Looking for new ideas for things to do while hanging out at home? A new recipe to try? Suggestions for movies or a new show to binge-watch? Or maybe some new music or mobile app to check out? Our very own CSU Rec staff have eclectic tastes and interests, so we’ve compiled some of the recommendations and go-to items they love to share with you. Hopefully, it’ll spark some new ideas for things do and try out – let us know which ones you try and how you like them on our social media pages!

Favorite Comfort Food Recipe to Make at Home?

  • “Chorizo and scrambled egg breakfast tacos which can also be eaten at lunch and dinner. Also, be sure to char the tortillas on the gas stove.” (pictured) –Nick Froelich, Director 
  • “Homemade chocolate chip cookies” –Mackenzie Lamar, Coordinator, Competitive Sports & Camps
  • Shepherd’s Pie –Michelle Rieger, Associate Director, Programming & Operations
  • Chile-Garlic Roasted Sweet Potatoes –Chris Stewart, Coordinator, Facility Operations
  • “Kraft Macaroni & Cheese – I’m a gourmet cook, didn’t you know!?!” –Melissa Albers, Assistant Director, Fitness & Aquatics
  • “So, I’m the biggest crepes fan in the world! So, here you go, haha” –Ulia Spiridonova, Graduate Supervisor, Facility Operations
  • “Meatloaf and mashed potatoes” –Jason Mandula, Assistant Director, Facility Operations
  • Buffalo Chicken Dip –Brooke Hokes, Graduate Supervisor-Aquatics & Adventure Recreation
  • “Homemade mac & cheese or pizza!” –Matt Schmiedl, Assistant Director, Marketing & Advertising

Streaming TV Series to Watch Right Now?

  • “’The Morning Show’ on Apple TV+. I was a big fan of HBO’s ‘Newsroom’ and this one is just as good. I already cannot wait for the second season. I just finished the docu-series ‘McMillions’ on HBO and I just started Hulu’s ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ which takes place in Shaker Heights, OH.” –Nick Froelich, Director
  • “I’m a little different because I don’t stream anything nor do I watch movies or mainline tv. I watch a few ‘comfort’ shows from the ‘70’s.” –Brian Boesch, Building Maintenance Coordinator
  • “I’m really hooked on ‘911’ right now” –Mackenzie Lamar, Coordinator, Competitive Sports & Camps
  • “Waiting for ‘Lucifer’ season 5, until then, ‘Charmed’ and ‘Once Upon a Time’” –Michelle Rieger, Associate Director, Programming & Operations
  • ‘Tiger King’ –Chris Stewart, Coordinator, Facility Operations
  • ‘Once Upon a Time’ –Natalie Bertolasio, Graduate Supervisor-Competitive Sports & Camps
  • ‘Bones’ –Melissa Albers, Assistant Director, Fitness & Aquatics
  • ‘The Politician’ –Ulia Spiridonova, Graduate Supervisor, Facility Operations
  • ‘The West Wing’ –Jason Mandula, Assistant Director, Facility Operations
  • ‘Schitt’s Creek’ –Brooke Hokes, Graduate Supervisor-Aquatics & Adventure Recreation
  • ‘Bones’ –Matt Schmiedl, Assistant Director, Marketing & Advertising

New Movie You Recommend?

  • “I have two young daughters at home and ‘Frozen 2’ was just released on Disney +. I get to see the movie about three times per day. A lot of people feel the sequel is not as good as the first, but I have to disagree. It has a well-thought-out storyline, hit music, great visual animation, and I personally enjoy the adult humor. Olaf is my favorite!” –Nick Froelich, Director
  • ‘Frozen 2’ –Mackenzie Lamar, Coordinator, Competitive Sports & Camps
  • “’Charlie’s Angels’ (the 3rd one)” –Michelle Rieger, Associate Director, Programming & Operations
  • ‘Uncut Gems’ –Chris Stewart, Coordinator, Facility Operations
  • ‘Fantasy Island’ –Natalie Bertolasio, Graduate Supervisor-Competitive Sports & Camps
  • ‘Birds of Prey’ –Melissa Albers, Assistant Director, Fitness & Aquatics
  • ‘Parasite’ –Ulia Spiridonova, Graduate Supervisor, Facility Operations
  • ‘I, Tonya’ –Jason Mandula, Assistant Director, Facility Operations
  • ‘Frozen 2’ –Brooke Hokes, Graduate Supervisor-Aquatics & Adventure Recreation
  • ‘Avengers: Endgame’ –Matt Schmiedl, Assistant Director, Marketing & Advertising

Go-To Movie/TV Series You Watch on Repeat?

  • “’Ocean’s 11.’ One of my favorite movies of all-time and one I always turn to when I come across it on the channel guide. I would love to share a beer with Daniel Ocean and Rusty Ryan.” –Nick Froelich, Director
  • ‘Life as We Know It’ –Mackenzie Lamar, Coordinator, Competitive Sports & Camps
  • ‘Charmed’ –Michelle Rieger, Associate Director, Programming & Operations
  • ‘New Girl’ –Chris Stewart, Coordinator, Facility Operations
  • The ‘Harry Potter’ series –Natalie Bertolasio, Graduate Supervisor-Competitive Sports & Camps
  • “Not a movie but I love the Netflix Stand Up Comedy specials. I recommend Iliza Shlesinger’s ‘Elder Millennial’ –Melissa Albers, Assistant Director, Fitness & Aquatics
  • “‘Criminal Minds’ or ‘Friends’ – depends on my mood.” –Ulia Spiridonova, Graduate Supervisor, Facility Operations
  • ‘A League of Their Own’ –Jason Mandula, Assistant Director, Facility Operations
  • ‘The Office’ or ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ –Brooke Hokes, Graduate Supervisor-Aquatics & Adventure Recreation
  • The ‘Harry Potter’ series or ‘Bones’ –Matt Schmiedl, Assistant Director, Marketing & Advertising

Go-To Music Album?

