Contagion: Real World Edition
Don't panic - facts, support, distraction & hand sanitizer are on the way!
March 2020:
How are you all doing friends? Countries on lock down, closed borders, quarantining, stocks plummeting…I barely liked the movie ‘Contagion’ the first time around. I am heartened by all the helpers & healthcare workers, as I am the people connecting through social worldwide or through windows to lift spirits, but also disheartened by corrupt politicians not doing their job & people not doing their part to keep others safe. My travel month was unexpected (as were many of yours while getting home), having just missed the terrible tornado in Nashville by a week in early March, and then scrambling to get back stateside from Europe after travel bans were rapidly put into effect. So hang in their kids, we are all in this together, if I can help you in some way please reach out, and wishing you all safety & health. xo
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What’s the good news (it took some searching)
FACTS: If you need real facts & updates, visit the CDC, WHO or Harvard Medical Resource Center
DONATE: There are plenty of places to help & donate to right now. In particular, Charity Navigator is a great tool that evaluates charities using a numbers-based system, Cherry Bombe Magazine has a list of resources for small/hospitality businesses, and the NY Times put together a good list too as well
Thousands of retired doctors, nurses, and mental health care workers sign up in one day to volunteer to join efforts in New York
Singing Italians & Spaniards from windows in the name of togetherness, and nightly pots banging to pay homage to healthcare workers
Chef José Andrés (along with other Chefs) doing the great work with his World Central Kitchen efforts with #ChefsForAmerica. Citymeals on Wheels too!
Christian Siriano and more designers & brands starting making masks & medical gowns for free as fast as possible during shortages
DJ D-Nice draws 160,000 people together on instagram live for his DJ set last Saturday, with more to come along with Questlove & more
Lovely musicians like John Legend, Chris Martin, Niall Horon & more have come together to perform on their instagrams for the WHO + Global Citizen messages, and many more like Ryan Bingham just to show solidarity & support
Let’s Travel (but only virtually please)
It’s a brutal time in the travel & hospitality industry (and beyond obviously), and the only place people should be adventuring to is their living room. PLEASE STAY HOME. So here are some things to read/see from there:
CM: Let’s start with my Conde Nast Traveler European travel misadventure story “How the Travel Ban Impacted a Cruise Ship Already at Sea”
Google Arts and Culture has partnered with more than 2,500 museums and galleries around the world in order to offer virtual tours and online displays of their collections
Try Babel to learn a language during this time
Culture Club
God bless Larry David and his new Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes. How’s your content binging going? (TV, movies, podcasts+)
Audiable, NY Library & more are offering thousands of free books to download
My friend Naz wrote a beautiful essay in Longreads about her childhood in Post-Revolution Iran
My friend Alan wrote this wonderful piece in Medium about his near death accident years ago, and the lessons that can be applied to this current crisis
A fantastic Fiona Apple profile by Emily Nussbaum in the New Yorker
Ozark fans rejoice! Season 3 will be released on Netflix March 27th
Watching the insane Netflix Documentary Tiger King confirms what we already knew: There are a lot of crazy people living in Oklahoma & Florida
Lots of free meditation (& yoga) available online or on instagram live. Visit The Big Quiet, Calm or Headspace for the former
Take a course or two on Udmey, Skillshare or Masterclass
Fight the good fight
Be like Diane Lockhart. Say no to fraud & incompetence, and yes to facts & helping others. There is much to say and do, but for now - be vigilant, stay safe & healthy!
Thank you for reading! Carrieamitchell.com
P.S. Here is your monthly cocktail recipe in honor of a great city going through a rough time: Manhattan