Hope and Creativity Go Hand in Hand
Combined, Hope and Creativity Make the Impossible PossibleEarlier this week, we were listening to a podcast about the Apollo 13 mission. The situation faced by Mission Control was unprecedented. The threat was very real. The outcome was very uncertain. In short, the immediate impact of Oxygen Tank 2 exploding was to throw the team into chaos. But, they found their way out. In the interview, one member of the mission control team said they had to calm down and embrace a new way of thinking. He told the team, “Quit dwelling on this being impossible. Ask yourself, ‘What would make it possible?’” We are in a bit of chaos right now. We’re facing a situation that easily feels impossible. And, yet, this new reality is already causing us to embrace new possibilities and tap into our creative impulses to find new ways to do what must be done. One of the most amazing things we’ve seen this week comes from the nonprofit, Hope Vibes, an organization that focuses on sanitation and hygiene issues within Charlotte’s homeless population. Obviously, that need is greater today than it was just a few weeks ago. Inspired by examples in Atlanta and South Africa, the Hope Vibes team has developed a unique solution, making portable, solar-powered sinks out of oil drums they’re calling #HopeSinks. This kind of immediate, heart-centered innovation is what gives us hope and what assures us that, while the next few months won’t be easy, getting through them together is possible when we mix hope and creativity together. If you are interested in helping Hope Vibes with this — or any of their other projects — visit them on Facebook. And, if you have stories of your own creativity, please click the button below and share them with us … so we can share them with others. All good things, Tim Miner & Matt Olin
Charlotte Is Creative 
Eight Local Food Products to Season Social Distancing PHOTO CREDIT: Bake for Your Life South End favorite, Front Porch Sunday, may have had to hit the pause button on their monthly markets for now, but they’ve created new options of how you can support their local merchants and vendors. This Friday, they launched Market-In-A-Box. Today, they’ve suggested 8 products that may make life at home a little better, available online from local, vendors you would have found at the market each month. Read about them here. Featured Above: Banana Bread Mix by Bake for Your Life.
If the Store is Out of Purell … Head to NoDa PHOTO CREDIT: @unclejut As Charlotteans scramble across the city looking for hand sanitizer, local artist, Darion Fleming (AKA @daflemingo), decided to give them some by painting a new mural in the NoDa area called “Pure’ll Gold.” On his Instagram post, Darion said, “I hope this piece can offer some comedic relief in what is a very serious and trying time for humanity. Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay creating.” Looking at online traffic, people are already flocking to take their photo with this new work. The Biscuit is still awaiting confirmation from the CDC that taking a selfie in front of this mural will disinfect you.
#CreativityInCaptivity:
Mike Wirth Makes Daily Mini-Paintings
Associate professor at Queens University, leader of Talking Walls and local artist Mike Wirth has begun posting mini-paintings on Instagram every day.
Charlotte Blood Banks Need Your Help
Toilet paper may be scarce as people self-quarantine, but so is blood. The Red Cross used the clever post above to ask people to consider making an appointment to donate by calling 1-800-733-2767 or by heading online.
More Good News to Know…Charlotte Ledger reported this morning about Hound’s Drive-In in Kings Mountain, which drew approximately 500 cars for a double feature: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “Forrest Gump” last night. SHARE Charlotte is offering up regular suggestions on how you can work with local nonprofits to help your neighbors from home. Ways to Support Charlotte’s Food Economy…
Pipes Hate Wipes … Now More Than EverAs we endure the “TP Crisis” caused by the COVID-19 crisis, it’s been reported by the Los Angeles Times and other media that people are flushing non-flushable wipes and other “TP alternatives.” This wreaks havoc on our city’s sewage system — the last thing any of us need right now. So this seems like the perfect time to call your attention to Charlotte Water’s 2019 “Pipes Hate Wipes” campaign. The series of short spots were directed and produced by Charlotte Star Room and Biscuit co-publisher, Matt Olin, and feature local improv artists Aaron Strauch and Jen Altizer as “Pipe” and Blake Edwards as “Wipe.” Watch the commercials series online here.
Korean Beef Bowl by Damn Delicious
This quick Korean Rice Bowl is another crowd-pleaser in the Miner household. Low on ingredients and big on flavor. We haven’t tried it with vegan meat substitutes, but if you do … let us know how it goes. Get the recipe hight here. Send Us Your Home Cooking Home Runs!Please, share your favorite easy recipes with us! Local recipes are greatly appreciated!
Faux Five #3: The Macy Gray
While we’re figuring out new ways to greet and show affection to others from six feet away or across a screen, we can’t forget to be kind to ourselves. The “self-hug,” ably displayed by singer/actor, Macy Gray, is the ideal virtual hug that shows love to others, while giving yourself a little love. Got a “Faux Five” to recommend? Send us a GIF, video or photo right here!
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