It’s hot. Really hot. Not that anyone needed a reminder of that, but one question a heat wave always brings up is what people can do in order to beat the heat yet not be bored at home all day.
Sure, there’s the swimming pool or the neighborhood ice cream truck, but sometimes that’s not good enough.
Read on to see a few ways GlobalGrind keeps cool during scorching summer days.
1. See a flick at an independent movie theater.
It’s no secret that movie theaters are notoriously cold, but as a common go-to choice for summertime leisure, there’s a chance people have already seen most of the offerings in the mainstream movie theaters. There’s no better time than the present to hit your local independent movie theater to see some lesser-known films. You might just discover something amazing, and in a lot of cases the prices are far less inflated (cheaper tickets, cheaper snacks, etc.). One of our top choices? The Landmark Theaters chain (http://www.landmarktheaters.com/), with locations in most major cities in the U.S. spanning from coast to coast.
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2. Ice skate.
Wait … ice skating in July? Yeah, we’re serious. Not only does the thought of a room where a floor is covered in ice make sweaty bodies swoon, but it’s a great way to get a little bit of cardio in without feeling like passing out from heat exhaustion. Indoor rinks make this activity accessible year-round in even the most tropical of climates. Got the itch to skate in New York City? Try the Sky Rink at Pier 61 at Chelsea Piers.
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3. Bing Soo
Bing what? Bing Soo. It’s the Korean equivalent of an ice cream sundae, and healthier at that (at least we hope so). It’s a bunch of shaved ice (think a snow cone without those extra sugary syrups), topped with either frozen yogurt or ice cream, and then covered in a plethora of options tailored toward your taste (fresh seasonal fruit, dduk [a sweet Korean rice cake…kind of like a marshmallow], or even corn flakes) served up in a gigantic bowl. It’s quite a sight to look at, but even better, it’s ice cold. Stop by your nearest Korean bakery and switch up your usual ice cream routine. Le Matin De Paris in the D.C. area’s pretty-official-yet-unofficial Koreatown of Annandale, Virginia has a variety of flavors to choose from (including green tea, coffee, and fruit) plus a constant supply of free samples of their baked goods lurking by the register.
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4. Volunteer.
Keep cool and make an impact. Youth centers, homeless shelters, and more possess air conditioning and could always use some help. Good karma with a side of climate control can never be a bad thing, and it’s a great way for kids fresh out of high school or college to also beef up their resumes. Check out http://www.volunteermatch.org/ to see what organizations need some assistance in your community.
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5. Go to a museum.
Once those school field trips ended, sometimes the museums took a backseat in people’s lives. But going to a museum without having to write an essay about it or take a quiz afterward makes it an enjoyable experience, plus there are some really interesting ones out there that they never would have taken you to in elementary school. Try the Museum of Sex in NYC, the Spy Museum in Washington D.C., or the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles.
Whatever you do this summer, don’t let the heat defeat you. Get out of those stuffy apartments and stray from your usual commute and let the heat wave be an excuse to try some new things. The cooler days are coming, but in the mean time there’s still fun to be had.
Amanda Bassa is a Brooklyn-based writer and graduate of George Mason University. She has contributed to various online and print publications throughout the entertainment industry in addition to running her own website.
