Social distancing can really put a crimp in your social life, but, since the only sensible thing to do in this time of crisis is to make the smart decision and stay home, it looks like we’ll all be sofa-bound for the foreseeable future.
However, just because Birmingham’s nightlife has paused doesn’t mean you have to. There are plenty of things you can do, that are entirely inside, to replace your old night out on the town activities.
In this article, we’ll be looking at some of Birmingham’s most famous distractions and how you can replicate them in the comfort of your own home.
Symphony Hall
So, you might not have 2,262 seats in your front room or have been voted the seventh-best concert-hall acoustics in the entire world, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a little music from the comfort of your own living room.
There are currently a huge number of musicians who are performing entire concerts online for you, such as the New York Metropolitan Opera, the Dropkick Murphys, John Legend, Bebe Rexha, Bastille, Evanescence, and even Yo-Yo Ma.
The Hippodrome
Many of Birmingham’s best-regarded famous theatres might be temporarily closed down, but, as the saying goes, the show must go on. There are plenty of theatre groups, opera companies, ballet troupes, and many other entertainers who are going out of their way to make sure you have something to watch, even if you can’t go to the theatre.
From the Seattle Symphony to Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera to Houston’s Alley Theatre, companies are putting on live broadcast online and making old shoes free to watch from the comfort of your own home.
Go Back in Time
You might not be able to head out on one of Birmingham’s famous walking tours at the moment, and touring the old Bird’s Custard factory in Digbeth or sampling the childish, but tasty delights of Birmingham’s world-famous Cadbury World might be off the cards, but that doesn’t mean you can get your history fix.
The Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., in particular, has some amazing content you can access online, including an exhibition on jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald and an informative timeline of how art made our everyday appliances more aesthetically beautiful.
If you love art, then you can also check out the 2.8 million images that the Smithsonian has chosen to upload onto an open-access platform online for anyone to click and view.
You can take a full Google Street tour of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, including a full audio presentation, in a variety of languages, that breaks down how the famous artist Rembrandt used light in his painting “The Night Watch”.
Pakistan’s Lahore Museum has recently uploaded images of its coin collection, which is considered to be the largest collection of rare and old coins in subcontinental Asia. A real treat for all the numismatists in Birmingham.
If you are interested in the history and culture of the Jewish people, the Jewish Museum has also put up mobile tours and audio recordings that cover over 4000 years of Jewish history and art.
Plenty to Do
As you can see, there is plenty to do even if you can’t make it outside. So, if you are missing some of the famous sights and attractions that Birmingham has to offer, just hop online and check out one of our suggestions.