BY SANDRA GUY
It seems so easy to cocoon indoors in wintertime.
That’s a risky decision. After all, who will know if you’re OK? If you have heat? If you need healthy food from the grocery store?
Get busy with these essential steps — and even better, you won’t get bored.
- Arrange a schedule among yourself, friends and family to ensure that you stay in touch with people “in real time” during the day, whether by phone, text, email or other media. If your heat, water, electricity or other vital service gets cut off during freezing and below-zero weather, call 311 to find a warming center if no one is able to help immediately.
- Stay alert while also taking breaks from your laptop, desktop and smartphone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these tips to do so:
- Listen to the radio and TV for weather updates.
- Keep several days’ supply of food that requires no cooking — for emergencies such as losing electricity — such as tuna, nuts, water, crackers, canned goods and dried fruit. And make sure you have flashlights and batteries.
- Store a backup supply of medications — 60 days rather than 30, for example, in case of unexpected delivery or retail-purchase interruptions.
- Make sure your carbon monoxide and fire detector are
- In freezing weather, keep a stream of water running in the kitchen and bathroom sinks and open a door in the cabinets under the sink to keep the indoor pipes warm.
Now for some fun. Look for free and unusual activities outside of the typical tourist sites, including:
- The Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago. 5811 S. Ellis Ave., Cobb Hall, 4th
Call 773-702-8670 or email info@renaissancesociety.org
On exhibit through Feb. 9 is Chicago artist Isabelle Frances McGuire’s “Year Zero,” featuring sculptures, installations, video props, 3D printing and altered 3D models.
Gallery hours are: Noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
See
https://renaissancesociety.org/exhibitions/557/isabelle-frances-mcguire-year-zero/
- The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, 3015 W. Division St., (773) 486-8345.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
See
- The Poetry Foundation in River North, at 61 W. Superior, features a gallery, a children’s section, a 30,000-volume library and regular free events. (312) 787-7070
Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
See https://www.choosechicago.com/listing/poety-foundation