Virtual Things to Do in in April: Livestream Events for Each Day This Month

By Alison Durkee

April is here—and we’re facing a month that’s much different than any one we’ve experienced before. But while you may not be able to get out to explore the city and its venues, that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to still enjoy (virtually). Spend your social distancing period with these upcoming talks and events, which span everything from animals to the arts.

Wednesday, April 1. Take a bite of the biblical milk-and-meat taboo, the first vegetarian practices, and the invention of the restaurant as Ben Katchor (Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer) presents his latest book, The Dairy RestaurantGreenlight Bookstore.

Thursday, April 2. Jazz up your quarantine with this webinar and listening party celebrating the history of jazz in New York City.

Friday, April 3. Laugh out loud at this standup comedy showcase, presented via Zoom.

Courtesy Brooklyn Museum.

Saturday, April 4. Keep up your museumgoing—virtually—with the Brooklyn Museum’s monthly Target First Saturday series, which will take place online this month and feature music, performances, an art demonstration, and more.

Sunday, April 5. You “can do” this virtual event focused on the Brooklyn Navy Yard as it was during World War II, featuring stories about the “The Can-Do Yard.”

Monday, April 6. Honor groundbreaking playwright Terrence McNally, who passed away from COVID-19, with this virtual reading of his play Lips Together, Teeth Apart, which will feature a star-studded Broadway cast and benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.

Tuesday, April 7Monkey around with this virtual meet and greet with animals and zookeepers from the Staten Island Zoo.

Wednesday, April 8. Dress up for this webinar exploring 200 years of New York City fashion.

Thursday, April 9. Pop the cork at this virtual wine crash course with Sommelier Amy Karasavas.

Friday, April 10Be a “Master of None” at this conversation with television creator Alan Yang about his work and upcoming Netflix film Tigertail. 92nd Street Y.

Saturday, April 11Bring together the worlds of art and science with this online conversation with the founders of BioBAT Art Space, an art gallery based at a nonprofit incubator for biotech labs.

Sunday, April 12. Groove along to Live Classic Albums Sundays, which delves into the story behind a classic album—in this case, Alice Coltrane’s ‘Journey in Satchidanda’—before presenting it in its entirety.

Monday, April 13. Become well “versed” at this recurring virtual event on zen and the art of architecture, music, poetry, and photography, which this week will feature poet Campbell McGrath.

Tuesday, April 14. Double tap this virtual event with No Filter author Sarah Frier on Instagram, influencers, and culture. Company HQ.

Wednesday, April 15. Stick together at this event on mutual aid and solidarity in a time of crisis.

Thursday, April 16. Get your kicks with this virtual photographic tour of Route 66.

Friday, April 17. Connect to TED Connects: Community and Hope, a live, daily conversation with experts about how to get through this uncertain time.

Saturday, April 18. Prepare for Earth Day as the Newark Museum of Art will host journalist Valentina Giannella for a Q&A about her recent environmental book We Are All Greta.

Sunday, April 19. Pay your respects at this virtual event marking New York’s annual gathering of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust. Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Monday, April 20. Get “physics”-al at this conversation with quantum physicist and The World According to Physics author Jim Al-Khalili about what physics reveals about the world. New York Academy of Sciences.

Tuesday, April 21. If music be the food of love, play on with this remote class on Shakespeare’s Kitchen and the feasts of the Bard’s day. 92nd Street Y.

Wednesday, April 22. Stay healthy for this livestream covering new developments in the COVID-19 outbreak. New York Academy of Sciences.

Thursday, April 23. Create your way to Recess’s No Time Like the Present virtual event, a series of programs on Thursdays that feature various artist-led activities. Recess.

Friday, April 24. Play the cards you’re dealt with this online workshop on tarot and how to engage the tarot archetypes for growth and healing. New York Open Center.

Saturday, April 25. Sing out with a stream from the Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series, which are released nightly for opera lovers to enjoy at home.

Sunday, April 26. “Stock” up on advice from Mad Money host Jim Cramer at this event covering how to invest in 2020 amid the current financial turmoil. 92nd Street Y.

Monday, April 27. Go behind the music at this Bach-focused series with pianist Jeremy Denk, which in this session will delve into the famed composer’s life and the person behind the famous works. The Greene Space.

Tuesday, April 28. Think before you eat at this event with Paloma Martinez-Cruz, author of Food Fight! Millennial Mestizaje Meets the Culinary Marketplace, about ethical choices in food production and consumption and the social inequalities of U.S. and mestizo food chains. The New School.

Wednesday, April 29. Drink up this deep dive into bourbon and its history with culinary historian Sarah Lohman and resident food scientist Jonathan Soma. Caveat.

Thursday, April 30. Design a way to tune into this talk on Jewish contributions to midcentury modernism in the aftermath of World War II, as Jewish émigré architects and designers from Europe were welcomed into the U.S.’s creative communities. Center for Jewish History.

For a printable PDF of the April 2020 calendar, click here.


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