Friday Fun – Page 10 – Salem Happenings

The Story of Your Life (or Someone Else’s)

Has your life been one long series of unfortunate events? Have you ever had something spiral out of control to the point that everyone was making much ado about nothing. Have you ever met someone that seemed like Dr. Jekyll one moment and Mr. or Mrs. Hyde the next? Do you have a great story to tell?

Well, if you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be looking for a way to convey your story. A way to tell others what you have experienced or show them a world that they have never seen before. A way to demonstrate something new or something that you have re-imagined in a way that only you could. And, if this is indeed the case and you’re looking for a way to pass your story on to others, there are a couple of writing workshops this weekend that are sure to help you convey your story through the written word.

First, if you’re looking for a way to tell your life story or a story that is at least based on an aspect of your life, you may want to check out the Write Your Life Memoir Writing Workshop at the Brushstrokes Art Gallery in Marblehead, MA. The Write Your Life Memoir Writing Workshop, which is scheduled to take place from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Saturday (March 28, 2015) is a writing workshop run by Scribbler’s Ink. This workshop will feature a catered lunch, snacks, beverages, and most importantly, writing exercises and techniques that are designed to help you take a single event from your life or a group of events and weave them into a story. For more information on the Write Your Life Memoir Writing Workshop and/or to register for the event, please visit the Scribbler’s Ink website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a way to write a very short story whether it is fact of fiction, the Flash Fiction Workshop may be exactly what you’re looking for. The Flash Fiction Workshop, which is scheduled to take place at the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. on Saturday (March 28, 2015), is a writing workshop hosted by JP Reads. This workshop will teach you the basic elements of flash fiction and use a series of writing exercises and prompts to help you create your own piece of flash fiction centered around the theme of a “reluctant hero.” Best of all, this workshop is completely free and open to all teens and adults (although space is limited, so you may want to preregister.) For more information on the Flash Fiction Workshop, please visit the Flash Fiction Workshop Facebook page or call 617-524-2053.

Photo credit: William Arthur Fine Stationery / Foter / CC BY-ND

The First Day of Spring

Today may be the first day of spring, but it certainly doesn’t look like it. In fact, looking out the window at the lightly falling snow, it looks a lot more like the first day of winter than the day that all of the buds are supposed to start becoming flowers once again. Some might even go as far as to say that it feels like we’re stuck in our own version of Groundhog Day reliving the same weather over and over again (and, who knows, maybe that’s what the groundhog was trying to say when he bit the mayor.) Fortunately, winter will eventually come to an end, and we’ll be able to start complaining about 90 degrees days and the fact that we could probably cook an egg on the sidewalk. However, until then, if you’re looking for a way to get outside and have some fun, you may want to check out the Revere Spring Carnival.

The Revere Spring Carnival, which is located in the Showcase Cinemas parking lot at 565 Squire Road in Revere, is a three-week event sponsored by the McCarthy-Trifone Recreation Committee. This event will feature all of your typical carnival fare, including rides, games, food, and a petting zoo. The Revere Spring Carnival is scheduled to open this Thursday (March 26, 2015) and will continue operating daily until April 19, 2015. For more information on the Carnival, please visit the Fiesta Shows website.

If, on the other hand, you’re really looking for something to do this weekend and/or you would prefer an activity that is more environmentally friendly, you may want to head over to the Franklin Park Zoo. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo is holding their World Water Day Celebration from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Sunday (March 22, 2015.) This celebration will not only allow to you see all of the animals and engage in all of the fun that the zoo typically offers but will also teach you about the different ways that the zoo attempts to conserve water and the ways that you may be able to help conserve water at home. And, if that wasn’t enough, there will even be hands-on activities conducted by staff from the New England Aquarium. For more information on the World Water Day Celebration at Franklin Park Zoo, which is included in the zoo’s normal admission price, please visit the Zoo New England Events page.

