Social distancing is quickly becoming an art form. Through video and phone calls, text messages, virtual game environments and more, people can interact with one another without having to be physically close. Here are some ideas for how you can make your virtual hangouts even more entertaining and support some LYH businesses while you’re at it!
Have Dinner Together
Kick your video calls up a notch by inviting friends to dinner through your computer screen! Set out the nice dishes, pour the wine (which you can get to-go from places like The Water Dog, Isabella’s and Gilded) and set up the computer with you on the dining room table so you can chat while you eat! You could even take it a step further by turning your meal into a virtual happy hour, with takeout beer and cocktails from restaurants like Rivermont Pizza, Craft Beer Cellar or Iron & Ale. And if you don’t particularly want to cook the meal yourself, just grab takeout from a local restaurant in LYH. (P.S. Don’t forget to add a dessert course!)
Movie Marathon
Having movie marathons with your friends and family doesn’t have to stop just because you can’t gather in person right now. So pick up some popcorn (which you can get from Venue Cinema’s drive-through concession stand!), grab some blankets and maybe even set up a projector and screen to watch your favorite flicks with your crew! Then you can use Netflix Party, a video chat, or text conversation to talk about your favorite parts of the movie as it plays or when it’s over.
Online Games
(Image Via Jackbox Games)
There are so many options to choose from when finding a game to play virtually. All it takes is a video game console, a mobile game with online play options or a Jackbox party pack to make a solo evening one of laughter and competition. Houseparty and Zoom both offer excellent video call options, too, for playing games like charades, “Never Have I Ever” or “Two Truths and A Lie” that don’t require any equipment or supplies. Every group has their favorite games, so get inventive and find new ways to enjoy them together!
Book Club
Staying home is a great opportunity to get to that pile of books you’ve been meaning to read. Brew a pot of tea or coffee (which you can get from Grains of Sense or Nomad Coffee!) and settle onto your favorite chair with your book. Then, make a social event of it later by meeting up with friends over video chat to discuss the book with them! If you want a new book to read, Given’s Books is offering online ordering and free pickup for all of your literature needs.
Get Crafty
If making things is your thing, having to stay home opens up a lot of time that you could use for this very purpose. Whether your craft is origami, knitting, painting, drawing, pottery or anything else, there’s sure to be someone else out there who is interested in doing it with you. Many social media influencers are hosting “follow along” videos, and video chatting makes it possible to talk to someone and show them your work when you’re in the middle of your creative flow. Some places in Lynchburg are even empowering the creative process, too, like All Fired Up, which is offering pottery-to-go materials so you can make something awesome from the comfort of your home.
Scavenger Hunt
This is not only a fun activity for virtual hangout time, but it will also get your blood pumping! Choose a friend or family member to make a list of items that everyone has to find in order to win points. Make themes, like finding a book with a specific letter in the title, finding the closest roll of toilet paper or grabbing a frying pan from the kitchen. However you choose to do it, make it your own!
No matter how you spend your time while social distancing, we hope you stay safe and have fun! Once we power through the COVID-19 crisis, we’ll be able to enjoy these activities with friends and the community again.