  • “Garth Brooks’ ‘Double Live 25th Anniversary Edition’ album. I checked off one of my life bucket list items in February when my wife bought me tickets to attend the Garth Brooks Stadium Tour concert at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. There were 70,000 people in attendance and it was an awesome concert!” –Nick Froelich, Director
  • ‘Me and My Gang’ by Rascal Flatts –Mackenzie Lamar, Coordinator, Competitive Sports & Camps
  • ‘Dizzy Up the Girl’ by The Goo Goo Dolls –Michelle Rieger, Associate Director, Programming & Operations
  • ‘In Step’ by Stevie Ray Vaughan –Chris Stewart, Coordinator, Facility Operations
  • “Dan & Shay, all of their music” –Natalie Bertolasio, Graduate Supervisor-Competitive Sports & Camps
  • ‘Cuz I Love You’ by Lizzo –Melissa Albers, Assistant Director, Fitness & Aquatics
  • ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ by The Beatles –Jason Mandula, Assistant Director, Facility Operations
  • “Anything Panic! At the Disco” –Brooke Hokes, Graduate Supervisor-Aquatics & Adventure Recreation
  • ‘Butterfly’ by Mariah Carey –Matt Schmiedl, Assistant Director, Marketing & Advertising

New Musical Artist or Album to Check Out?

  • ‘Kelsea’ by Kelsea Ballerini –Mackenzie Lamar, Coordinator of Competitive Sports & Camps
  • ‘Let’s Rock’ by The Black Keys –Michelle Rieger, Associate Director, Programming & Operations
  • Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats –Chris Stewart, Coordinator, Facility Operations
  • Dan & Shay –Natalie Bertolasio, Graduate Supervisor-Competitive Sports & Camps
  • “They aren’t new but love me some Red Wanting Blue. Great band out of our great state!” –Melissa Albers, Assistant Director, Fitness & Aquatics
  • Snoh Aalegra –Ulia Spiridonova, Graduate Supervisor, Facility Operations
  • 311 –Jason Mandula, Assistant Director, Facility Operations
  • Jon Bellion’s ‘Glory Sound Prep’ and Lauv’s ‘~how I’m feeling~’ –Matt Schmiedl, Assistant Director, Marketing & Advertising

Must-Have Gimmicky/Unique Home Gadget or Tool?

  • “I am a weather nut – so I am a big fan of home weather stations. Temperature, humidity, wind speed, barometric pressure, rainfall totals. It’s all good and hardly necessary, but I enjoy it!” –Nick Froelich, Director
  • “Must-have tool is a cordless device with plenty of charged batteries.” –Brian Boesch, Building Maintenance Coordinator
  • “Couldn’t live without my cold brew pitcher.” –Mackenzie Lamar, Coordinator, Competitive Sports & Camps
  • “Toilet Bowl light” –Michelle Rieger, Associate Director, Programming & Operations
  • ‘Smart Things’ app –Chris Stewart, Coordinator, Facility Operations
  • “A puzzle caddie!” –Natalie Bertolasio, Graduate Supervisor-Competitive Sports & Camps
  • “Cats! Great tool for stress relief, entertainment and laughs” –Melissa Albers, Assistant Director, Fitness & Aquatics
  • “Dash Express Egg Boiler or my Rocket Book Fusion” –Ulia Spiridonova, Graduate Supervisor, Facility Operations
  • “Panini press!” –Jason Mandula, Assistant Director, Facility Operations
  • Wine bottle opener –Brooke Hokes, Graduate Supervisor-Aquatics & Adventure Recreation
  • Digital food scale –Matt Schmiedl, Assistant Director, Marketing & Advertising

Favorite/Most Useful Mobile App?

  • “Gas buddy. I have most of the gas stations saved on the route between my house and downtown CLE to save money when I need a fill-up. Spoiler alert: 90% of the time the Costco and BJ’s in Avon have the cheapest gas prices and its usually by about $0.10 a gallon.” –Nick Froelich, Director
  • “I need Instagram to keep up with my kid.” –Brian Boesch, Building Maintenance Coordinator
  • Instagram –Mackenzie Lamar, Coordinator, Competitive Sports & Camps
  • “’Weather Bug’ – after operating outdoor pools for almost 20 years, I’m addicted.” –Michelle Rieger, Associate Director, Programming & Operations
  • ‘Sofar Sounds’ –Chris Stewart, Coordinator, Facility Operations
  • Snapchat –Natalie Bertolasio, Graduate Supervisor-Competitive Sports & Camps
  • ‘Calm’ –Melissa Albers, Assistant Director, Fitness & Aquatics
  • ‘Brain Out’ –Ulia Spiridonova, Graduate Supervisor, Facility Operations
  • Reddit –Jason Mandula, Assistant Director, Facility Operations
  • “Any social media app letting me interact with people!” –Brooke Hokes, Graduate Supervisor-Aquatics & Adventure Recreation
  • ‘Smiling Mind’ –Matt Schmiedl, Assistant Director, Marketing & Advertising