Here are a few ideas of things to do this VE Bank Holiday weekend in Leeds, Bradford and New York:

Fettle launches new takeaway service...

This week...

· Everything you need to do this bank holiday

· Snaffle an all-day brunch at home

· Give back to our NHS heroes

· New street food restaurant opens

· #SaveOurVenues

· Leeds Garden Centres doing deliveries

· 3 virtual pub quizzes you need to check out

· Even more restaurants reopen as takeaways

Everything You Need To Do This Bank Holiday Weekend

This isn't our usual bank holiday guide because this isn't your usual bank holiday. You can't go out, but you can still experience the best of Leeds with these virtual events. From live gigs to club nights, operas to ballets, there's a little something for everyone here.

The 21 Best Films on UK Netflix Right Now

Fettle’s Scrumptious All-day Brunch Is Back and Ready to Deliver to Your Door

Fettle is back, but this time, you can enjoy it at home because they've just launched a new takeaway service. Expect one-of-a-kind dishes like salt-baked carrots with Jerusalem artichoke crisps and indulgent crowd-pleasers like apple-slicked Pork Belly Benedict.

Support The NHS Heroes Working On the Frontline of the Pandemic in Leeds

There are 18,000 NHS workers at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and they all have an important role to play in beating the COVID-19 pandemic. Every day, they put their lives at risk, working in difficult conditions to care for patients. Want to show your appreciation? Here's how...

What's that? Even more takeaway options?

New to Leeds: Döner Summer

In the midst of the lockdown, Döner Summer opened its doors for collections and deliveries, so you can get a taste of their festival-worthy Berliner kebabs at home. We caught up with them to find out how it happened and what they're bringing to Leeds. Just wait until you see these epic kebabs – not only are they delicious, but they're 100% vegan too!

556 UK Venues Face Closure – Including Two in Leeds

10 Big Shows You Can Stream Online

The Leeds Garden Centres Delivering During Lockdown

We're all spending a lot more time in the garden this year, so you'd be forgiven for wanting to spruce it up a little. But how can you do it with non-essential shops closed? By ordering a delivery from one of these Leeds garden centres of course!

3 Virtual Pub Quizzes to Conquer During Lockdown

Bored of staying in? Want to get back to the pub? This is the next best thing – a virtual pub quiz with no queues at the bar. Stock up on beer, rope in your friends and enjoy a quiz-tastic evening of entertainment.

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Available to stream NOW!

"Leaves adults as well as kids gasping with wonder and surprise"
★★★★ — The Guardian

Our enchanting production of Jonathan Dove's Adventures of Pinocchio, which premiered in Leeds in 2007, is available to stream on Marquee TV who are currently offering a free 14-day trial. This adaptation of Carlo Collodi's familiar story follows Pinocchio's transformation from a puppet into a "real boy", but some surprising dark undertones lurk behind this charming fairy tale...

Expect 29 characters in epic costume, visionary sets, exhilarating sounds from the orchestra and chorus, and even a touch of magic! This is your chance to relive the breathtaking experience of theatre at home - and is the perfect introduction to opera for all the family!

Sewing for the NHS

With live performances and education work no longer possible, Opera North staff have been putting their creative skills to the best possible use by volunteering and helping those most in need, from sewing masks and arranging food parcels for vulnerable people, to teaching English as a Foreign Language online.

#IsolationArias

The results are in... We asked you to vote for your favourite aria from our YouTube playlist, and the winner is: the Queen of the Night's Act II aria from The Magic Flute!

Check out the latest instalment of #IsolationArias from our previous Music Director, Richard Farnes. His favourite pieces include one live performance that continues to go ahead – lockdown or no lockdown!

Watch Trouble in Tahiti

Were you able to join us for our YouTube premiere of Trouble in Tahiti this week? If you missed out, or simply want to experience the Island Magic all over again, our acclaimed production of Bernstein's one-act satire on the American dream will be available to stream on YouTube until 1 Jun 2020.

Watch online...

We hope you are enjoying our weekly delivery of fun, light-hearted content! Check out our website for online access to some of our productions and performances. If you use social media, follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and use the hashtag #OperaNorthAtHome.

Opera North Ltd.

