by Nate McCarthy

So much has changed in the past week. New York is now the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in America. Governor Andrew Cuomo has urged New Yorkers to stay at home and keep their distance to contain the spread of the virus and save lives.

This Guide with Fun Indoor Activities is brought to you by Rockland Center for the Arts. Rockland Center for the Arts will be closed through Tue, Mar 31. RoCA is taking this action out of an abundance of caution and in recognition of those individuals who may be immunocompromised.

Here are our suggestions for how to spend the weekend at home, including how your pets can get involved and bring a smile to everyone’s faces.

Three easy and delicious recipes to cook with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry:

• Try Ali Slagle’s recipe for one-pot rice and beans, simple and classic comfort food:
• Italian food and travel writer Katie Parla has a fantastic recipe for pasta alla carbonara. Substitute bacon for guanciale and you’ve got a sublime weekend dinner.
• This easy lemon drizzle cake makes for a perfect dessert or accompaniment to an afternoon cup of tea or coffee.

Entertainment

Netflix is streaming some of the decade’s best films like Alfonso Cuaron’s stunningly beautiful Roma or Barry Jenkins’s coming-of-age story Moonlight. The 1999 adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley is a gripping thriller with a cast full of stars.

No Netflix? No problem. Use your Nyack Public Library membership to enjoy free access to Kanopy, an app which offers an amazing selection of classic and new films.

Or you could catch a Broadway show from your living room!

BroadwayHD is letting you stream your favorite musicals from home for a limited time.

More of an opera person?

The Metropolitan Opera is offering free live streaming all weekend at www.metopera.org

Tune in on Friday at 7:30p for  Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment or Saturday at 7:30p for Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor

How about a virtual tour of one of the world’s great museums?

Fitness

Or a workout from home with the YMCA’s free on-demand health and fitness videos?

Knowledge

Looking for a good read? Project Gutenberg is a wonderful resource, offering a free library of over 60,000 eBooks, including a children’s literature category.

AllKidsNetwork has thousands of printable activities to keep children of all ages busy.

How about a nightcap?

Try making one of these simple but classic 3 ingredient cocktails from Imbibe Magazine.

Clarkstown Recreation and Parks are hosting two contests for local residents.

Pet Photo Contest

Post a picture of your pet on this Facebook thread by 5p on March 27th. Prizes will be awarded in three categories.

Clarkstown’s Got Talent

Individuals or Groups of less than 5 people can enter a video (not to exceed 3 minutes) of various acts including: Comedy, Music, Dance, Magic, etc. E-mail the video to c.tosto@clarkstown.org by 5p on Friday, April 3rd. Prizes to be awarded for top three acts.