The great thing about Memorial Day weekend is that there are so many picnics, parades, ceremonies, festivals, ballgames and other outdoor activities to take part in.
But that can also be the not-so-great thing about it.
Some of us are hiding a dirty little secret when it comes to three-day weekends: We’d much rather stay home and binge on that TV series or podcast we’ve heard so much about than attend one more holiday hotdog-eating contest. Take a plunge in the community pool? Please. Can’t I just dive into this book or recipe I’ve been dying to try out?
RELATED: Memorial Day 2017: Your all-day (and night) guide to things to do in Atlanta
Can’t I pretend it’s raining out?
Yes, you can. If you dream of spending part -- or all -- of your holiday weekend catching up on your watching, listening, reading and cooking, not only do we approve.
We’ve got some suggestions.
WATCH THIS:
"Stranger Things" -- Filmed in Atlanta, this Netflix series was 2016's surprise sensation after it debuted last summer. The supernatural-tinged story of a boy's disappearance in an Indiana small town shot won the Screen Actors Guild award for best drama. Catch up on all of Season 1 before Season 2 lands in October. Other series to binge on Netflix right now (where you can join free for a month) include "The Crown" (dramatizing the early married years of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip), "Master of None" (starring Aziz Ansari) and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt."
"Chappelle's Show" — The sketch comedy show that brilliantly broke all the rules from 2003-2006 on Comedy Central — until Chappelle walked away from a $55 million deal three episodes into Season 3. If you want to laugh, hard, this weekend, you can stream all 28 episodes on Hulu, or watch them online for free on www.comedycentral.com.
RELATED: Stranger Things to Shoot in Atlanta
TCM's 3-1/2 day Memorial "Day" movie marathon -- 8 p.m. Friday - 6 a.m. Tuesday, Turner Classic Movies. Starting with "The Wings of Eagles" and running all the way through "Torpedo Run," TCM will show 47 flicks back-to-back having to do with war or the military. Nearly all full-length features (with a few shorts thrown in), they range from drama to action/adventure to comedy and serve as an important reminder of what this holiday is really about. A few highlights: "The Fighting Sullivans" (5 a.m. Saturday), "No Time for Sergeants" (8 p.m. Saturday), "Tora! Tora! Tora!" (10:30 p.m. Sunday), "Kelly's Heroes" (noon Sunday).
"MASH" Marathon -- 6 a.m. Sunday - 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sundance Channel. For those who prefer their wartime viewing leavened with laughs and savvy observations, catch every episode of the first four seasons of the seminal Korean War sitcom in order.
Remembering Roger Moore -- Speaking of memorializing people, why not spend the weekend paying homage to the onetime "Saint" and 007, who died on Tuesday at age 89. From "Live and Let Die" (1973) to "A View to A Kill" (1985) six of the movies where he played James Bond are available on major streaming services like Amazon, iTunes and Google Play (You'll need Amazon Prime or Hulu to see 1981's "For Your Eyes Only"). And all six seasons of "The Saint," where Moore was suave Simon Templar from 1962-1969, are on Amazon Prime.
Also on Hulu right now is “Becoming Bond,” a fascinating documentary about George Lazenby, the Aussie mechanic who played 007 in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” and then walked away from the iconic role.
Twin Peaks" -- It's hard to explain how much of a phenomenon the original series was when it debuted on ABC in April 1990 -- and why its return a quarter-century later for a brand new third season on Showtime has created so much buzz. You just need to watch for yourself. Seasons 1 and 2 can be streamed on Amazon; episodes 1-4 of Season 3 are available on Showtime (you can get a 30-day free trial offer to Showtime right now, after which it will cost you $10.99 per month).
"T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle" - Noon - 10:30 p.m. Monday, VH1. Twenty-one back-to-back episodes of the reality show starring Atlanta rapper/actor T.I. and his wife Tameka Cottle (aka "Tiny,"). The hours of drama all lead up to the 10 p.m. premiere of episode 100 in the series. It is your duty as an Atlantan to know all about this, so why not spend a day becoming an expert?
