Today’s schedule:

Ice Cream Anti-Social 
Large gatherings might not be the smartest thing during a pandemic, but you don’t need to cancel ice cream. To dodge the covids, some shops offer order ahead options.

  • Capital Ice Cream: (389 Capitol Avenue, between Babcock and Lawrence)
  • Local Creamery & Deli: (21 Asylum Street)
  • Lulu’s Ice Cream Cafe: (465 Albany Avenue, corner of Bedford Street across from Wilson-Gray YMCA)
  • Queen Bee’s: (510 Park Street, near Oak Street)
  • Victoria’s Ice Cream & Deli: (699 Maple Street, corner of Kenneth Street)

Get your cone and wander off with it to a park where you can enjoy it in peace!

Read Some Books 

Like to gamble big? Go find a Little Free Library and grab from its shelves. End up hating what you find? Oh well. Return it to that or another Little Free Library. (Personally, I like to annotate the real trash books so the next person has a laugh) The LFL map is not 100% accurate — there is one listed in the South End that either does not exist or is invisible, but there are many others that are not included on the map either.

Like safer bets? Use the Hartford Public Library‘s new curated grab bag service. You tell them a little of what you’re looking for, and a librarian will select something that fits the criteria.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBoMkRvphod/

Not at all into gambling? Just place a hold for the exact book you want and schedule a contact-free pickup time at the library.

Ideas for what to read here, here, and here.

Another option, and one that I am still on the fence about, is using a free book app. On the one hand, it means using an electronic device and most of us spend too much time on those as it is. On the other, you can find titles you’re looking for instantly (usually) and get instant gratification. Lately, since I blew my book budget during the pandemic, I’ve been downloading samples for free, getting one or two chapters in, and then adding books to my wish list to get at another time. That would be impossible for those who have to read straight through or who only read one book (as opposed to five) at a time.

Take a Nap, Have a Picnic

Bring a blanket (or that tablecloth you impulse bought back when you thought you’d be the kind of person to use tablecloths or eat at a table) and set up in one of the parks.

I can’t say this enough: Elizabeth Park and Bushnell Park are not the only options. You can find nice, shady spots in all of our parks. The only one I’d steer folks away from right now is Colt Park because the construction might be too loud and annoying for those wanting peace and quiet, but earplugs or headphones could drown out the machinery.

It’s weird that people will flood the park with picnics during the jazz festivals but forget that they can do this any day of the year. Anyway, it takes no effort to set up a spot that is six feet or more away from other people.