While the governor has signaled that some business shutdowns could be relaxed, social distancing remains the order of the day. But the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose area offer plenty of events to check out while also saving lives.

April 20: Storytime and crafts at Levy Park

Levy Park's video series includes a reading of "The Pout Pout Fish" and a craft activity that can be done with basic household supplies. The video will be streamed start at 10 a.m. on Facebook and YouTube. The park hosts several other livestream activities throughout the week. www.levyparkhouston.org

April 21: Grownup story time at Rudyard's

Typically hosted at Rudyard's in Montrose, Grown-up Storytime goes virtual at 8 p.m. Guest-submitted stories will be assigned to be read by "a rotating crack-squad of expert story readers." (The deadline to submit stories was April 15.) The event will also solicit donations to support the contributing artists.


April 22: Celebrate 50 Years of Earth Day

Houston Cinema Arts Society, Station Museum of Contemporary Art and Winston Contemporary Art co-hosts a screening of the documentary "The River and the Wall," available all day after a free registration. The film explores the potential environmental effects of a border wall along the Rio Grande in Texas. At 7 p.m., Houston Cinema Arts Society will hold a livestream interactive discussion with producer Hilary Pierce.

April 23-May 3: Common Field Convening

A conference of independent arts organizations that was originally slated to come to Houston is going virtual and opening its entire programming to the public, which includes discussions on art and government partnerships, racism in the arts and other social and cultural issues within the arts. The conference culminates with "The Loop," a digital publication featuring work by Houston artists showcasing the city's diversity throughout its inner- and outer- Loop neighborhoods. www.commonfield.org


Through May 8: #MissingHOU virtual dinner party contest

Houston First and Visit Houston are holding a virtual dinner party contest to encourage residents to support local restaurants. Participants should order takeout from a local restaurant, invite their friends to do the same, then host a video chat meeting. Post one photo from the "party" with the hashtag #MissingHOU to be entered to win a $100 gift card. For "bonus points," Visit Houston encourages using custom Zoom backgrounds of popular Houston restaurants. See official rules at www.visithoustontexas.com.

Anytime: Find a Bear inside the Loop

Local Realtor Trish Kincaid produced an interactive map of where to find bears in the windows of Inner Loop homes, the new family pastime in the age of coronavirus.