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I’m looking for adult fiction or narrative nonfiction book recommendations for one of my in-laws who I help take care of. Stuff she has read and enjoyed include The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, the Tudor series by Philippa Gregory, and Lord of the Rings. Some more specifics inside. [more inside]
posted by eekernohan at 6:28 AM - 19 answers

I dream of taking my child to a miniature outdoor city like Safetyville, Welleby Park, or the traffic playground in Copenhagen. Where are there more of these outdoor mini-towns / roads for kids? (I'm in USA but outside the US is of interest too!)
posted by beyond_pink at 8:23 AM - 12 answers

I'm on the lookout for interesting classes or workshops to expand my skills and hobbies. I recently enjoyed a four-hour flower arrangement session where I got to bring home my creation, and I'm considering attending a matcha tea 101 class. I'm also interested in trying out lettering on the iPad. My friend suggested another place where you just sip wine and paint. What else is out there? [more inside]
posted by benimaru at 5:03 PM - 25 answers

Both my Dr and my therapist are supporting me in my claim for Disability Pension (Australia). In the interim, I'm receiving Jobseeker without obligation to seek work or volunteer. I was going great guns in my career when a series of unfortunate events disabled me. Now I have time on my hands but significant barriers to activities. How do I plan out my days, months, years for a fulfilling retirement? [more inside]
posted by b33j at 3:43 PM - 9 answers

My bike has been collecting dust since I got pregnant. I have it on good authority that Santa will be bringing my 6.5 year old a bike for Christmas. So we probably go on nearby trails and also take our bikes camping (our camping buddy is eager to take bikes). Can someone come to my garage and take my bike away and bring it back usable? How much will this cost me? Downtown Toronto. For added fun, I'm not sure where the bike lock keys are.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:52 AM - 9 answers

Instagram has been showing me videos by folks who use (mostly) hand tools to build stuff out of wood. This looks pretty awesome! I currently own extremely basic tools (hammer, set of wrenches, a screwdriver, one power drill). Is it possible to get into woodworking without thousands of dollars of equipment? I have no idea how to even get started. [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 8:53 AM - 14 answers

Im a guy in my forties, and have a female friend in her 40s too. We’re in NYC. She loves dancing - not club dancing but more ballroom type dancing though can’t imagine it needs to be that formal. I don’t dance well but would like to go dancing with her. Where can we go? [more inside]
posted by slide at 6:13 PM - 6 answers

Where can my son and I spend some time together outside, and maybe catch fish while doing so? [more inside]
posted by Arthur Vandelay at 9:43 AM - 7 answers

I have just bought a new bike for my child. To take it home, the front wheel needed to be removed. We took it for a test run and now the front wheel squeaks.. help? [more inside]
posted by Cannon Fodder at 11:36 AM - 5 answers

I've found that I really love certain elements of Metroidvania-like exploration in videogames that aren't themselves Metroidvanias. I want to find more of these but am having a hard time filtering out actual Metroidvanias. [more inside]
posted by littlegreen at 12:29 AM - 24 answers

For someone who's not quite ready for a tattoo, what's the next best thing? I love quotes and sayings and such and I would love to order, say, a custom poster or engrave some words on a custom bookmark or a keychain or what have you. Like, just something I can mount on my wall at home or carry around with me where I can read some healing words. So like a tattoo but not (yet)!
posted by thelasttango at 1:40 AM - 15 answers

So I bought some "liquid metal" fabric for some accent on a quilt. The pattern advises to use interfacing. The person at the fabric store advised that I get a needle for stretchy fabric to use on the liquid metal fabric. So I got the needle, but quick question: will that needle still go through when there's interfacing? Also, I'll be piecing the liquid metal+interfacing on to regular cotton, so what kind of needle to use then?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:59 PM - 5 answers

We are going to Boca and are looking for a place to practice our archery. We found The Owls Archery Club at the Florida Atlantic University and want to know if it’s open to non students. Alternatively do you know of any place in Boca we can pay to practice archery. We have our own equipment.
posted by Tziv at 7:46 AM - 3 answers

I am a very novice electric guitar player. I have had a low-end Fender electric guitar for a while but need a new practice amp. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed on what options make sense for my space and the kinds of music I want to play. [more inside]
posted by forkisbetter at 10:24 AM - 15 answers

I'm on the hunt for more crossword puzzles that are about as hard as a Saturday NYT or a Monday New Yorker. I already do the LAT and sometimes WSJ. Where are the other good — tough!!!!!! — x-words I can dig my nerdy teeth into? (I already know about the Times archive, and I'm not interested in cryptics.)
posted by Charity Garfein at 4:45 PM - 6 answers

My family likes jigsaw puzzles, but with quite specific parameters. What's the best/cheapest way for us to get our fix? [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:29 PM - 11 answers

I am a highly educated middle-aged person but I can't answer hardly any of the classic deck or even the 80s deck. [more inside]
posted by fingersandtoes at 6:48 PM - 8 answers

I can't quilt more than a couple of inches without bending my sewing machine needle and having to replace it. I bought special quilting needles and the first one lasted an inch. What happened???? [more inside]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:23 PM - 27 answers

I want to get better at "regular" dancing: Like not learn salsa or ballroom or something - I want to be better at the regular kind of dancing people might typically do at a club or party or wedding. How do I do this? [more inside]
posted by ManInSuit at 4:28 PM - 16 answers

My soon to be 10 year old wants to celebrate his first decade on this planet by inviting his 3 best friends over for a Godzilla movie, snacks, and games. What are some things that I can do, make or buy to make a kaiju-themed 10th birthday REALLY AWESOME? [more inside]
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 2:16 PM - 11 answers