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Adult Summer Reading 2020

Local Resources List

Every week our librarians will be taking you on a tour around the web with bonus links for our weekly theme.

Week One: What's Cooking

Our Top 10 Arlington Food and Cooking Resources 

 

  1. 1. Arlington County COVID-19 Food assistance
  2. 2. Cooking eBooks, free with your Library card and PIN 
  3. 3. Free virtual cooking classes with Cosmopolitan Plated  
  4. 4. Arlington Farmers Markets – Please check operating status before heading out 
  5. 5. Food to go – List of Restaurants offering take-out and delivery services* 
  6. 6. Master Gardner’s  virtual classroom 
  7. 7. Virtual Home Food Preservation class from the Virginia Cooperative Extension. 
  8. 8. Nestle’ free online baking series, Bake it Easy 
  9. 9. Arlington Public Schools’ Community Learning offers cooking classes for adults  
  10. 10. Cookology Cooking School—now in Ballston—offers cooking classes for adults and kids 

Week Two: Music & Arts

This week, library staffers selected ten of their favorite music & arts resources in Arlington.

  1. 1. Art on the Bus -  Artist Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. printed seven letter-pressed placards that honor Arlington, Virginia’s 60th anniversary of the seven lunch counter sit-ins from June 9 to June 22, 1960. 

  2. 2. Columbia Pike Drive-in Movie Nights  on Saturdays In July and August 

  3. 3. Bring Arlington Arts into your home with Arlington Arts at Home 

  1. 4. Discover Artist Resources to assist arts organizations, arts administrators and individual artists impacted by the COVID-19 crisis  

  1. 5. Listen to music and other programming on WERA, Arlington’s local Radio station      

  1. 6. Visit the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, now reopened to the public 

  1. 7. Experience American Art from Home with the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery 

  1. 8. The Arlington Cinema and Draft House has several live shows on their calendar this summer 

  1. 9. Listen to music playlist for our times, Search ArlingtonVALib on Spotify 

  1. 10. Go behind the scenes at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History with Lost at the Smithsonian, a podcast with Aasif Mandvi 

Week Three: The Great Outdoors

Our librarians will take you on a tour around the web with bonus links for our weekly theme. This week, library staffers selected ten of their nature resources in and around Arlington.

  1. Arlington County offer many Summer Park Programs in addition to their amazing parks, playgrounds, trails, and other amenities.
  2. Discover Arlington on foot. Download the PDF or the Sidewalk app for featured  WalkArlington walkabouts while learning about Arlington.
  3. Explore a National Park close to home. Visit the Kenilworth  Park and Aquatic Gardens to see the beautiful and amazing water lilies and lotus flowers.
  4. Use iNaturalist to discover the wildlife observed in your area. Search by species or location.
  5. Identify trees in your neighborhood or on your hike using the Virginia Tech dendrology app, available for iPhone or Android.
  6. Watch free nature documentaries and the PBS Nature series
  7. Can’t get out? Enjoy these virtual hikes, including 2 in Virginia from the Northern Virginia Magazine.
  8. Explore hiking trails in Virginia for kids, backpackers, waterfall lovers, and more
  9. Use location search to Explore the Forest(s) near you via hiking or biking
  10. Search and visit parks managed by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority

Week Four: Quarantine Pets

Our librarians will take you on a tour around the web with bonus links for our weekly theme. This week, library staffers selected ten local and online resources for pet owners and animal lovers: 

  1. Adopt a pet or donate to support the Animal Welfare League of Arlington 
  2. Keep your pets safe by reviewing hot weather related safety tips from the ASPCA 
  3. Enjoy one of these dog friendly hikes posted in the Northern Virginia Magazine and the official Virginia blog. 
  4. Attract and observe birds in your own backyard with these resources from the Audubon  Society 
  5. Visit the animals at the zoo and national parks from home with the National Zoo and National Park Service webcams  
  6. Let your dog stretch their legs while you practice social distancing at Arlington Dog Parks (Keep at least six feet of distance from others and groups should not exceed 50 people. Wearing a cloth face covering is encouraged.) 
  7. Listen to the Can I Pet Your Dog podcast for a comedic discussion of all things dog. 
  8. Explore the Animal Veterinary Medical Association’s resources on Animal Welfare for companion animals 
  9. Learn about honeybees and starting your own hive with the Northern Virgina Beekeepers  Association 
  10. Watch local wildlife with Chesapeake Conservancy webcams 

Week Five: Getting Crafty

Our librarians will take you on a tour around the web with bonus links for our weekly theme. This week, library staffers selected ten local and online resources for makers and crafters: 

  1. Join the Arlington Public Library for free staff led virtual maker programs 

  1. Use Lynda.com free with your Library card and Password to learn a new maker skill such as 3D design, animation, or photography 

  1. Explore the Arlington Arts Center’s online classes for kids and adults 

  1. Follow step-by-step free DIY instructions, developed by DIYers for DIYers on Instructables 

  1. Learn how to create movies and animation in an Arlington Independent Media online class 

  1. Sew your own masks and make some to donate to the Million Mask Challenge 

  1. Attend an online class through The Art League in Alexandria 

  1. Follow sustainable living tips and advice with many DIY projects from Mother Earth News 

  1. Listen to Love to Sew, a fun weekly podcast about making clothes, the sewing community, and small business 

  1.  Shop and donate crafting supplies by appointment at Upcycle 

Week Six: Sports

Our librarians will take you on a tour around the web with bonus links for our weekly theme. This week, library staffers selected ten local and online resources for sports lovers: 

  1. Explore and register for an Arlington County sports league or drop-in 

  1. Navigate the confusing news about which sorts are postponed, rescheduled or playing  

  1. Keep up with the latest sports news; listen to a sports podcast 

  1. Join a local fall social sports league through DC Fray 

  1. Follow the PGA tour this summer and fall 

  1. COVID proof your fantasy football league 

  1. Enjoy the batting cages and a game of minigolf at Upton Hill Regional Park (the swimming pool is closed for the 2020 summer season) 

  1. Love baseball? Try the Korean baseball leauge  

  1. Missing your sport? Keep fit with Walk Virginia - great walking ideas, trails, and inspiration 

  1. Catch a Washington National' s or Washington Football Team game