46 New Briggate

Leeds

LS1 6NU

Box Office: 0113 223 3600

Registered Charity No. 511726

While we're closed, the Science Museum Group collection – and the inspirational stories it contains – remains open to you online.

We wanted to bring some of the joy of visiting the museum to your home, so that you and your family can enjoy fun-packed days in.

Create a Science Museum in Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the wholesome game everyone is talking about.

We've written a new blog showing you how you can put Science Museum Group objects into the game to create your own science museum.

Find out more

Games and Activities

BBC Bitesize

As well as great games from CBBC and useful online safety tips from Own It, the BBC are releasing daily lessons for all key stages on Bitesize, to help make home schooling simple.

Find out more

Rocket Mice

Learn about gravity and air pressure with this fun at-home activity.

For ages 5–11

Find out more

Family Film Night

If you're missing a trip to Pictureville Cinema, why not recreate some of the magic at home with one of these new releases.

Onward (U)

Join Ian and Barley on an epic journey.

Pixar's latest magical adventure is available to buy or rent online now.

Find out more

Scoob! (PG)

Scooby Doo is back with another mystery to solve. Can the gang work together to stop the dog-pocalypse?

Available to buy or rent from 15 May.

Find out more

The Science Museum’s online shop features a wide range of gifts, books, games, toys, science kits and more. Every purchase supports the National Science and Media Museum and the Science Museum Group, enabling us to continue with our work – maintaining our incredible collection and producing a range of activities and learning resources designed to inspire our visitors.

Visit the shop

Privacy

National Science and Media Museum, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 1NQ (as part of the Science Museum Group) is an exempt charity under the Second Schedule of the Charities Act of 1960 and is recognised as charitable by HM Revenue and Customs.

Join us this weekend!

Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th May

Saturday 9th May
UK: 6pm - 8pm | NY: 1pm - 3pm
Instagram Live @BradfordLitFest

Join a transatlantic line-up of incredible poets from across the UK and US for a night of unforgettable poetry raising money for charities on both sides of the pond. Hosted by New York poet Carlos Andres Gomez, this live event will also feature UK poets Nadine Aisha Jassat, Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa, Joelle Taylor, Nikita Gill and Ian McMillan alongside US poet Mahogany L. Browne.

This inspiring night of verse will celebrate the ties that bind us, as we raise much needed funds for Bradford Hospitals Charity in the UK and Food Bank for New York City in the US. Choose which charity to donate to, or donate to both, all information and links to the relevant web pages can be found below.

Simply follow us on Instagram @BradfordLitFest and tune in at 6pm to watch the event LIVE! Or make a donation now by clicking on the button below.

Make A Donation

Sunday 10th May
11am - 12pm
ww.myvlf.com

Tune in to MyVLF for our contribution to The Big Book Weekend! Join our awesome panel featuring Bidisha, Luan Goldie, Zoe Lambert and host Joelle Taylor, to discuss the anthology Resist: Stories of Uprising.

Resist charts two thousand years of British resistance, from Boudica to Blair Peach, from the Battle of Cable Street to the protests after the Grenfell Tower Fire. This panel will examine the history of women’s rebellion in Britain, by focusing on three works from the collection covering Boudica, the Ford Dagenham Women’s Strike, and Seeds of Hope. The discussion will be moderated by Joelle Taylor, who hitched a ride to the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp from her home in Lancashire as a teenager.

Find Out More

About Our Chosen Charities

We're working with Bradford Hospitals Charity to help provide care packages and support to the incredible NHS staff and volunteers working tirelessly to care for COVID-19 patients in Bradford.

Our fantastic host, Carlos Andrés Gómez, and fellow US Poet Mahogany L. Browne, both call New York home. In our first ever transatlantic event, we're also working with Food Bank for New York City to help with the increased need caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, keeping meals on the table for the growing number of New Yorkers in need.

Copyright © 2020 Bradford Literature Festival, All rights reserved.
www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk

Our mailing address is:

Bradford Literature Festival

Chesham Building

Richmond Road

University of Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP

United Kingdom

city of bradford metropolitan district council

Please celebrate VE Day 75 at home

A message from the Lord Mayor of Bradford

Lone Pipers, Toast to the nation and VE Day Service

At 2.55pm today a special video will be broadcast across our social media pages of lone pipers playing the lament Battle’s O’er and a piece of music specially commissioned to mark VE Day 75.
A toast to the nation will take place at 3pm, please raise your own toast by saying the following words “To those who gave so much, we thank you.”
From 3pm a special service will be broadcast on Bradford Cathedral’s You Tube channel

Sing-along to wartime classics

We've commissioned a 20 minute video of wartime songs for people to watch and sing-along with. This video has also been sent to all care homes in the Bradford district alongside a special message from the Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Doreen Lee.

