1 . What’s on

Bluedot

Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire, 21-24 July

Bluedot returns for four days of music, art and space science. Among the treats are talks by physicist Jim AI-Khalili, astronaut Tim Peake, space scientist Monica Grady and BBC Sky at Night’s Chris Lintott, alongside a bill of stand-up comedy, art and music by the likes of Bjork and Groove Armada. Day tickets ￡35/visitor, weekend tickets ￡179/visitor.

Late Night Explorer

Kielder Observatory, Northumberland, weekends, 11:30 pm

Wonder at the Moon, planets and galaxies under the guidance of expert astronomers, and use the observatory’s high-quality telescopes. Also enjoy a log-burning stove (炉子) and a hot chocolate. ￡46/visitor.

Herschel to Hawkwind

Observatory Science Centre, Herstmonceux, 2 July, 7:30 pm

Rock guitarist and astronomer William gives an entertaining talk that explores the connection between music and the sky, including live music and a singalong. ￡16/adult; ￡13/child.

Craig Telescope Talk

Bredhurst Village Hall, Gillingham, 29 July, 8 pm

Greg Smye-Rumsby brings to life the story of the Craig telescope, for a brief time in the mid-19th century the largest refracting telescope (折射望远镜) in the world. Was this strange instrument just an expensive folly? ￡18/visitor; ￡24 with food.

2 . Being a Good Holiday Party Guest

When attending holiday parties hosted by friends and loved ones, many of people really want to be “good” guests. But sometimes well-meaning “helpers” can sometimes cause more trouble and stress for a host.     1    

Reply the invitation quickly.

    2     If the invitation (whether it comes in the mail, over email or through text) asks you to reply, do so well before the host has to reach out to confirm your participation.

    3    

Respect the event’s start time and arrive within 10-15 minutes of the time on the invite. If the invitation says 7:15 p.m., guests should arrive between 7:25 and 7:30. If you turn up early, the hosts may not yet be dressed or be trying to take a 10-minute break after last-minute preparations.

Offer help respectfully.

It’s fine to offer help during the event, but don’t insist.     4     A true host wants their guests to enjoy themselves and not be working, so the insistence might make your host uncomfortable.

Don’t stay for long.

At the end of the evening, you can make one last offer to help the host tidy up the space. But if they refuse, don’t stay. Many hosts are too polite to tell people it’s time to go. Watch out for clues that the hosts wish to end the evening’s enjoyment, like yawning, turning off the music, turning up the lights.     5    

3 . The beaches on Mykonos’s southwest coast are among the Med’s best for parties, but head east to find a different atmosphere among a rocky, golden coastline dotted with sandy bays.

Park your vehicle in the dirt lot and walk over the low dunes to find perfect little Fokos Bay,where deep, sheltered waters offer delightful swimming for all ages. Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, head on over to the renowned restaurant overlooking the sand for a lazy seafood lunch.

If getting your own wheels isn’t an option, Agari is only a 15-minute walk east of the more famous Elia Bcach and on the south coast bcach ferry route. It’s one of the closest uncrowded beaches to Hora, Mykonos’s main town, and home to a lonely cafe that provides sunbeds and sell drinks and snacks.

Wander west around the headland to the next beach along - the gentle arc of Mersini beach, which is usually the least-crowded on Mykonos. Bring your own sun mat and even an umbrella as this beach is service-free: wild and raw, and perfectly matched to a sunbathing without being disturbed.

In the far southeast, about seven miles from Mykonos town, the broad curving coastline of Kalafati Beach is beloved for its steady winds that blow the sails of windsurfers and kite surfers- perfect if you’re looking for sporting action. Rnt boards and get lessons right at the beach at Windsurfing Mykonos.

4 . Soothe the Sunday Scaries

Most of us look forward to the weekend as a time to relax. But as the weekend comes to an end, many of us are missing out on “Sunday Funday” and instead experiencing a sense of anxiety and even dread about the upcoming week.

That sense of dread on Sunday can come from many different sources.    1     A reminder after a weekend of “me time” that will be given to your work the next five days. Exhaustion after a busy weekend, making you concerned about the demands of the coming week.       2     Here’s how experts say you can ease your end-of-weekend anxiety.

Identify your anxiety sources.

Anxiety is a normal human experience, and one of the main ways to manage it is to identify your personal triggers.       3     Is it a deadline, meeting or presentation?   Even if there’s not a single reason behind your Sunday anxiety, organizing the stress you expect from the week ahead into bite-sized chunks can help make it all more manageable.

Don’t forget to relax.

When structuring your Sunday, try not to cram in (塞进去) too many errands and chores.       4     Maybe a body meditation, maybe a mid afternoon shower or bath,   maybe an engaging movie or show. Whatever feels like a helpful distraction to get away from the scaries.