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Finding the Luck of the Irish

There’s really no doubt that it’s been a tough winter, and if you’re like most people, you probably would like spring to get here a little faster and put an end to all of this frozen water. In fact, if you fell on the ice skating rink that was once your driveway, you lost all four of your car’s tires in the world’s largest pothole, lost all ten of your fingers to frostbite while you were shoveling snow with a wind chill of 30 below, or your roof just caved in from the weight of the melting ice and snow, you may be in need of some luck. Fortunately, Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and all of the festivities and hopefully some of that luck that you’re looking for, can actually be found this weekend.

First, if you’ve always loved a good parade and/or you’re looking for a way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with a huge crowd of people, there’s no better place to be than South Boston this weekend. This is because the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, which starts on West Broadway Street near the Broadway T stop and ends on East Broadway Street near Farragut Road, is scheduled to begin at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday (March 15, 2015.) This parade will allow you and family, friends, and/or acquaintances to listen to Irish music and marching bands, see everything from professional athletes to stormtroopers, and maybe even get some cool Saint Patrick’s Day swag. For more information on the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, please visit the Official South Boston Parade website.

Secondly, if you’re not really a big fan of parades or you just prefer animals to humans, you may want to check out the Franklin Park Zoo or the Stone Zoo this weekend. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo are hosting their annual Saint Patrick’s Day Animal Enrichment Celebration from 10:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. at the Franklin the Park Zoo and 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. at the Stone Zoo on Sunday (March 15, 2015.) This celebration will let you see a bunch of the animals playing with special green-themed toys and/or eating special green food in honor of Saint Patrick’s Day. For more information on the Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration at the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo, please visit the Zoo New England website.

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Exploring Artistic Masterpieces

Art comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Acting, animation, dancing, music, movies, photography, pottery, painting, video game design, writing, and even Lego building can all be considered art forms. However, even though most people will experience a number of these art forms during their lifetimes, many people are never really exposed to the works of true masters. In fact, when most people think of artistic masters, they think of dusty paintings hanging in museums and/or long-since-dead guys that must have been dull and boring. But, this is really pretty unfortunate because there are a number of works, both old and new, that are truly amazing. Fortunately, if you are interested in exploring some really impressive artwork or even trying your hand at getting involved in making your own, there are several events this weekend that you will definitely want to check out.

First, if you’d really like to see the works of true masters and/or you would like to see all of the work that goes into preserving an artistic masterpiece, the Davis Museum at Wellesley College has the exhibit for you. This is because the Davis Museum has a special exhibit from now until June 7, 2015 entitled “Hanging with Old Masters: The Reinstallation of the Davis Museum.” This exhibit will allow you to see the artistic works of famous Italian painters and see how the museum actually preserves each painting, chooses which paintings are displayed, and determines how each painting should be displayed in the museum. For more information on Hanging with Old Masters: The Reinstallation of the Davis Museum, please visit the Davis Museum at Wellesley College website.

Secondly, if you’re really into painting and pottery but you prefer artwork that was made this century, you may want to check out the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society. This is because the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society is presenting their 2015 Paints & Pots exhibit from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. today and tomorrow (March 6th and 7th, 2015) and from 12:00 to 4:00 on Sunday (March 8, 2015.) This exhibit features a wide range of cards, paintings (on both canvas and paper), prints, pots, sculptures, vases, and more. For more information on the Paints & Pots exhibit, which is free and open to the public, please visit the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society website.

Finally, if you’re looking for a way to take a more active role in an artistic masterpiece, you may want to consider creating something for the Fair Verona Festivals presented by the Shakespeare Commonwealth Company. The Shakespeare Commonwealth Company is hosting three outdoor art festivals this year in Boston as part of their Shakespeare OFF the Common series. These three festivals will each feature a performance of Romeo and Juliet and a series of artistic works and activities that explore a specific theme from the play. As a result, if you’re looking for a way to make your own masterpiece and be part of an incredible artistic endeavor, you may want to consider submitting a proposal for a creative work or activity that you can showcase at one of the festivals this summer. In order to find out more information about the Fair Verona Festivals and/or to submit your proposal by the submission deadline of March 15, 2015, please visit the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company website.

