Well, yesterday Sydneysiders found out that our COVID-induced lockdown will be extended until at least August, and Melbourne is going into a snap lockdown (the city’s 5th!) from midnight tonight, too.
With so far no “friend bubble” rules brought in for Greater Sydney’s lockdown, it’s tough — particularly for people living alone — to slog it out with no fun hangs with pals on the horizon.
That’s why we’ve rounded up a bunch of virtual / online activities for you to try out with your friends during lockdown.
6 Online / Virtual Classes For Lockdown:
1. Online Makeup Lessons
The makeup lords at Trinny London are doing virtual makeup appointments for you and your bestie. During the one-hour Zoom call, a Trinny London makeup artist will give you tips and tricks that you can follow along with, whether that’s nailing a smoky eye or learning subtle but shit-hot contour.
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The cost of the sesh (£45 GBP / approx. $83 AUD) is fully redeemable on Trinny London products, and you’ll get a voucher code emailed to you afterwards to buy up big. Head HERE to book an appointment.
2. Online Paint And Sip Sessions
When we’re not in lockdown, “paint and sip” experiences are super popular with groups of pals — and the good news is you can do them virtually. Pinot and Picasso is offering a $69.95 art box for NSW residents, which is all the gear you need to create a masterpiece from the safety of your abode.
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You and your mate can both order one and tune into a live-streamed or on-demand art class and get your abstract Impressionist on. BYO Pinot.
3. Online Cooking Classes
Lockdown + winter = a very strong urge to eat your body weight in pasta and drink an entire bottle of red wine. It’s science, don’t question me! If you feel like maybe getting something more out of this other than a very full stomach, why not join an online class where you make your own delicious gnocchi. Or if you’re more into Asian cuisine, DIY dumplings. Or even a fiery Indian curry if you want to get your steps up running to the loo all night. The possibilities are endless!
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Over at Class Bento, they have heaps of livestreamed cooking classes to pick from — the best bit is, they send you the kit so you don’t even need to leave the house to buy ingredients. Gladys and Kerry would be proud.
4. Online Pub Trivia
Aside from my best friend and going to the footy, the thing I miss most while in lockdown: PUB. I love the pub and also the freedom of just going there whenever I like. Oh, there’s trivia on? Don’t mind me while I SMASH IT. Luckily, like most other experiences, you can find pub trivia online. Isolation Trivia are running livestreamed trivia events that you can play along with at home, so (virtually) gather up your smartest mates, head along to the Isolation Trivia Facebook page, and keep that brain of yours active.
5. Online Wine Tasting
I may be showing my inner Wine Mom hand here, but sign me up for one of these immediately. RedBalloon offers virtual wine tasting experiences with Tractorless Vineyard, which definitely sounds like a fun online activity to do with your mates.
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For $40 Tractorless Vineyard will send you 10 x 50mL wine tasters to have at home, and you can either tune in for a live session or watch a pre-recorded one at your leisure. You’ll learn about the wines but most important you’ll get to taste 10 wines, too. Check it out HERE.
6. Online Pottery Classes
You and your mates can get your Demi Moore in Ghost on by throwing some clay this Friday night. Clay Sydney are doing Clay At Home kits for $55, with all the bits and pieces you need to create ~art~.
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Once your kit arrives, all you and your friends need to do is tune in at 7.30PM every Friday for their livestream Clay and Wine session. Or if you have other big plans on Friday (don’t wanna clash with your makeup class, after all) you can watch an on-demand video at a time that suits you.
Of course you can always invent your own stuff to do — last year I Zoomed with my best mate while we both watched the Survivor: All Stars finale. This weekend you could have a Harry Potter movie marathon now that it’s all on Netflix, or watch Bachelor on Wednesday night when it premieres. Or just fire up Zoom, pour a wine and cry. Whatever works!
