How To Experience Brookline Online

By Celina Colby

Greater Boston may be slowly starting to test the waters of reopening, but many residents aren’t feeling ready to re-enter shops and city spaces. Fortunately, there’s a way to reconnect with the community socially, without having to leave the safety of your own home. Here are a few leisure activities you can enjoy from your couch.

A Screening With the Coolidge Corner Theatre
Coolidge Corner Theater’s physical building may be closed, but it hasn’t stopped bringing great films to Brookline. You can rent movies from the Coolidge website to watch on your own time, there’s a fantastic selection of documentaries and indie films or participate in a live Coolidge event. For example, their education series provides a pre-taped lecture about a film, which you watch on your own as well as the movie itself. Then you join a live, virtual conversation with other viewers to discuss.

Art Classes With the Brookline Arts Center
If quarantine has revved up your creative juices, try taking a virtual art class with the Brookline Art Center. Summer intensives will be held via Zoom in ceramics, jewelry making, and painting, as well as kids’ classes. You can also choose to do private lessons one-on-one with a teacher to hone specific skills. Or make a customized class, available for all ages in one, two, or three-hour blocks for $25 per hour. This is a great option to test out the arts without committing to a several week-long course.

Attend a Brookline Town Meeting
Have you been missing watching change happen at Select Board and School Committee Meetings? Don’t let those decisions get made behind closed doors! The Brookline Interactive Group live streams committee and board meetings on Facebook and Youtube. They also have a Municipal channel on their website with up-to-date information about re-opening and COVID-19 safety requirements. If you miss a meeting they’re available in an archive on the YouTube channel.

Author Talks With Brookline Booksmith
The Booksmith hasn’t slowed down its immense schedule of programming. They’re now live streaming author talks and children’s storytime online. Be sure to register in advance and prior to the event the Booksmith will send you a link to the videoconference. Audience members can engage with each other via a chat feature during the talk and with the authors using a Q&A tool. And, of course, all of the books discussed are available for purchase at Brookline Booksmith, now offering curbside pick up again as well as delivery.

Yoga with The Public Library of Brookline
Every Friday, The Public Library of Brookline hosts a virtual chair yoga class taught by Keith Beasley. We could probably all use a little deep breathing during this challenging time. The class is held via Zoom and is friendly for all skill levels. If yoga isn’t your thing, the library has a robust calendar of other online activities including English and Italian classes, Queer Film Club, a Knitting Circle, Children’s storytime, and many others.

With the near-limitless event options here in Brookline it will feel like your social calendar is even more booked than before COVID-19! See you around the online neighborhood.

BrooklineHub.com is a 501C3 non-profit dedicated to reporting and commenting on life, culture and community in Brookline. As part of our mission, we advocate for non-profits vital in making this a better place to live, and by sponsoring and supporting events that promote community-building. We hold the belief that as a community, we should foster the well-being of all, remaining mindful of our young people, seniors, and underprivileged.