Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with activities

Turn that frown upside down

handabear — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:58:48 -0800

What are some activities to do with an injured friend who needs to get out of the house? Aside from sex, what are some fun things that can I do with my buddy and his recently casted arm? He's fairly active and is bummed that he can't do everything that he used to with two arms.

All suggestions will be greatly appreciated, but bonus points if you can suggest an outdoor activity or something Seattle-specific! Thanks, mefites.

Fun activities for a couple at home

the_dude — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:35:25 -0800

RelationshipFilter: Help me find some good time activities to do at home with a prospective girl friend. Although I'm not very young, I didn't have many relationships -and you can read the gory details of a previous on on ask.MeFi- in the past and I'm a bit inexperienced in this field.

I've been getting pretty close with this girl recently. She's very relaxed, fun and cool in general. She seems to be interested in me as well but is trying to take things slow.

Nevertheless, being the summer, there's not much to do here. She mentioned just going to my place to chill. That's where the problem starts.

My place is pretty dull and bland; a classic urban lonely guy's apartment if you ask me. I've lived in dorms for the past 8 years of my life; I'm more comfortable when I'm either alone or just with lots of people. I rarely spend any quality time at home; I either read or surf while I'm at home.

What I'm worried about is if I invite her to my place; it just might be awkward. Would hive mind recommend some activities for just two people? Any cool games for the Wii or PS3 that's *casually* fun? Board games? It might not be the case and we can just talk for hours as we do most of the time but a few ideas would not hurt.

Thanks everyone in advance. I've always been critical of such questions since it reflects a sense of insecurity but I think hive mind is friendly enough to embrace me as I'm.

What to do in the Toronto area?

sumobob — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 03:14:27 -0800

I'm a 19 years guy moving to the Toronto area for the summer from LA and I'm just wondering what is there to do in this town? So I'm 19 years old and i just found out I'm going to be living with my uncle in toronto on summer holiday this year (for my school that means till the end of september). My Uncle lives in Pickering which im told is only about a 20 min drive from Toronto. Anyways, what is there to do in terms of nightlife in Toronto? Im coming from LA and am pretty into the electro and rave scene so I'm looking for nice clubs and bars that cater to these genres of music, as well as any music festivals that are going to be happening during this time. I'm basically your standard smoking drinking college student so another concern i have is how does the government up there regard recreational drug use? Are drugs on a schedule !, 2, and 3 basis like they are in The Us?

Help us enjoy a summer in Sacramento!

mahoganyslide — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:36:24 -0800

Help us enjoy a summer in Sacramento! Although I've been a resident of the Sacramento area for the past couple of years, the demands of college- and work-life have kept me busy and away from all of the potentially great things to be found here. Now that my girlfriend is coming to spend the summer with me, I'm at a loss of how we can spend our time beyond the wonderful personal moments to be had in a cozy couch, a welcoming cafe, a scrumptious restaurant, the frisky bed, etc. What are some of the relatively unknown, off-the-beaten-path, odd, and/or exciting activities/places we can enjoy together?

Even Google is at a loss of how to help me on this one, and so I now turn to you almighty hive mind!

How to not squander a summer?

mumbleitaliano — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:34:54 -0800

I just found out that the contract that I am working on will be ending at then end of the month. I'm elated. I've been in a rut for a while, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to shake things up. What now? I have no desire to find another job right away. I'm going to take the summer off. What should I do this summer? Life changing activities or just memorable fun. Bonus points for something that could generarate ideas for a new career to pursue eventually. I've looked into a few internships/programs but most are geared towards students (which I'm not).

The biggest limitation is that I have a puppy at home, and while I can find someone to watch him for a few days at a time, I can't just dump her on someone and jet off overseas for a few months (which is what I'd do otherwise).

I'm in the central U.S.

