NYC, also known as the Concrete Jungle, gets very hot during the summer months which is fabulous after a snowy winter! One very big negative of living in New York though is that there are no pools to to cool down at or go swimming in so New Yorkers get creative on beating the heat. Here are some tricks New Yorkers use to cool down.
1. Stroll through Duane Reade - There is a Duane Reade on every street corner in New York. Duane Reade is a local NYC pharmacy in case you have never heard of it. I often walk through these stores for two minutes when I need access to AC.
2. Benches - Unless I am waiting for someone, I never sit on the city benches. For some reason I associate them with bums so I don't really like to be near them. My one exception to this is when it is super hot out and the bench is in the shade. I'll take a quick 5 minute breather to get out of the heat.
3. Fountains - I don't think anyone is ever allowed to get in the NYC park fountains other than your occasional child or freak. In stuyvastant town (big apartment complex by where I live) there is a grassy area to lay out and if you position yourself near the fountain, you get the mist benefit when the wind blows. Very important on a very hot afternoon of laying out in the sun.
4. FLEE - The heat, lack of swimming pools and beaches are the main reasons why New Yorkers flee the city during the summer weekends. Some head to Coney Island, others head to Mantauk and if you are classy you go to the Hamptons. I've only been to Coney Island once and it is a great place to creep watch, you can never be bored at Coney Island. I don't usually flee the city but I completely understand why others do.
As random as the above bullets may sound, I guarantee every New Yorker has done the above.
Stay cool readers!
*Joe Pool - anyone remember him?!
