🌲 Take a day trip to Evergreen to cool off.
My town at 7,220 ft. – beautiful lake with kayak/paddleboard rentals, hiking (Elk Meadow, Alderfer), cute downtown, a pro rodeo (Father’s Day weekend), and a fine arts festival (August 22-23). Watch for elk!
đź“š The Season by Helen Garner
The Australian author narrates this touching audiobook memoir about her close observation of one season of her teenage grandson’s football team. If you aren’t familiar with Australian football, look it up before you start to listen!
đź“ş The Count of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo is an eight-part PBS series starring Sam Claflin as Edmond Dantès, a young sailor falsely accused of treason and imprisoned on his wedding day. After years in a grim island prison, he escapes, acquires a vast fortune, and re-emerges as the wealthy, manipulative Count of Monte Cristo to ruthlessly destroy the men who betrayed him.
đź“š Long Way Down
A young adult book by Jason Reynolds written in verse takes place over 60 seconds as 15-year-old Will rides an elevator down from his 8th-floor apartment to avenge his brother Shawn’s murder. The main character’s experience in the short elevator ride exhibits the cycle of violence.
🎙️ Diary of a CEO
Steven Bartlett is a British entrepreneur who hosts two-hour podcast interviews with CEOs, experts, therapists, and leaders on a variety of topics. The most interesting session I’ve listened to recently is “Longevity Debate: The Truth About Weight Loss, Muscle, and Creatine!” with four female health experts. The best part is that, at the end of each show, he asks his guests what questions they want to ask of his next guest. Check out these questions and answers!
đź“š Dungeon Crawler Carl
Science fantasy book series about a man who is an involuntary contestant on an intergalactic reality TV show after aliens invade Earth.
🎶 Yasmin Williams – Urban Driftwood
Expand your musical horizons with the second studio album from this amazingly talented American composer and fingerstyle guitarist.
🎥 Project Hail Mary & the animated David movie.
Shelley is absolutely right! Project Hail Mary was inspiring, and I can attest that it was great for family viewing. “Is not enough time” might be the best line in cinema this year. And the David film is for anyone needing to revive their unjaded courage.
🎙️ Throughline
This podcast connects current events to the historical moments that shaped them. I’ve learned so much! It’s the antidote to doomscrolling.
🎶 City Park Jazz
If you ever find yourself in Denver this summer on a Sunday night, check out City Park Jazz from 6:00-8:00 pm!
đź“š Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson
Celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary by reading a stellar biography about one of the most important figures in U.S. history.
🎶 Alicia Keys’ discography
I recently attended the Hell’s Kitchen musical, which is a loose autobiography of Alicia Keys’ coming-of-age story growing up in 1990s Manhattan and rediscovered the beauty of her music.
🎥 Project Hail Mary
Best movie I’ve seen in a long time. I even forgot I was watching a movie! Rocky will steal your heart.
🎙️ Wilder
A 10-episode podcast that examines the background and impact the Little House on the Prairie books and tv show have had on culture.
🎶 The O.C. Soundtrack
This is for you if you’ve lived long enough to see early 2000’s culture become cool again. The O.C. tv-series soundtracks were a hit at the time and are still perfect to have playing in the background for summer. California, here we come!