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Celebrating the Chinese New Year

Last week, I talked about some of the ways that you could embrace the ice and snow in New England, as frozen water, in one form or another, is really all we’ve had lately. In fact, I have to admit that I was just about to write the words “New England has finally received a reprieve from the winter weather” only to look outside and realize that the very act of me thinking it apparently jinxed it (although, let’s face it, the very idea of the snow stopping before May was probably pretty absurd to begin with.) However, if you’re sitting there thinking to yourself that this year has gotten off to a pretty rough start with all the snow and the amount of time you’ve spent dealing with it, there is a simple way to find the fresh start that you may be looking for – the Chinese New Year. Now, of course, the Chinese New Year (A.K.A. the Lunar New Year) won’t help you reverse time and control the weather (because, trust me, if it could, everyone in New England would be celebrating it), but it may be able to help you reframe the way that you perceive your year.

If you think recognizing the Year of the Ram as the beginning of your year is a better idea than accepting the snow-filled months that have preceded it and you would like to know more about the traditional festivities that mark the occasion, the Peabody Essex Museum may be able to help. The Peabody Essex Museum, which is located in downtown Salem, Massachusetts, is holding its annual Lunar New Year Festival from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. tomorrow, February 28, 2015. This celebration will give you, your friends, family, and anyone else who might be interested the opportunity to design your own lanterns, listen to traditional Chinese music, see traditional Chinese dances, and more. For more information on the Lunar New Year Festival, which is open to all museum visitors at the standard admission price, please visit the Calendar page on the Peabody Essex Museum Website.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for something that feels more like a celebration and less like a learning opportunity (even though there is still plenty to learn), you may want to check out the Quincy Lunar New Year Festival. The Quincy Lunar New Year Festival, which is sponsored by the South Cove Community Health Center and organized by Quincy Asian Resources, Inc., is scheduled to take place on Sunday from 10:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at North Quincy High School. This festival will feature a kid’s area, calligraphy, cultural exhibits, dancing, music, painting, papermaking, vendors with a wide variety of goods, and more. For more information on the Quincy Lunar New Year Festival, which is open to the public and free to attend, please visit the Events page on the Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. website.

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Embrace the Winter (Before it Becomes One Big Wintry Mess)

As you’re probably already aware, this has been a historic winter. Mountains of snow, ice dams large enough that you could go ice skating on your roof if it hasn’t already collapsed under the weight, and cold bitter enough to freeze a volcano has plagued the Northeast for almost a month now. To make matters worse, there’s a storm that is expected to dump a mix of rain, sleet, and ice this Sunday, which is sure to finish off a lot of the structures (and people) still standing. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a way to enjoy the weekend before the next wintry mess arrives, you may want to try these wintry activities before the snow turns into one big sheet of ice and the ice all turns into slush.

First, if you and/or your kids are big fans of ice skating, there are number of public skating rinks that you may want to check out:

1. Harvard Skate, which is located in front of the Harvard University Science Center (just outside of Harvard Yard) in Cambridge, MA, is an outdoor skating rink that is open to the public from 12:00 to 9:00 P.M. daily. This rink will allow you and your family to skate for absolutely free if you have your own skates or rent skates for a fee of $5 a person.

2. The Steriti Memorial Rink, which is located at 561 Commercial Street in Boston’s North End, is an indoor skating rink that is open to the public from 1:00 to 3:30 P.M. on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday; 12:00 to 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday; 12:00 to 3:30 P.M. and 7:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Friday; 3:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Saturday and 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. on Sunday. Skating at this rink is completely free during these hours if you have your own skates and $5 a person if you need to rent skates.

3. The Rockland Ice Rink, which is located at 599 Summer Street in Rockland, MA, is an indoor rink that offers public skating from 11:00 A.M. to 12:50 P.M. on most Tuesdays and Thursdays (these days and times may vary from week to week depending on the rink’s schedule, so you may want to check the website to make sure that the rink is available for public skating.) Skating at the rink is completely free, but you must bring your own skates.

4. The Winter Skate at Patriot Place, which is located at Patriot Place plaza (right next to Gillette Stadium) in Foxborough, MA, is an outdoor skating rink that offers public skating from 4:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday; 4:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Friday; 11:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. on Saturday and 11:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. on Sunday (these hours may vary, so you may want to check the website to make sure the rink is open.) It is $6 for children under 12 and $8 for anyone over 12 to skate at the rink with their own skates and an additional $4 a person to rent skates.

