish Museum audio tour

Angela Hewitt performing at the 92nd Street Y in November 2019. Image by Hiroyuki Ito/Getty Images

By Talya Zax March 18, 2020

It’s Wednesday, and we’re halfway through this first — for many of us — week of socially distancing. Every day is an achievement, and every day deserves a reward. Here are some options to consider today.

1) Browse archived performances from the 92nd Street Y.

The 92nd Street Y, one of New York’s most beloved cultural venues, has opened its digital archives to the public. Want to watch the lauded pianist Emanuel Ax play Schubert? No problem. Interested in a joint 2018 reading by the novelists Curtis Sittenfeld and Meg Wolitzer? The Y has your back. Out of ideas for entertaining your kids? Sure, it’s out of season, but the 2019 family Hanukkah concert was a jam — and here it is, at your fingertips.

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2) Take advantage of free yoga

It’s tempting to take all this time inside as an excuse to stay firmly on the couch. (I know I have.) But a healthy body and healthy mind go hand-in-hand, and online yoga instructors — love them or hate them, they’re relevant now! — have lifted entry costs, giving you a good reason to try a session. Down Dog has made all of its apps free through April 1; the much-beloved Youtube channel “Yoga with Adriene” remains free as always; and many local studios are shifting classes online for free or a reduced fee — check your local outfit’s website to see if they’re joining in.

3) Take an online audio tour of New York’s Jewish Museum

A lot of museums, closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, are debuting parts of their collections online. Manhattan’s Jewish Museum has taken it one step further: They’re offering online audio tours of their collection, curated by subject. There’s even one for kids and families, if the Y’s Hanukkah jam isn’t quite cutting it. But particularly interesting are the videos in the section “Artists’ Voices.” Among those featured are fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, portraitist Kehinde Wiley — who painted President Obama’s official presidential portrait — and dynamic mother-son duo Alex and Maira Kalman. Enjoy.

Talya Zax is the Forward’s opinion editor. Contact her at [email protected] or on Twitter, @TalyaZax.

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