"My head grew hot..." ~ Jane Eyre

Living on Long Island gives you the best of both worlds in the summertime. I love being thirty minutes away from the beach and forty minutes away from the city. Summer in the city is special despite the heat and grit and thick humidity that clings to each highrise above and below you as you walk the streets.

My cool cat mentioned the other night to this kitty how there is something about the heat of summer that is extremely seductive. I couldnt agree more. I believe that it true between two people in the heat of summer, but I also believe that the city itself, all five boroughs included, becomes so more seductive in the summer.

What I love about summer in the city...

~ The Subway: I know you are thinking that the subway is the worst part about the city in the summer. It is extremely hot on the platforms and people move lethargically as they wait for the trains. This is true. But what is also true is how good the contrast feels once the train starts to arrive. The breeze reaches you and you are beginning the cool down. The car doors open and the moment you step into the car is the moment that feels amazing: the cold air conditioning hits you and it the feeling on your skin tastes as good as an ice pop does on your tongue.

~ Rooftops and Gardens: Eating and drinking on the rooftops of Manhattan is special. There are many rooftop bars, but the rooftops and gardens to dine in are spectacular. Its like a little oasis away from the city hubub. As much as I love al fresco dining on the sidewalks of New York, I do prefer back gardens or upstairs getaways. One of my favorite outdoor garden areas to dine and drink is in Astoria, Queens. Its Cavo, a Greek restaurant with an oasis in the back that makes you feel like you are somewhere outside in Greece as you sip your retsina. A few blocks away likes the Bohemian Beer Garden - an outdoor Oasis with a plethora of pitchers of Pilsner!

~ Museums: They are cool with culture and the best exhibits are always in the summer months when the tourists come. Case and point? The MET has their costume institute filled with an exhibit on Superhero costumes. http://www.metmuseum.org/special/se_event.asp?OccurrenceId={5B98D8A0-AB67-4137-8F5E-873FDB82EE73}&HomePageLink=special_c3a

~ The Rest: Shakespeare in the Park, Lemon Ice King of Corona ices, Coney Island, Yankee Stadium, mojitos at Asia De Cuba, street fairs, the lingering smell of halal meat in the humid air, the sound of flip flops of women on the sidewalk, the available parking on the Upper East Side, air conditioned cabs, A Midsummer Night's Swing at Lincoln Center, Mr. Softees parked by the parks, air conditioners dripping down on the sidewalks, owners giving their dogs bottles of Poland Spring, Monday night movies at Bryant Park...

For some Lovin' Spoonful and cool lyrics like Cool Cat looking for a Kitty: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1fxhebNeFXk