The New York Times - USA (2020-11-15)

2 D THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2020

Thank you for your article last Sunday

that discussed different ways grandpar-

ents could engage with their grandchil-

dren during the pandemic. Since April,

my mother has been playing Lexulous

(a British word game that is similar to

Scrabble) with my son and nephew

(both 7) almost daily. It gives them a

regular time to be together and to inter-

act without the pressure of just looking

at a screen and trying to figure out what

to say — tidbits of personal information

pepper the game play, making it a time

to both compete and catch up. Both

boys have developed incredible vocabu-

laries as a result of the game, and I have

had the precious opportunity to hear my

mother and nephew’s voices and laugh-

ter ring through my house over the last

seven months. It has been a silver lining

for all of us during this isolating time.

SAMANTHA ANDERSEN, PROVIDENCE, R.I.

Your mini crossword puzzles are perfect

for reminding my mom that, except for

short-term memory loss, her brain is

working well. Locked down in her room

due to a Covid-19 case in her “village,”

she can, at age 93, still meet me on Face-

Time. I talk her through the clues and

spaces and allow her plenty of time to

give an answer, although often she is

faster than I am. We work around the

modern clues, but in a pinch I will sup-

ply the name of a rapper or an app. Be-

fore long, I can hold the puzzle up to the

camera and say, “We did it!” On good

days, we do two puzzles.

NINA FELLIN, STATE COLLEGE, PA.

We loved doing this activity. It was easy,

and the finished marble run was

very satisfying.

WILLA CRYSTAL, BROOKYLN

TALK TO US

Playing Games

Across Generations

Readers are competing

and collaborating to

stay connected.

These letters have been lightly edited
for length and clarity.

MONDAY

16

Hear how Carmen Maria Machado

and Laura Markswrote their first

graphic novels during a free conver-

sation from Brooklyn’s Greenlight

Bookstore. Ms. Machado is an author

and memoirist, and Ms. Marks is a

playwright and screenwriter.

When 7:30 p.m. Eastern

Wheregreenlightbookstore.com

Stream a free performanceby the

Martha Graham Dance Company.

First is “Appalachian Spring,” a clas-

sic by Graham from 1944; then, “The

Auditions,” new last year.

When Anytime

Whereallarts.org/programs

/peak-hd

TUESDAY

17

Take notes as Margaret Atwood

ruminates on love, loss and...

zombiesin a virtual discussion

through the Portland Book Festival.

These topics are part of her newest

collection of poetry, “Dearly,” which

was released last week. The author

Karen Russell joins Ms. Atwood in

conversation. A purchase of “Dearly”

from Powell’s is required to join the

event, and tickets must be purchased

by 8 p.m. on Monday.

When 8:30 p.m. Eastern

Where powells.com/eventsupdate

WEDNESDAY

18

Meet sixfurry and scaly creatures

from the Staten Island Zoowith the

New York Adventure Club. You’ll learn

about each animal and may even

catch glimpses of Dunkin the sloth

and Diamond the carpet python.

Zookeepers will be available to an-

swer questions throughout the expe-

rience. The event will be available to

stream for a week after the broad-

cast. Tickets are $10.

When3 p.m. Eastern

Wherenyadventureclub.com

THURSDAY

19

Raise a glass to the artist Georgia

O’Keeffe, whose birthday was Sun-

day. You’ll learn to make a drink

inspired by her and about her life.

Reservation required and donation is

recommended.

When6:30 p.m. Eastern

Wherenmwa.org

Listen to Sophie Allison, a.k.a. Soc-

cer Mommy, during a free virtual

concert with the City Parks Founda-

tion’s SummerStage program. Ms.

Allison’s album, “Color Theory,” came

out in February, but the performance

is her first with a full band since then.

When7 p.m. Eastern

Wherecityparksfoundation.org

/events/soccer-mommy

FRIDAY

20

Be swept away by “Chaconne,”a

performance that kicks off the season

of the American Classical Orchestra

with pieces by Claudio Monteverdi,

Barbara Strozzi and Henry Purcell.

Recorded at the Harlem Parish, the

project can be streamed until Dec. 1.

Suggested donation is $25.

When 7:30 p.m. Eastern until Dec. 1

Where aconyc.org/2021-season

Dive into music history with the“Lost

Notes” podcast. This season, the

critic Hanif Abdurraqib digs into

1980, when Joy Division’s Ian Curtis

died and Grace Jones moved into

New Wave.

WhenAnytime

Wherekcrw.com/culture/shows

/lost-notes

SATURDAY

21

Learn to make scallion pancakes

with the chef and food blogger Lisa

Lin during a 90-minute seminar. After

registration, participants will gain

access to the recipe for the pancakes

and their sauce, so they can source

ingredients in advance. The virtual

cooking class costs $25 and is a

fund-raiser for the Food Literacy

Center, a Sacramento-based non-

profit that instructs elementary-

school-aged children in low-income

communities about cooking and

nutrition.

When3 p.m. Eastern

Where cookwithchibo.com

/foodliteracycenter

SUNDAY

22

Revel in the work of the West African

choreographer and dancer Omari

Wiles, founder and artistic director of

Les Ballet Afrik. As homage to the

30th anniversary of the documentary

“Paris Is Burning,” Works and Process

at the Guggenheim and Lincoln

Center copresent Mr. Wiles’s pre-

miere video of “New York Is Burn-

ing.” The work, which is free to

watch, combines traditional African

and Afrobeat styles with house

dance, vogueing (imitating models in

fashion magazines and on runways)

and ballroom.

When Will be available to stream

after 7:30 p.m. Eastern

Wherelincolncenter.org

Spend the week reveling in classic dance, admiring a

sloth or listening to Soccer Mommy.

BY ADRIANA BALSAMO AND KATHERINE CUSUMANO

Put Together

Scallion Pancakes

Or an Arty Cocktail

ILLUSTRATIONS

BY NADIA HAFID

On the Cover“So much of my work is about illustrating historic buildings faithfully, so it was

a nice break to draw a contemporary apartment building wildly and with detail. Snakes in the

elevator? A bird on a cigarette break? A nearly impossible-to-navigate path? Yes, please.”

— Raymond Biesinger, artist

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CorrectionA calendar item last Sunday misstated the name of a lecturer on the history of X-rays at the Mütter

Museum on Nov. 11. He was David J. Allard, not David J. Ballard.