What's the plan, aunt paduasoy?

paduasoy — Sun, 25 May 2008 03:07:52 -0800

Things to do with a one year-old and a four-year old outside the house. I look after my nieces one day a week. They are aged fifteen months and four years. I do lots of art, craft and reading with them. We've been to the nearby exciting-things-to-do lots of times (libraries, art galleries, museums, adventure playgrounds, indoor play places), and we've been on lots of public transport ('buses, trains, boats) which the older one likes. I find I have to get out of the house with them or start going insane. Recently we did a treasure hunt at a nearby ruined abbey which worked well (I hid a few items and the older one looked for them whilst the younger one toddled around). I'm looking for other ideas like this - things we can do outside which will be new and interesting for the four year-old whilst being in a safe enough space that the younger one can get out of her buggy. The shore, forest, open grassland and city are all within reach.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, as my older niece has started saying "What is our plan for next week?" I answer "Well, I thought we'd do x" and she replies "And then what?" I do realise it can be fun just to sit and watch television or draw, but this doesn't take up a full day.

I've read "Things to do with toddlers and twos" but the older one is a bit past most of the activities in there. Other book suggestions would be welcome. I have looked at local children's activities like groups and classes, but found nothing suitable.

A Summer in Cambridge

saoyama — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:07:11 -0800

Help me take advantage of a summer living in Cambridge... I'm a rising Junior in college living in Cambridge, MA for the summer. I lucked out on an amazing place near Porter Square and Harvard Square. Other than working my summer job (nothing great, just cooking), I want to find some activities to fill up my relatively open schedule.

I don't know the area very well but I figure that with all of the businesses, schools, and organizations around the area people may have good suggestions for possible internships, volunteer work, interesting part-time work, interesting activities, etc.

I'm pretty open to anything, as I'm currently trying to find a new direction in life. I'm majoring in some field of science at school (still not sure) but I'm starting to have doubts about my interest in science. I know a little bit about a lot of things and with such broad interests, it's been hard to find something I can be very passionate about. I'm hoping that some summer experiences will change that.

Like I said, I'll consider anything. I'm across the street from the edge of the Harvard campus so if there is anything I can do there, it would be convenient just in terms of location. The redline is an 8 minute walk away so Boston is very accessible too. Thanks in advance, Metafilter!

I have no life...during the day.

sixcolors — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:24:32 -0800

I get bored and lonely on weekdays. What can I do? There seems to be a lot of "what can I do?" and "how do I meet people?" here on metafilter and other forums. I notice that a lot of answers tend to be night or weekend oriented, such as taking a class, going to a pub trivia night, playing team sports, or doing community service.

I have a part-time job, do community service, and have a pretty active social life. However, those activities tend to take place at night and/or the weekends. When I was in school (just finished), I only had class at night or the weekends. So, on my weekdays, I just surf the net. Every now and then, I watch TV, or go to Borders/library. Most of my friends and relatives have day jobs or day classes.

I get bored and VERY lonely. I even get depressed on occasion. Summertime is coming up and I don't want to go through another dull summer.

What to do for hours in a car?

Plug Dub In — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:27:01 -0800

My whole next week is basically a big long car ride (band's playin' out!). What kinda manual, car-friendly, non-electric things can I do to keep from losing my sanity? We're talkin' sitting for 5–15 hours at a time, with a few breaks (hah!) when it's my turn to drive. I'm bringing some books, but I'm afraid I'll get sick if I read too much in the car. Sketchbooks and some pens and pencils are pretty standard.

I'd like to do something potentially useful, learn some kind of crafty skill or some such thing. Should I pick up a book on crochet or something? Perhaps something more manly? Can blacksmithing be done in a car?

Gimme some ideas! Thanks!

What to do in Ontario??

saradarlin — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:33:34 -0800

We have recently moved to Waterloo Ontario from Vancouver BC and friends are coming to visit. What should we do with them??? Help! I really want them (and us) to have fun!! My husband and I have recently moved to Waterloo, Ontario from Vancouver, BC and our friends (a couple) who have never been East of Alberta are coming to visit us for a week in June. We are familiar with South-Western Ontario enough to know that we will take them to Niagara Falls and Toronto (suggestions welcome) but what else should we do? I am prepared to take a road trip for 3-4 days during this period. Guide us!

"And we did this! And we saw that! And I ate this thing...and then..."