If, on the other hand, you and/or your kids are big fans of sledding, you may be more interested in one of these sledding hills:

1. The sledding hill at Franklin Park, which is located right behind the Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse on Circuit Drive in Dorchester, is open to the public daily. However, this hill offers a little more than your typical sledding hill because the Franklin Park Coalition sponsors a number of special events. In fact, the Franklin Park Coalition is hosting an Indoor-Outdoor Snow Day tomorrow (Saturday, February 21, 2015) from 12:30 to 3:30 PM that will give you and your family the opportunity to not only sled but also to enjoy indoor activities like arts and crafts, board games, food, and hot chocolate. For more information on the Indoor-Outdoor Snow Day at Franklin Park, which is free to attend, please visit the Franklin Park Coalition website.

2. Cable Gardens Hill, which is located in front of Cable Gardens at the corner of Routes 1A and 133 in Ipswich, MA, is open daily for public sledding. This hill is a little smaller than some of the other sledding hills in the Boston area, so it makes it the perfect place for small children.

3. Holt Hill, which is located at the Ward Reservation on Prospect Road in Andover and North Andover, is open from 8:00 A.M. to sunset daily for sledding. This hill is not only the largest sledding hill in Essex County but also the highest point at an elevation of 420 feet. As a result, this sledding hill is not really the best hill for small children or the faint of heart, but older children who have a “need for speed” will definitely want to try this one.

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A Snowy Valentine’s Day

Sick of the snow? Looking for something fun and warm to do this Valentine’s Day? Well, fear not. Even though Boston is under six and half feet of snow right now, there’s still plenty of stuff going on this weekend to keep you and your significant other entertained. In fact, even if you don’t have a significant other right now, there are a number of events in the Boston area this weekend that are sure to warm your heart even if they don’t necessarily warm your hands.

First, if you and/or your significant other are into sweets, there’s no better place to be this weekend than the Salem So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival. The Salem So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival is an annual tradition in Salem, Massachusetts that typically runs the week before Valentine’s Day, and this year is no different. This festival, which runs until 6:30 P.M. on Sunday (February 15, 2015), features over 15 ice sculptures (including some that aren’t completely buried in snow yet), chocolate tastings, discounts at local museums and restaurants, a raffle, wine tastings, and more. For more information on the Salem So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival, please visit the Salem Main Streets Festival page.

If, on the other hand, you and/or your beloved are more interested in mysteries than ice and chocolates or you are looking for some way to combine your Valentine’s Day celebration with Friday the 13th (without watching a movie like My Bloody Valentine), you may want to check out Marriage Can be Murder. Marriage Can be Murder is a murder mystery scheduled to take place at the Elephant and Castle Pub in Boston at 5:00, 6:30, and 8:00 P.M. tomorrow (February 14, 2015). This production, which will be performed by the Mystery Cafe, will place you and a group of other individuals in the role of wedding guests tasked with determining who committed the most horrific faux pas imaginable — murdering one of the other guests. In fact, you will not only be able to go through clues and use fake money to bribe the actors for more information between scenes but also join in all of the typical wedding festivities like trying to catch the bouquet, doing the chicken dance, and more. For more information on Marriage Can be Murder and/or to order tickets, please visit the Mystery Cafe website.

Finally, if you don’t have a significant other or you’ve always thought Valentine’s Day was a lame excuse to sell more greeting cards, Area Four in Cambridge has you covered. This is because Area Four is hosting their Fourth Annual Haters Valentine’s Day from 5:00 P.M. to midnight tomorrow (February 14, 2015). This somewhat unusual Valentine’s Day celebration will allow you to watch a series of angry films; listen to emo music; and sample a variety of anti-Valentine’s Day themed dishes, including Arrabbiata “Angry” Pizza, Jerked Chicken, Irate Rice, and Skewered Lamb Neck. For more information on the Fourth Annual Haters Valentine’s Day celebration, please visit Area Four’s Yelp event page.