    5    

Getting rid of the Sunday scaries isn’t just about minimizing the doom and gloom of the week ahead. Having something to expect gives you something pleasant to think about. Instead of focusing on the awful things from the upcoming week, build excitement over a coffee or lunch date with a friend or workmate. This gives you the opportunity to shift your thoughts to something fun and will help improve your mood.

5 . The Montclair Human Service s Department provides special holiday programs and events for youth, adult, and senior groups in the community.

Holiday Food and Toy Basket Program

Food baskets will be available to families that meet specific income guidelines. To be considered, applicants must complete an application. Applications will be accepted by appointment only. Appointments may be scheduled no later than October 20, 2023 by contacting Leticia Gavilanes at(909)625-9485 or via email at lgavis@ cityofmontclair.org.

Halloween Spooktacular

The event will be held on October 28,2023, from 6: 00-9: 00 p. m. inside the Montclair Place Mall. The haunting evening will include trick or treating, kid’s crafts, carnival-style games, live DJ, magic show, and other surprises. The popular Halloween costume contest begins at 7: 30 p. m. at the main stage at center.

Holiday Home Decoration Contest

Work off your Thanksgiving dinner and enjoy some quality time with the family while you deck your house with decorations. Light up the night and be the envy of your neighborhood by transforming your home into the ultimate winter wonderland! All entries are due by December 10 at 6: 00 p. m. Please email entries to MontEvents@ montclair.org.

Easter Eggstravaganza

The event will be held on April 8,2023 from 9: 00-11: 00 A．m. at Alma Hofman Park. Children aged 12 or under are invited to bring their baskets from home to win candy-filled eggs as game prizes. The Easter Bunny will arrive and pose for photos. The pancake breakfast, offered for $5 per plate, will include 2 pancakes, 2 sausages, and an orange juice.

6 . If someone asked whether you like the arts, you’d probably say you do—at least in theory. According to a survey, more than two-thirds of U.S. adults say the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences.” However, only 30 percent attended a concert of any type in 2017; 23 percent went to an art museum. Fewer than half actively created art of any kind.

The mismatch can boil down to the fact that we are weighed down by our day-to-day responsibilities, leaving our schedule packed. Maybe you like to play a little background music while you work or do the chores, but even before the pandemic, most of us rarely, if ever, saw a live performance, let alone visited a gallery or watched a play.

Too often, we let the dull reality of life get in the way of the arts. But this is a mistake. The arts are the opposite of an escape from reality; they might just be the most realistic glimpse we ever get into the nature and meaning of life. If you make time for consuming and producing art—the same way you make time for work and exercise and family commitments—I assure you that you’ll find your life getting fuller and happier. Think of a time when you heard a piece of music and wanted to cry. Or maybe your dizziness as you emerged from a narrow side street in an unfamiliar city and found yourself in a beautiful town square as if in a fantasy. They probably stimulated a sudden awakening, much like the shock from a lungful of pure oxygen after breathing in smoggy air.

If you are among the people who feel that art is pure pleasure to experience and participate in, you might see it as a luxury item, while a preferable attitude is to treat art less like a distracting pleasure, and more like exercise or sleep, a necessity. Then draw up a schedule of your art exposure journey, and gradually weave art into your everyday life.

9 . PYOP: Pick Your Own Produce at These Local Farms

Hollin Farms’ strawberry picking season will begin in late May, and last several weeks. Hours are 9:00 am-4:00 pm from Wednesday to Sunday. If you come in summer, peaches, blackberries, red raspberries and sour cherries are available. Apples are ready in late summer, and fall brings green vegetables, potatoes, and dig-your-own peanuts. And a special P.S. (备注) to meat lovers: they pride themselves on their grass-fed beef.

Great Country Farms is well-known for its seasonal festivals and fun farm-themed attractions. Their U-pick strawberry fields will open in May. The weekends of May 20-21 and May 27-28 are the yearly Strawberry Jubilee with live music, pie-eating competitions, tasty food, and more. Admission is $10/child and $12/adult, and it’s open daily during 9:00 am-6:00 pm.

This is a great place for apple picking. Just come in late summer and fall. After parking, it’s a 5-10 minutes’ walk to the orchard. Hours are12:00-5:00 pm on Fridays, and 9:00 am-5:00 pm on weekends. Pick-your-own (PYO) pricing is by the peck (配克) — $15/half peck, $22/peck, and an entry fee for two is included. It’s $5/guest after that.

Homestead Farm’s PYO season begins a little later than other area farms. The first crop will be tart cherries in June, and other berries will be ripe soon after. Peaches and apples come later. There are also animals to visit (goats, pigs, and chickens), and watching goats climb along the goat walk is always a trip for kids. The farm operates seven days a week, and PYO hours are 9:00 am-5:00 pm.