That's sort of a loaded question, don't you think? I might be riding the hyperbole train a bit here, but this past May had to be one of the warmest ever recorded, right? This time of year has me at my most anxious (I've talked about this ad nauseam the years I've been writing you), but this year, I can't help but think about accessibility when it comes to staying cool. Growing up as a shorty back in the 90s, beating the heat meant riding up to 69th street to hide out in the movie theater, then bounce around all the shops—from Sam Goody to Funcoland, to getting lost almost on purpose at Sears. Air conditioning was something way outside the budget for my family (read: my mom) until the early 2000s, and let me tell you, I rejoiced. But access to keeping cool isn't something everyone has the budget for, let alone the living situation itself, and in the not-so-roaring 20s, getting inside somewhere cooler can be a fretful hassle.
I don't have any stats or thinkpieces to point to, but it's just a feeling. I worry about how the summer affects people in ways we may not think much about when we are able to keep cool on our own. Emotionally, it's a struggle for me (reverse SAD, anyone? Just me?), but I also know what my privileges are. Philly summers are tough, and anyone who survives them deserves an annual medal.
To help find your cool, we've got something for you. PhilHarmonia and Nashirah sing from the heart for Ukraine, Penn Live Arts honors dance presenter Randy Swartz and his 50 years of service, and we've got movies for days with the monthly repertory. In the roundup, there are comics, circus arts, dragon boats, and probably most importantly, vibrators.
Be cool, Philly, and help others be cool, too.