Ways to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day at home

We have compiled a webpage of ideas and resources to help you to celebrate at home and also to help people to reflect on the enormous sacrifice, courage and determination of people from all walks of life and backgrounds who saw us through.

The latest additions to this page include:

Listen to Winston Churchill’s ‘This is your victory’ address to VE Day crowds
Read about the ‘Pie that defied Hitler’ JB Priestley told his listeners about the aftermath of an air-raid in Bradford

Do you need help or support?

If you need help or have a particular need please ring and talk to one of our friendly team who will take some details and pass them onto the relevant service. Call 01274 431000.

We can help by:

picking up shopping
delivering a food parcel to eligible people
ringing for a friendly chat
problem solving

See our website for more information about local support and volunteering to help others.

Are you concerned about someone's safety?

If you have a concern about the safety of a child or a vulnerable adult, do not keep it to yourself. Report your concern on the Safer Bradford website. We’re available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Or call:

For children 01274 435600 (01274 431010 out of office hours)
For adults 01274 431077 (01274 431010 out of office hours)
If someone is at immediate risk of harm call 999

Don’t think, “What if I’m wrong?”. Think, “What if I’m right!”

Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives

Only go outside for food, health reasons or essential work
Stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people
Wash your hands as soon as you get home

Stay safe while out for exercise

Please follow the Government’s advice when leaving your home for exercise and observe the 2 metre rule for staying a safe distance apart. For more information about where you can walk in the Bradford district, and how to stay safe while you do so, visit our public green space and rights of way guidance page.

Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service

Only call 111 if you cannot get help online. Use the NHS 111 online service if:

you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
your condition gets worse
your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

Use the 111 online coronavirus service at 111.nhs.uk/covid-19/

Helpful links

Government advice: what you need to do

NHS coronavirus advice and information

Bradford district coronavirus advice and information

Support for businesses

Manage your preferences or unsubscribe

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council · Bradford Council · City Hall · Bradford · BD1 1HY

Many performances, museums and venues have been closed and canceled so we've come up with a list of fun things to do while you're self-quarantining.

Being stuck inside doesn't mean that you have to miss out. With social-distancing in place, many of New York's artists, comedians, museums, businesses and venues are taking to the internet to provide entertainment, services and fun. Check out a free writing relief sesssion with Happy Creative Dig, newly released NYC Ballet performances and the blessing of the bicycles at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in New York

Best things to do in NYC this week

Photograph: Courtesy Happy Creative Dig

Things to do

Word Nonsense: A Writing Relief Webinar

Various locations, Hell's Kitchen May 13 2020-May 20 2020

This writing workshop is meant to be a shared community experience to help you find comfort in your words and relief in your thoughts. There's no experience needed—this is simply meant to bring people together and allow words to heal. Each workshop is set to the voice of a guest singer, so join in with a pen, paper, a glass of wine and an open mind. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to a relief fund. Mai Nguyen will lead the session this week.

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Sara Mearns and Gilbert Bolden III in New York City Ballet's Rotunda

