Oh, summer. We long for those endless days of sitting by the pool and driving with the windows rolled down. It seems those nights of cooking s’mores at a bonfire and having outdoor dinner parties cannot come soon enough. I always look forward to those hours with nothing to do after a long semester of tests and research papers. However, if you’re anything like me, sitting on the couch watching sitcoms gets old after a while and eventually that feeling of extreme boredom will begin to rear its ugly head. But don’t fret. This dilemma is easily avoided and I’m here to tell you how to never be bored in the summer of 2014, no matter where you are or how much time you have on your hands.
Events:
In Columbia: First Thursdays on Main is something I had never heard of until researching for this piece. It’s a monthly art crawl and streetfest that takes place on the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 10 pm. It features local merchants, music, art and is part of the initiative to revitalize downtown Columbia.
Outside of Columbia: Another great way to stay entertained throughout the summer is music festivals. These days, they’re pretty common. Though not exactly cheap. Bonnaroo, one of my most favorite festivals of all time, takes place in June in Tennessee. It’s certainly worth the cost and travel, believe me. I also love the line-up for the Governor’s Ball in NYC. A bit more of a trip, but still worth it.
If you’re a reader like me, there’s some really interesting books expected to be released this summer. Here are the books I’m most excited to get my hands on.
The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick (out now)
From the writer of Silver Lining’s Playbook comes a new story of unlikely characters coming together for a quest. The Good Luck of Right Now is the story of a character named Bartholomew and the journey to find his biological father following the death of his mother.
How Paris Became Paris: The Invention of the Modern City by Joan DeJean (out now) (Bloomsbury, March) – The birth of Paris in the 17th century.
This book goes into detail on what made this iconic city so iconic and the architects behind it. If you’ve been to Paris, always wanted to go, or just know of it as some cool city across the pond, this sounds like a really interesting read with some cool facts you may have never learned otherwise.
Some books I’ve read recently that I know to be good:
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
This book is an endeavor at around 1200 pages but if you like dystopian, 1984 themes paired with psychedelic, dream-like mystical realism and a unique love story, you will really enjoy it. I couldn’t put it down and ended up finishing it in about 5 days. Murakami is a genius and I am currently reading another of his books right now, Norwegian Wood.
This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz
This collection of short stories of dysfunctional love in the Dominican culture in New Jersey is both darkly humorous and enlightening. When I first read Diaz, I had no idea that Dominican culture is so unique. I read this collection in one day. Diaz has an addictive style, you won’t want to put it down.
Music:
I don’t know about you, but the albums that come out in April/May always seem to be the defining soundtrack to my summer. I’ve recently learned that two awesome bands are expected to release new albums around this time. You should definitely be on the look out.
Manchester Orchestra – Expected April 1
The Black Keys – Expected May 13
Movies:
The Fault in Our Stars – June 6
The widely acclaimed book we all know and love will be released in movie form this summer. It’s got a rockstar cast with Shailene Woodley and Willem Dafoe and is sure to bring tears to your eyes.
The Amazing Spider Man 2 – May 2
I don’t know who isn’t excited about the new Spider Man movie. What’s better than a great summer action movie with your favorite superhero? Nothing.
Random:
One last random way to stay entertained, more for the girls, is this cool website called Darby Smart. It’s a virtual craft club that sends each subscriber a monthly DIY project. It’s roughly $20/month to subscribe and is sure to keep you entertained. (darbysmart.com)
For guys, I think I’ve found the equivalent to crafting. Gizmo Crate is a monthly $30 subscription for gadget lovers and foodies and is described as containing a spectrum of the “weird, wonderful, and delectable.” Past items included in the Gizmo Crate have ranged from gourmet jerky to portable power decks and bluetooth speakers. It’s sure to keep you entertained on those long summer days. (gizmocrat
