Keeping Your Cool in Boston

"Hazy," "hot" and "humid" are three little h-words many locals would like to purge from their meteorologists’ vocabulary come summertime in Boston. While a few of our warm-weather friends thrive in 95-degree, 95% humidity days, if you hate the heat you certainly are not alone. Living without air conditioning can be torturous during the summer months, but lucky for you, you are a friend of The Boston Insider! Keep on reading and we will clue you in to a few great ways to keep your cool.

Get Literally Cool
One of our favorite places to cool down during the summer is often right around the corner. A frequently overlooked resource, your local library is the perfect place to escape indoors – and the best part is that it won’t cost you a dime. Pick up a good read, find a quiet nook, and relax for an afternoon in air-conditioned comfort. Or you can use your time to read up on that home improvement project you’ve been putting off, impress your boss by scanning the latest industry mags, or do some research on summer vacation destinations. If you have a long commute to work, consider borrowing an audio book or foreign language tutorial. Most libraries also loan movie videos as well.

The Boston Public Library (BPL) in Copley Square is an excellent choice for both Bostonians and out-of-town guests. In addition to its vast research facilities and choice of titles (more than six million!), the BPL offers guided tours, special events and workshops. Please see our article on the BPL for more information on these programs, hours, directions and a summary of the library’s historic significance. If Copley Square is not a convenient location for you, bear in mind that the BPL’s 25 branch offices were mapped based on the idea that no Boston resident would be more than a mile away from a library. Call the Copley location at (617) 536-5400 to find the branch nearest you.

Please Note: While each of BPL’s 25 branch offices are air-conditioned, we do recommend that you check with your local library first, as we cannot guarantee that some smaller "reading rooms" provide this luxury.

Where to Go for the Coolest Looks
If you are the type who likes to look cool even when you feel hot, spend a sultry day seeing and being seen on Boston’s chichi Newbury Street. Newbury Street is, from top to bottom, the place to find the trendiest styles and most outrageous fashions. Start out on the eastern end of Newbury, renowned for its high couture. At this end of the street (closest to the Boston Common), you will find stores such as Cartier, Brooks Brothers and Giorgio Armani. As you walk further towards Massachusetts Avenue, the demographic gradually shifts to a younger, hipper, more alternative crowd. Urban Outfitters and Tower Records bookend the western end of Newbury Street, standing as testaments to a clientele that thrives on funky clothing and the latest music.

For more details on Newbury Street, check out www.newbury-st.com. Compiled by the nonprofit Newbury Group, this comprehensive website offers virtual tours and merchant directories.

Chill Out at a Flick
While summer blockbusters are sure to heat up the big screen, finding your way to nearest movie theater is one of the most entertaining ways to cool off. Although we know the price of movie ticket has skyrocketed in the past few years, you will still be hard pressed to find a less expensive way to spend an evening. Our first choice is, however, a matinee -- usually available at a much more reasonable price than nighttime shows and scheduled to keep us indoors in air-conditioned comfort for the hottest part of the day.

There are a number of major movie theaters in the greater Boston area. Two big multiplex chains are Sony Theatres, located in Copley Place, Kenmore Square, Back Bay, Cambridge, Somerville, Natick, Danvers, Leominster and Fall River; and General Cinema in Chestnut Hill, Framingham, Burlington, Braintree, Hanover, Peabody, North Dartmouth and Tyngsboro. If this sounds like a great idea and you want to race off to the next screening, you can check out show times through the Sony Theatre website or General Cinema’s site. Movie Phone is also available for Boston at (617) 333-FILM.

Internal Climate Control
When you can’t find the energy to leave the house but still crave some relief from the heat, be smart and drink plenty of water, eat fruit and simply don’t move around too much! You can do all three of these things after you make yourself a Peach Smoothie -- a wonderful summer drink that hits the spot.

In a blender or food processor, combine two large peeled and pitted peaches with one tablespoon of lemon juice, 12 oz. of peach yogurt and 2 cups of milk. Blend until smooth. Pour the mixture over ice and decorate with fresh peach slices. Voila -- instant cool down. (You can also try substituting blueberries, strawberries or the fruit of your choice with the appropriate yogurt variety.)

Naturally Cool
Of course, there is no better way to drop your temperature a few degrees than nature’s way: a dip in the chilly Atlantic Ocean. The Boston area boasts many fine beaches within an hour’s drive from the city.

A Few More Tips
Other ideas to manage sweltering summer days include spending time at malls or climate-controlled museums. If a lower temperature is your main purpose for finally getting around to that trip to the museum, however, we recommend that you call beforehand to make sure it’s A/C-ready. Some older museums and portions of larger ones do not run air conditioning.

Finally, if it is a particularly uncomfortable day, don’t bother making things worse by cooking at home. The heat is an excellent excuse to try one of Boston’s notable restaurants! Have a drink, let someone else wait on you -- and, best of all, keep your cool.

by Allyson Krieger

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