Photograph: Courtesy Erin Baiano

News, Theater & Performance

NYC ballet troupes are streaming free performances and workouts

It's never been easier to catch the ballet than right now. This month, you'll be able to tap into the grace and elegance of the classical dance online as the New York City Ballet takes its spring season virtual by releasing performances each Tuesday and Friday evening at 8pm, new episodes of "City Ballet The Podcast" and putting on two series of workshops—"Ballet Essentials" (for all ages) and "Ballet Breaks" (for children ages 3 to 8) and "Wednesday with Wendy," a series of ballet-inspired movement classes taught by NYCB Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan. Here's the schedule of performances: Tuesday, May 5: George Balanchine’s Rubies from Jewels, filmed on September 19, 2019, featuring Megan Fairchild, Gonzalo Garcia, and Mira Nadon, in her debut. Introduced by NYCB Music Director Andrew Litton.Friday, May 8: Alexei Ratmansky’s Concerto DSCH, filmed on October 5, 2018, featuring Sara Mearns, Tyler Angle, Ashley Bouder, Gonzalo Garcia, Joaquin De Luz. Introduced by Choreographer Alexei Ratmansky. Tuesday, May 12: Jerome Robbins’ Afternoon of a Faun and “Spring” from The Four Seasons, and excerpts from George Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15, The Four Temperaments, and Western Symphony Friday, May 15: Justin Peck’s Pulcinella Variations You can access these for 72 hours after they're streamed on NYCB’s YouTube channel, Facebook page, and website at nycballet.com. Ballet Essentials Online NYCB's in-demand movement workshops will be online Mondays and Thursdays at 6pm.

Photograph: Courtesy The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation

News, City Life

Ellis Island will now personally help you research your ancestors at home

If you're looking to fall down a rabbit hole right now, follow the researchers at Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation has more than 65 million pieces of data you can cull through to find ancestors who may have come through the famous immigration hub. And if that seems too overwhelming, you can hand the reigns over to its staff, which is now offering to personally help you find more information. For just a $30 donation to the foundation—which, let's be honest, is a drop in the bucket compared to what other ancestry companies charge—they'll do the research for you. For the Dedicated Passenger Search Session, they'll ask for a name and some other information if you have it, including their year of birth, the port of their departure and where they lived in the U.S. If successful, they'll come back with the ship's manifest that details their nationality, where they came from, their age, marital status, the ship's name and more. You'll get a free digital copy of the ship manifest displaying your family member's arrival in America, and a physical one, once the office reopens, that they'll ship to you. An example of a ship manifest.Photograph: Courtesy The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation (If they aren't able to find anything, you'll receive a 10-percent-off promo code for any item in the foundation's shop and some tips to help you search elsewhere.) "The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation created the Dedicated Passenger Search Sess

Photograph: Courtesy Instagram/@viennyc

Art

Happy Hour Art Party

Various locations, Hell's Kitchen Until May 8 2020

Rockefeller Center has been hosting a weekly virtual Happy Hour Art Party featuring NYC artists each Friday on its Instagram account. This is the last of the series and will feature Hiba Schahbaz, who will do live illustrations of viewers’ favorite holiday destinations. Viewers can join in on the fun by submitting photos of views from their favorite holiday destinations to @rockefellercenter via Instagram direct message by 11 p.m on Thursday, May 7. After the party, Rockefeller Center will send viewers a digital copy of their new illustration to print at home and share with friends using #RCArtParty.

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WITH THANKS TO TIME OUT FOR THE NYC WEEKEND INFORMATION

Cathedral of St. John the Divine bike blessing

Photograph: Cathedral of St. John the Divine

Things to do

Blessing of the Bicycles

Various locations, Hell's Kitchen May 9 2020

Hundreds of commuters are expected to wheel to the Upper West Side for this annual gathering; simply bring a nonmotorized vehicle (including two-wheelers, scooters and even roller skates) to have it blessed by the Reverend Canon Thomas P. Miller.

Photograph: Courtesy Vocaberet

Things to do

Vocabaret

Various locations, Hell's Kitchen May 9 2020

The wordplay variety show at Caveat is back "a carousel" of games, presentations, live language challenges, interactive segments and special guests. This week's theme is "Puzzles." "We’ll cross swords over crosswords and piece together how language intersects with every other kind of puzzle (did you know every jigsaw puzzle piece shape has a name?), plus we’ll riddle your brain with famous word games and try some of our own, and explain once and for all why Wheel of Fortune truly sucks," organizers say. The show is free to watch, but donations to performers and Caveat are encouraged through the PayPal link on its YouTube page.