913 — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:37:03 -0800

I want to give my friends the time of their lives. Give me some ideas for spur of the moment things to do. You know the times where you and a bunch of friends (or just one friend) are lounging about someone's flat or at a coffee shop with nothing to do? I want to break the lull and I'm looking for general spontaneous things that I could get my friends to do.

I'm not looking for location specific things as this tends to happen in small towns and large metropolitan areas. They can be games, activities, adventures (I love adventures), or really anything. Give me anecdotes of times gone by, thrills of the planned future, or whatever.

One small caveat, preferably things that won't take too much time to plan on a whim.

Rutty McRutterson

Stewriffic — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:33:41 -0800

Help me find new and/or offbeat things to do in central North Carolina--any suggestions? Bonus if it's just as easily enjoyed alone as with company. I'm finding I'm spending more and more time alone and online, due to my close friends mostly being wrapped up in their own stuff. I've also made a conscious decision recently to avoid a group of friend/acquaintances I have who have become more and more drama-filled. They're the ones, however, who are available for hanging out.

So this is my mission: finding ways to spend my time not on the damn internet, mostly on weekends, that don't require others (but could be done with others if they're available), where there could be the possibility of meeting new people, that are somewhere in the greater Triangle area, and that are on the inexpensive side.

Some things I do and/or like to do: 1) birding 2) gardening in my yard 3) crochet 4) camping 5) communing with nature 6) cooking. I'm 37 and silly but chill. I'm not particularly into going to shows/bars. Early to bed and all that.

General suggestions that would work anywhere are also welcome, but I'm mostly looking for specific-to-Central NC goodness.

Things for Chinese visitors to do while in one of the Flyover States?

ArgentCorvid — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:45:02 -0800

It's kind of the opposite of questions that have been asked in the past: What activities can you recommend for an American host to arrange for some Chinese Visitors? I work for a fairly large company with offices around the world. Some of the technicians that work in our sister lab in China have come to our facility in the US for training/face time with the rest of the team.

What kind of activities would we, as Americans, not even think about showing them, that they might not get to experience back home?

Were talking about the Corn Wastes of Iowa here, so "Go to the beach!" or "The Smithsonian!" are pretty much non-starters.

That is so effing cool!

mpls2 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:40:28 -0800

I'm bored. I'd like suggestions for interesting activies/missions that can be done in, say, less than 3 hours, do not cost a lot of money (< $25, but ideally free), and do not require practice to enjoy. The quirkier the better. The more non-illegal, the better, too. Basically, I'm at a loss for long-term type of hobbies/activities to pursue, but, in the meantime, I'd like to fill my time with non-boring experiences... the kinds that stories are made of.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Fun date outings for a native NYCer?

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:23:20 -0800

Please suggest fun date outings in Manhattan for a transplant and a New York City native. Anonymous as I've recently persuaded my gal pal to start reading the site. (email: mefianon100@gmail.com)

We're both in our mid-twenties; I'm a transplant but have knocked around New York for a few years, while she's lived here her entire life.

We typically meet up on Saturday afternoons, and frequently go out for dinner and see the occasional movie and show, but other more interesting ideas would be welcome. Things to do in Manhattan would be ideal.

She's very big into musicals (has seen nearly everything on Broadway and many things off), British comedy, good literature, and vegetarian fare. She's not so much interested in the local museums, the bar/club scene, or doing huge amounts of drinking and dancing. I've tried the board games and staying in bit, but after a long week, mental gymnastics isn't a huge amount of fun.

Ideas? HOPE ME, HIVEMIND!

I'm tryin' to make a new plan, Stan.

miss lynnster — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:10:19 -0800

Okay, so I had to DTMFA... now I need fun/cool ideas on how to occupy myself until I stop thinking about him. It was most definitely the right decision so I'm not in a bad place about it (Helped a lot that he didn't like dogs and I adore mine). Although I'm disappointed that it didn't work out, I'm actually in a good mood and don't have regrets. But every once in a while I start thinking about how cute he was and how much fun we had together and how maybe... maybe I was wrong. (No, Lynn. You weren't. Shut up.)

