March 4, 2021
When a pandemic stops you from seeing the world, you may as well become a tourist in your own backyard.
That’s the mantra adopted by Sophie Crafts, an educator in the Cambridge Public Schools system, who is nearly done with a unique “pandemic project”: Walking every single street of the People’s Republic.
“When we went into lockdown last spring, I started going for daily walks like a lot of people as a chance to get out of the house, get some fresh air, and some exercise,” Crafts said. “But I realized I didn’t actually know my neighborhood that well.”
Local musicians can’t play live, but that hasn’t stopped those who typically organize benefit concerts at this time of year from helping neighbors in need.
Both the Cape Cod Christmas Cavalcade and Yule for Fuel featuring dozens of performers among them are back in a virtual way this year. Online compilations of numbers from past shows are available to watch, with hopes that you’ll also donate to help people who are having trouble paying for housing and paying fuel bills. Watch for some live online appearances and 2020 surprises.
Another online concert put together by various acts aims to help buy food for employees in the hospitality industry hit hard by the effect of COVID-19 on travel.