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Photograph: Shutterstock

News, City Life

Play virtual ping-pong with Spin

People are doing all kinds of weird stuff in their apartments right now. But if you’re sitting at home looking for ways to exercise that don't feel like a total drag, New York ping-pong spot Spin has launched a new initiative that takes table tennis to the virtual realm. No, it's not the traditional way you’d play a game of ping-pong. That is, if you tried to serve a ball back to a partner via Zoom, you’d likely crack your computer screen. We don’t recommend trying that at home! Rather, these ping-pong parties will combine a mixture of challenges, which according to a representative for Spin, might include things like balancing contests and related trivia. Knowing full well that many eager participants will likely not have the right equipment at home, Spin will even send attendees of the ping-pong parties—held via Zoom—free balls directly to their home. No paddle? They’re suggesting some quirky at-home substitutions like your phone (be careful!!!), a plate (be careful!!!) or the seemingly safest option, a hardcover book. To make it feel like the real deal, bringing your own workout cocktail is encouraged, while you dance to the provided party tunes. You can request to schedule a time with as many as 30 of your friends, provided that everyone is 18+. Here’s how to sign up, request a party date and get yourself that pro bono ball.

Photograph: Ken Howard

News, Theater & Performance

Watch Metropolitan Opera streams every night this week

The Met lineup for May 4 through May 10 includes classics by Mozart, Puccini and Richard Strauss. The operas go live each night on the Met's website at 7:30pm EDT; you can also see them through the Met Opera on Demand app on various devices. Each video remains viewable for 23 hours, until 6:30pm EDT the following day. The full schedule for Week 8 is below. Like last week's Aida, Friday night's Viewer's Choice predates the HD era, and it's a stone-cold classic: Puccini’s La Bohème, starring Renata Scotto and Luciano Pavarotti. Broadcast in 1977, this Bohème was the very first offering of the public-television series Live from the Met.

This week begins with a beloved 1998 performance of Mozart's opera buffa The Marriage of Figaro (not to be confused with Rossini's prequel, The Barber of Seville), starring Bryn Terfel, Cecilia Bartoli and Renée Fleming; it ends with the traditional "Cav & Pag" double bill of two short verismo works, Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci.

See the Empire State Building's special lightings to honor first responders

The lights on the Empire State Building have been busy lately, beaming out inspiring tributes to all of the New Yorkers who are courageously risking their lives during this time of crisis. This evening, the ESB goes even further, kicking off an eight-night series of new light shows under the rubric, #HEROESSHINEBRIGHT.

Organizers say that on each night from April 24 through May 2, the ESB will dedicate its tower lights to a different First Responder organization, shining in their representative colors to acknowledge their bravery and service. Furthermore, according to Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust, the campaign will cap off its run by going global. "Our tribute to the heroes on the front lines of our great city…will culminate with a worldwide show of support as the World Federation of Great Towers…spotlight the contributions of First Responders around the world." So, watch the skies, and if you want to know more, check out the complete schedule below. April 25 Blue/White/Blue in honor of Doctors, Nurses and the Medical Community
April 26 Blue/Orange/Blue in honor of Correction Officers
April 27 Split lights: north & south: Orange/Blue/White in honor of the U.S. Coast Guard; east & west: Blue/Gold/Blue in honor of the U.S. Navy
April 28 Yellow/Black/White in honor of the U.S. Army
April 29 Blue/Blue/Blue in honor of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
April 30 Yellow/Yellow/Yellow in honor of Essential Work

Photograph:

Listen to the NYC sounds you’ve been missing on this Spotify playlist

New York City has its own distinct soundtrack—a subway train moving out of a station, honking cabs, birds singing as you walk down the sidewalk, bicyclists whizzing by, the hum of voices in a crowded park—and we're all missing it right now. Luckily, there's a playlist for that. The New York Public Library, with Mother New York, just dropped a playlist on Spotify called "Missing Sounds of New York" so you can bring those iconic sounds to your apartment. RECOMMENDED: 10 videos of busy NYC streets for those who miss the crowds The eight-track list includes sounds from a glass breaking in a bar, a dance performance on the subway, cabs honking, bike messengers racing by, snippets of conversations, cooing pigeons, and the not-so-quiet of a branch library. The library recording actually follows a New Yorker entering a branch, running into a tour group, interacting with a helpful librarian looking to make a reading recommendation, walking past a toddler story time and sitting down to begin quiet work. Whether or not these sounds are part of what makes you love New York, the playlist is a cozy reminder of your life before the shutdown. "For 125 years, the Library has supported New Yorkers and, through its collections, chronicled the city’s day-to-day life," said Carrie Welch, the Library’s chief of external relations. "This album is a different and creative way we can help: providing an entertaining distraction that allows New Yorkers access to something we are all missing—many of the