In order to eradicate those doubts I need to keep busy with fun stuff. I just spent a week in LA and had a blast so that was a great distraction but now I'm back in the Bay area for the moment. I have some work and some music activities which helps, but I want to keep as busy as possible during my free time. Soooo, what kind of fun classes/activities/excursions/adventures can I plan for myself right now while I'm waiting for my broken affections to subside? The busier I am and the more fun I'm having the better, I say.

I'm an artsy fartsy type of girl... into music, jazz, arts, movies, writing, cultural stuff, whatever. I'm up for all ideas but keep in mind I went to art school to avoid math, so no calculus lectures or anything like that... I'm already in enough pain, my friends. :)

So after we've ______'d the Cotswold sheep, then what?

robocop is bleeding — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:38:45 -0800

We will be spending one week in a rented cottage in Brize Norton, UK this coming May before heading over to ATP. We'll be close to Oxford, which is covered nicely online and in travel books, but are looking for additional activities and adventures that may be off the beaten path. Do you know of any online resources for locating cool things in that general area? Do you have any recommendations as for things to do or avoid?

It seems like most of the village-type online resources are of the 'not updated very often' variety for obvious reasons. This makes planning tricky, though. Since this is the Cotswolds, a lot of travel sites handwave and say "it's all good." We'd hate to find out we missed something super-awesome on our way back.

My wife and I are in our late twenties, will have a car, and have a penchant for: Old Things (ancient, medieval), Haunted Things, Pub Things, Bookish Things, Charming Things, and so on.

Bonus points for telling us the best location to try for a short ramble followed by a nice picnic lunch.

Rainy days and mondays always get me down.

Glitter Ninja — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:00:56 -0800

What are some fun things to do in the Columbia, SC area (especially this weekend)? My boyfriend will be in my city for the first time starting today, and will be leaving Monday afternoon. Aside from having dinner with my parents tonight, I have two days and nights I feel I need to make an interesting, worthwhile experience for him- except I barely know my home city!

I live in the Irmo area, about 10 minutes from downtown Columbia. Willing to go as far as West Columbia (but probably not Northeast), since I'm pretty much terrified of the interstate.

What's out: anything physical activity intensive (I have pretty chronic back pain from a car accident about a year and a half ago), sports-related things (neither of us is a fan).

The weather this weekend is supposed to be cloudy and rainy, so inside stuff is preferred, even though it's reasonably warm. Thanks in advance, Hive Mind! You always have the best answers. :)

Birthday party suggestions for a 60 y.o.?

imposster — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:34:13 -0800

Surprise birthday party for my 60 y.o. mother - what can we do to keep the guests up and mingling? The party will be in a secluded section of a local brew pub - 20 to 30 people (fairly lowkey). We're looking for interactive things to keep be occupied and interested while they wait a few minutes for the birthday girl and for the rest of the evening. Food will be provided and alcohol will be available.

Current ideas:
- station with some old pictures to look through
- digital camera set up for people to take pictures

This will be a restaurant, so we can't do things that require lots of space or sound, but we'd like to make it a comfortable, interesting evening for the guests (some of whom know each other, some of whom don't).

Making My Blog More Relevant

divabat — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 17:43:15 -0800

My blog is getting some significant attention and I'd like to make it more useful. How do I do so? My blog (in profile) is about a particularly niche-y subject - alternative education and youth, particularly in Malaysia. I was recently nominated for a high-profile youth award because of that blog, so myself and my blog have received some significant attention from the public. Some of the issues I have brought up on my blog are also (finally!) being considered by the Government and other people with considerable power.

I would like to build on this attention and make my blog more useful and relevant than it is now. I am looking not just at web content, but also related offline content and activities. What could I do?

Some ideas I have:

* A book (a few people have suggested this)
* Syndicated news articles
* Workshops / roadshows
* Education fairs
* Youth fund/scholarship
* Sponsorship with a bookstore to sponsor books for review

as you can see, they're rather long-term, so some things for the short/mid term would be good too. Also, due to my nomination, I've scored free web hosting for a year, so anything web-related would be great too.

Thanks!