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Bring Some Magic Into Your Life

We live in a frightening world. A world filled with bullies, cheaters, fanatics, murderers, incompetent politicians, and an endless array of other less-than-pleasant individuals. As a result, it really should come as no great surprise that so many people like reading books, watching films, and playing video games that allow them to indulge in a fantastic world in which every problem can be swept away with the wave of a hand. In fact, almost everyone will experience something at some point that makes them realize that they could really use some more magic in their life (whether that magic is in the literal or figurative sense.) And, if you have reached a point in which you could really use some more magic in your life, you’ll be pleased to know there are a number of magicians performing in the Boston area this weekend that would be more than happy to help you find it.

First, if you’re looking for a magic show that is aimed at the younger crowd, you may want to get tickets for Davey the Clown. Davey the clown is an accordion player, comedian, juggler and magician performing at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA at 10:30 A.M. tomorrow morning (Saturday, January 24, 2015.) This show is not just your typical clowning around, however, as you and your kids can expect to see a wide assortment of balloon sculptures, tricks, unicycle riding, a rubber chicken, and more. For more information on Davey the Clown’s show at the Coolidge Corner Theatre and/or to order tickets, please visit the Coolidge Corner Theatre website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a magic show that is aimed at a more adult crowd or you just find clowns to be extremely creepy, the Hampshire House may be your best bet. This is because the Hampshire House is hosting an event entitled Four-Handed Illusions: An Intimate Evening of Laughs and Wonder at 6:30 P.M. on Sunday (January 25, 2015.) This event will allow you and your friends to enjoy a pre-show reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres (the hors d’oeuvres are free, but the drinks are not) before you watch two talented magicians, Joel Acevedo and Steve Kradolfer, make objects appear and disappear out of thin air, read minds, teleport, and more. For more information on the Four-Handed Illusions show at the Hampshire House and/or to order tickets, please visit the Four-Handed Illusions webpage.

Finally, if you’re looking for some of the lounge-style magic that you only typically see in Vegas, but you don’t really want to go to Vegas, you may want to check out The Comedy Studio in Cambridge. The Comedy Studio has a live magic show with a guest comedian every Tuesday night from 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. entitled Mystery Lounge Magic. This show will give you a chance to see a professional magician perform an assortment of new and classic tricks while a comedian cracks jokes about pretty much everything under the sun. For more information and/or to order tickets for Mystery Lounge Magic, please visit The Comedy Studio website.

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Entertaining Your Kids in the Winter

Parenting can be an extremely rewarding experience, but it can also be pretty tough because there is an amazing amount of work involved in raising a child. In fact, the average parent is regularly required to juggle work and home schedules, pay extra bills to clothe and feed their children, take care of their children when they are sick or upset, and perform a variety of other tasks with little or no sleep. However, one of the issues that many parents come up against in the wintertime is how to get their child to do something other than stare at a computer screen or a TV screen when sending them outside could potentially cause them to get frostbite in a matter of minutes. Fortunately, if you are looking for some ways to get your kids out of the house and away from their screens this weekend, there are a number of events in the Boston area that will help you do exactly that.

First, if your child is a fan of scavenger hunts and/or science, there is no better place to be this weekend than the Museum of Science. This is because the Museum of Science, with the help of Watson Adventures, is hosting the Mad Science Family Scavenger Hunt at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday (January 17, 2015.) This scavenger hunt will allow you and your family to search the museum for all of the best exhibits, including dinosaurs, hidden messages, a mad scientist’s laboratory, musical zebras, optical illusions, snakes, and more. For more information and/or to order tickets (which include admission to the museum), please visit the Watson Adventures’ Mad Science Family Scavenger Hunt webpage.

Secondly, if your child is more into comedy than chemistry, you may want to check out the Airborne Comedians. The Airborne Comedians, who are performing at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline at 10:30 A.M. on Sunday (January 18, 2015), are a pair of globetrotting jugglers. These jugglers will toss and catch everything from bird baths to lawn chairs while they crack jokes on unicycles (yes, you read that correctly. They will be balancing on unicycles while they juggle and joke.) For more information and/or to order tickets for the Airborne Comedians’ show at Coolidge Corner Theatre, please visit the Coolidge Corner Theatre website.

