Summer Fun: What Can I Do Under New State COVID Rules?

Also: A primer on spring bird songs; the 50th anniversary of NPR's first broadcast ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [View in Browser]( | [Donate]( [WBUR] [WBUR]( The WBUR Weekender May 1, 2021 ⛅ Weekend Weather: Saturday starts cloudy and windy, and clears throughout the day. High is 61. Sunday is partly sunny, with a high near 70. Good morning Boston, As of yesterday, you no longer need to wear a mask outdoors as long as you can remain a safe distance from others. Throughout May, more and more businesses will be able to reopen or increase their capacities. And each day, more shots are getting into arms. In Massachusetts, just over 35% of residents are fully vaccinated and over half have their first shot. Life feels like it's making a return to normal, which I find extremely exciting! And a bit nerve-wracking. Basically, I'm as at war with myself as [Rapunzel was in "Tangled"]( [when she left her tower for the first time](. If you're feeling at all like me, here are some helpful guides to help you navigate this new normal: - When it comes to the state's reopening plan, we've [tried to answer some questions you might have]( about when you can do all the fun summer things you're dreaming of. We answer questions like: When can you throw an absolute rager at your house? Can you ditch the mask at an outdoor fitness class or event? When can you show off all your new TikTok routines on the dance floor? You know, the important stuff. I'm definitely biased because I'm one of the reporters who worked on it, but I think it's a fun and really relatable read. I hope it helps! - If you're fully vaccinated – meaning it's been two full weeks since your second vaccine dose – congrats! You're now in a place where most interactions pose a much lower risk than they did before you got your shot, and you should feel good about participating in things that are important to you. But it doesn't mean you can party like it's the Roaring '20s, Pt. II – at least not yet. NPR spoke with nine infectious disease specialists and epidemiologists about the relative safety of various activities after full vaccination. [Here's what they had to say.]( I hope this information eases some of the anxiety you may be feeling as you start to make summer plans, and decide what's safe for you and your family. P.S.– Here & Now wants to know [what you're looking forward to most after getting your COVID-19 vaccine](. Grandma's hugs? Drinks with a friend? Playdates with the kids? (I know, it's hard to choose!) You can share via the link above or by replying to this email. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org This Week's Must Reads url[Here's What You Can Do Under The State's New COVID Rules, And When]( There are a lot of nitty-gritty details and scenarios to consider in the state's reopening plans. We've taken a shot at answering some questions you might have. [Read more.]( Support the news [Hero Or Killer? Statues Of A Colonial Woman Face A Reckoning]( The statues honor Hannah Duston, a 17th-century English colonist who is believed to have killed 10 Native Americans in order to escape captivity during King William’s War. They've become flashpoints in the country’s ongoing debate about racist monuments, as locals reevaluate the Duston legend. [Read more.]( [Investors Mine For Profits In Affordable Housing, Leaving Thousands Of Tenants At Risk]( A Boston nonprofit is battling in court with an investor that wants to sell off low-income housing for profit. It's a story that's playing out across the country. [Read more.]( [A Mini Mississippi In Mass. May Help Save New Orleans From Rising Seas]( Alden Research Laboratory in Holden, Mass., build a scale model of the Mississippi River to test sediment diversion plans. [Read more.]( [Opinion: School's Back! Now Can We Please Keep Some Lessons From Hybrid Learning?]( A year ago, we were handed an unexpected experiment in crisis-era education, writes Joanna Weiss. Will we have learned anything from it, in the end? [Read more.]( Time For A Break Tune in: Monday is the [50th anniversary of NPR's first broadcast](. To celebrate, we'll be airing "Fifty And Forward: An Anniversary Celebration Of NPR" on Sunday at 8 p.m. Grabe a slice: Food & Wine named its top 10 states for pizza, and [Massachusetts was No. 8 on the list](. So where should you go if you're dreaming of ["za"]( Santarpio’s in East Boston was top of Food & Wine's list. The article also called out a few other Massachusetts favorites outside of the city. Listen: You can now listen to the original compositions from "Anything For Selena" on Soundcloud. [This playlist]( surely become your new and improved lo-fi study beats. Want more feel-good tunes? NPR's Life Kit team made a [list of Tiny Desk performances]( that never fail to make them smile. Improve your bird-identifying skills: Here & Now host Robin Young spoke with Jessie Barry, program manager at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, about the birds to listen for in various regions and what makes them unique. [This story]( is super interactive and lets you hear the songs of various birds. Take in Design Week: There's so much to see for the 8th annual Design Week. I'm talking self-guided tours of Mount Auburn Cemetery, public art in the Seaport and the urban playground Underground at Ink Block, as well as online events. You can learn more about this event, which runs through May 9, [here](. Save The Date [5/6: President Biden’s Earth Day Summit: What It Means For Massachusetts]( Climate change was a pillar of President Biden’s 2020 campaign. Since entering the White House, he has already rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and signed a number of executive agreements to further tackle climate change at home and abroad. On Earth Day, President Biden held a Leaders’ Climate Summit led by John Kerry, special presidential envoy for climate, to outline emissions reductions, green energy investments and more. How will these new commitments impact Massachusetts? Miriam Wasser, reporter for WBUR’s environment team, will moderate a panel of local climate experts and answer your questions. [Register now.]( Before you go: [Don't forget]( about the Brookline turkeys. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📨 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( [WBUR]( [95289b97-66e8-43d4-a174-3bc3520a79a9.png]( [Instagram](  [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Want to change how you receive these emails? 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