What group activities can I sign up for in LA?

katillathehun — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:10:40 -0800

What are some activities in Los Angeles that I could sign up for and take part in on a regular basis with a group of other people? Some kind of weekly thing, maybe. The best example I can think of is something like a knitting club... but not specifically a knitting club because knitting just ain't my thing. I am thinking of something creative/arts-related, though. I just don't know of anything in particular that I could check out. Anyone in LA involved in or know of something like this that they can recommend? The back story: I just went through a painful breakup and don't really know what to do with myself. Pathetic, right? I mean, sure, I've got my own hobbies, but I really need to get *out* and interact with other people who aren't connected to the ex. You know, make some new friends, stay busy, stop feeling sorry for myself, stop watching Jane Austen movies...

acrobalance training?

rubberkey — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:36:31 -0800

Is it too late to get into Acrobalance? I'm only 18, but I feel maybe it is one of those things you have to do from early childhood. Have I missed the boat on it? Also, where would I start? I live in New York City if that matters/affects anything.

how do I met female

Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:57:21 -0800

Friends, there is no dignified way of saying this: I'd like advice on how/where to meet girls (in the DC area?), and/or how to signal attraction effectively. (LONG POST) Yes, I guess I've become one of THOSE askmefi posters.

I'm currently in the Washington DC area. I'm 19, which rules out bars, clubs, etc. I went to a local college last year, but I'm taking time off from college because (a) I couldn't stand the social atmosphere at the college I was attending and (b) I have lost pretty much all of my academic motivation in the past few years. So no college right now either. I've been trying to find a job, but without much luck so far. I'm confident I will get one eventually, though, which might ameliorate the situation somewhat. (Also, I went to a single sex high school, which was a hell of a lot of fun but made meeting girls a little more difficult than usual.)

This lack of places to interact is compounding a problem that I already have, which is apparently a complete ignorance of the laws of attraction, and an inability to recognize attraction or lack thereof.* I've never been in a relationship (or on a date, for that matter!), and there's only been one instance I'm aware of where a girl obviously flirted with me (if I recall correctly, she had just funneled her seventh beer and her boyfriend was standing about five feet away). I've asked a few girls out -- trying to be direct on a couple of occasions and more casual on other occasions -- but the answer has been no each time.

So basically, I can't decide whether (1) I'm missing some obvious piece of information that's crucial to dating, or whether (2) I'm just not meeting enough people. In case it's the second, could you recommend places or activities (particularly those in the Washington area) where I can meet girls of my age? I'm interested in photography, films/filmmaking, anthropology, singing, and soccer, so any activities or groups that emphasize those could be helpful. (Do colleges usually let non-students attend their club meetings?) And if it's the first, I have a feeling there's not much advice you can give me -- I'll probably just have to learn the ropes from trying and failing a few times.

*INTERNET MALE

A cure for malaise?

mullingitover — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:06:45 -0800

I'm looking for more fun than I'm entitled to. Safety, morality, and practicality are not concerns. I've back at home after taking spending my two brief weeks of vacation on Burning Man and Beijing, China. Both places offered something I realize is sorely lacking from my life: wonderful novelty combined with spontaneity and reckless disregard for safety and moderation. I'm back in LA and settling back into my now painfully boring life, and I'm realizing that a lot of my boredom is self-inflicted. I'd like to do something about that.

What can I do in that could fill me with wonder, terror, and/or giddiness? Price is not an object, but please exclude activities which are pre-packaged and homogenized. LA-centric things are very welcome, but I'm open to just about anything.

Gym for little ones

saucysault — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 06:47:10 -0800

Gym for 18-month-old children? I have been hired to teach a 45 min gym class to 18 month-old children and their parents once a week. I don't like gym. My first class I did a lot of songs that required actions (hokey pokey, ants go marching, etc) as well as an obstacle course and activites like having the parents form a bridge that the children had to go under and follow the leader. I've been told to make the class more active and cut the songs. I am not an active person (plus I am heavily pregnant) and I am having a hard time getting the 18-month-olds to follow directions or take turns (duh, they aren't even two yet). The class is followed by time in the pool and the children are clearly more focused on getting to that activity. My background is in early literacy, not gym. I have no budget and limited supplies (balls, scarves, parachute), what activites can I do with the little ones to tire them out?