Finally, if your child would prefer a good fairy tale to some learning or laughs, you may want to try the BCA Black Box Theatre in Boston. This is because the imaginary beasts are performing Kerplop! The Tale of the Frog Prince at the BCA Black Box Theatre every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from January 17, 2015 to February 7, 2015. This show will give you and your children the opportunity to see a Panto retelling of the classic story of an unfortunate prince who is turned into a frog and has to convince a princess to kiss him. For more information and/or to order tickets for Kerplop! The Tale of the Frog Prince, please visit the Boston Theatre Scene website.

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Things to Do When It’s Too Cold to Go Out

Is she trying to catch the snow in her mouth or she is screaming about the cold? You decide... — Is she trying to catch the snow in her mouth or is she so cold she is screaming? You decide…

Last week, I talked about some of the ways that you could embrace the winter or try to stave it off a little longer, but it appears that Jack Frost may have had other ideas. In fact, when I got up yesterday morning, it was a degree below zero with a wind chill of 15 below, and there were parts of New England where the actual temperature was nearly 25 below with a wind chill of who knows what. As a result, it’s clear that the winter is here with a vengeance, and ignoring it until it goes away is probably no longer an option. However, if you are stuck in your house this weekend because of the cold weather and you’re looking for something that you can do without opening your door (and turning your home into an icebox), look no further.

1. Board Games

When it comes to board games, people typically fall into one of two groups. The first group are the people that immediately think about how much fun it could be to try a new game or play an old favorite, and if you belong to this group, you should keep reading. The second group are the people that see the word “board” and immediately think it was misspelled (this group believes the correct spelling is actually “bored”) and if you fall into this group, I highly recommend that you skip this suggestion and move onto suggestions two and three. However, if you are one of the fine, upstanding people that belongs to the first group, board games can be a great way to keep you, your significant other, your friends daring enough to brave the cold, and/or your children entertained for hours on end.

In fact, you can always pull out an old classic like Battleship, Chess, Checkers, Clue, Monopoly, Risk, Scrabble, Sorry, Twister, or any variation thereof; or you can try a new game like King of Tokyo or King of New York if you’ve always wanted to be a rampaging monster, Pandemic if you’ve always wanted to be part of a team tasked with stopping a deadly outbreak, Power Grid if you’ve always thought you could handle a region’s infrastructure better than the power companies, or any of a countless number of other games. Best of all, if you don’t have one of these games, you can always find them at a local department store, comic book shop, hobby shop or, if you’re really determined not to leave your house and you’re a member of Amazon Prime, you can always pay the $3.99 for one-day shipping and have your new game tomorrow.

2. Video Games (Online or Otherwise)

If you would rather play a video game than a board game (or you prefer your board games when they are on a TV screen), you may want to check out some of the sites that will allow you to play or purchase video games. If you’re looking for free video games, you can always try out sites like ArmorGames.com, Kongregate.com, and/or Newgrounds.com. Armor Games and Kongregate both offer thousands of free games, many of which are user-submitted. These games include action, adventure, puzzle, RPG, shooter, strategy, and sports games. Newgrounds also offers thousands of free user-submitted flash games in addition to user-submitted art, music, and flash movies.

If, on the other hand, you would prefer to purchase a game rather than just play it in your browser, you can always try Amazon or Steam. These sites have a number of games that you can purchase (usually at a discounted price) and download as soon as you pay.

3. Movies / TV

If you’re a movie buff who would like nothing more than to just sit in your chair and watch your favorite films, you can always just grab a pile of DVDs from your closet or movie rack and go to town. However, if there’s a new movie or TV series that you would really like to see, but you don’t have it on DVD yet, you can always try Amazon.com, Hulu.com, Netflix.com, or the On-Demand services for your television provider. These sites and services often have some (but not all) of the latest movies and television shows, and they will typically allow you to watch them immediately for free, a one-time fee, or as part of a service with a monthly fee.

Photo credit: Luis Hernandez – D2k6.es / Foter / CC BY