7 Hobbies to Start in 2021
As January comes to an end, many Philadelphians realize that their New Years’ resolutions won’t live to see February. If you’re feeling guilty over a failed resolution, try shifting your perspective and starting next month with a new hobby instead.
While resolutions often feel tedious, diving into a new hobby is a much more positive experience. Additionally, after spending 2020 experimenting with numerous viral, at home-activities, 2021 is the perfect year to focus on expanding your understanding of one or two hobbies.
To help you pick your next focus, we put together this list of 7 hobbies to explore in 2021. All of these hobbies can be started while social distancing at home. As a bonus, the necessary supplies can be purchased from local shops and creators:
1. Coffee Brewing
There is a lot more to coffee than just K-cups! Dive into the art of coffee by experimenting with different pour-over coffee methods, espresso drinks, and cold brews. Once you’ve selected your favorite way to brew a cup of Joe, you can expand your studies into latte art or other coffee creations.
You can find various coffee makers and accessories at Fante’s Kitchen Shop or buy second-hand from a coffee shop or individual. When it comes to coffee beans, there is no shortage of local roasters. Our favorites are Rival Bros Coffee, Blind Tiger Coffee sold at Rally, and Reanimator Coffee.
2. Art
From painting to jewelry making, it’s never too late to unleash your inner artist. Whichever medium piques your interest, you can find the tools you need at a local art supply shop like Artist & Craftsman Supply. To learn more about your chosen art style, look into the free instructional resources available online, from tutorial videos to free or low-cost live streams. Since the pandemic, Spruce Street Commons has streamed several still life drawing classes led by local artists.
3. Mixology
During the early days of the pandemic, many people experimented with fun cocktail recipes before returning to their usual go-to drink familiarity. If you enjoyed making “quarantinis” in 2020, consider pursuing mixology as your new hobby in 2021!
Take a look at this Inquirer piece to find local shops that carry shakers, strainers, and other tools to build your home bar, as well as a list of the essentials to get started. When shopping for spirits, stock your shelves with locally made options such as Philadelphia Distilling.
4. A Tour of Philly Fitness
At the start of the pandemic, most Philly fitness studios went virtual, sharing their classes’ recordings or streams via social media and other platforms. Many of these videos remain on social media allowing public access to a handful of free or low-cost workout classes from almost every studio in the city.
Make health your new hobby by trying a new class or studio once or twice every week! This is a great hobby for anyone trying to stick to a fitness plan or just trying to stay active. At the same time, social distancing at home After sampling so many different workouts from gyms across Philly, you’ll end the year with a breadth of knowledge that you can incorporate into your routine.
5. Beer Brewing
If you consider yourself a craft beer connoisseur, turn your living room into a taproom by delving into the world of home brewing. Regarding supplies, Philly Homebrew Outlet in West Philly has everything you need to make your beer, wine, mead, and more. True novices should dip their toes of beermaking with a homebrew starter kit – available at both Philly Homebrew Outlet and Keystone Homebrew in Montgomeryville.
6. Lead a Book Club
Starting a virtual book club can help facilitate a hobby that many people want to encourage: reading. And, when you purchase your books at local bookstores, your hobby can help Philly’s struggling independent booksellers stay afloat. There are numerous locally-owned bookstores throughout the city, such as Head House Books pictured above. As a bonus, having a scheduled virtual meeting to look forward to while quarantining can also improve attendees’ mental health.
7. Floral Arrangements
As soon as the weather starts to warm up, floral design can be a fun option for those with a green thumb and artistic eye. Flowers can be sourced from local farms or farmer’s markets and transformed into an eye-catching arrangement with the help of online guides and videos. Some area farms and flower shops may also offer virtual classes on floral arrangements in the upcoming spring. Check-in with your neighborhood florist to see if they have anything special on the horizon!
We hope this list has inspired you to try something new in 2021. Whether you try one of our suggestions or pursue something of your own, remember to keep Philly small businesses in mind and shop local for supplies whenever possible. Happy Hobby-ing!