READ THIS
(All of the following are available for downloading or purchase in bookstores and online)
Credit: Marlene Karas
Credit: Marlene Karas
"Ballplayer" by Chipper Jones, with Carroll Rogers Walton. The future Hall of Famer and lifelong Atlanta Braves opens up about his life on and off the field.
RELATED: 10 things Atlanta Braves Chipper Jones reveals in his new book
"The Pottliker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South" by John T. Edge. The story of the South told through the fascinating and sometimes unforgiving lens of food. (Read this AJC story about Edge and his book here).
"Into the Water," by Paula Hawkins. The latest from the author whose previous novel, "The Girl on the Train," was a publishing phenom turned major movie last year.
Credit: Ryan Sanders
Credit: Ryan Sanders
"Profiles in Courage" by John F. Kennedy. May 29 -- Memorial Day -- would have been the 100th birthday of the 35th president of the United States. After reading his 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, spend some time on the web site of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. It's a wealth of information and interactive opportunities, including video of his Inauguration speech, historical photos and you-are-there timelines on everything from the Cuban Missile Crisis to American's entry into outer space.
LISTEN TO THIS
"Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection" -- Available from audible.com. You've seen the movies starring Robert Downey Jr. and the PBS series with the dreamy Benedict Cumberbatch playing the brooding detective. Now why not listen to the stories that started it all -- all 62 hours and 54 minutes of them as brought to life by the inimitable Stephen Fry (also includes Fry's own insightful introductions to some Holmes tales).
Related video: Do you know the history of Memorial Day?
"S-Town" -- If you've been wondering if this seven episode podcast set in a small Alabama town is worth listening to, oh my yes. If you've been wondering what it's all about, well, let's just say it starts with a supposed murder that may not have ever happened...and just gets weirder from there. On iTunes, Sticher. More info at stownpodcast.org.
"Stuff You Missed in History Class" -- Say you do actually find yourself at a barbecue or ballgame this holiday weekend and need something scintillating to talk about. This podcast from the folks at Atlanta's own "How Stuff Works" more than has you covered. Imagine dropping tidbits about a long-ago plot to kidnap the entire British prime minister's cabinet, the little-known tragedies that befell funnymen Abbot and Costello and other things you (and everyone else) missed in history class. Info at www.missedinhistory.com
Credit: Ric Watkins
Credit: Ric Watkins
Breakdown, Season 3: The latest season of this podcast from the AJC tells the story of one of the doctors featured in the newspaper's award-winning "Doctors & Sex Abuse" series (Note: This podcast contains mature subject matter, so listener discretion is advised). Available online from ajc.com or you can download it in the iTunes store. You can also catch up on the first two seasons of Breakdown, "Railroad justice in a railroad town" and "Death in a Hot Car -- Mistake or Murder?"
COOK THIS
(Click on links for recipes)
"French Toast Worth Staying Home For" -- The name sorta says it all. Cook this up at the start of the holiday weekend and you won't want to go anywhere for the rest of it. Or be able to.
"Twin Peaks Cherry Pie" -- A food writer went in search of a recipe for the signature pastry from the original series, and came up with this close approximation. Dig in while devouring old and new episodes of the show (see "What to Watch" above).
"Augusta National's Pimiento Cheese Sandwich*" (*or a pretty good approximation thereof) -- The precise formula behind the pimiento-on-white-bread sammy beloved by Masters' "patrons" remains a secret. But as the author of this article has been told, this recipe comes close.
"Flip Burger's Po' Boy Burger" -- Just because you're staying home doesn't mean you can't cook out. Whether you're hosting a gang or cooking (out) for one, check out these fresh ideas compiled by the AJC's crack food staff -- including this special burger from Atlanta's own Flip Burger.
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