What are you doing to stay cool this week?

Whether it's nine degrees or 99 degrees, I'm out walking four times a day because that's the choice I made when I got a dog in a South Philly rowhouse. In the winter, there are sweaters and coats for us both (she's half chihuahua, I think). In summers like this (and summers like this are probably here to stay), the walk is short. When we get back inside, she throws herself down on the cool hardwood floor, and I sit in front of the fan.

This summer, it feels like a lot of work to keep our tempers cool, as well. For me, part of that is keeping my focus close to home: what is within my control? What is happening in my community and how can I be a part of it? Can I tune into local media offering context and solutions, instead of scaremongering national headlines?

We appreciate that you're keeping BSR in the mix during these difficult days. It's not easy for a local nonprofit arts journal to break through the noise of this summer. This week, we're continuing to celebrate Disability Pride with my review of Alice Wong's latest collection, Disability Intimacy. We've also got a review of BalletX's 2024 Summer Series (running through Sunday at the Wilma), a rare art exhibition devoted to Appalachia, and a conversation with top Philly dance artists about what the UArts closure means for our dance scene.

Thanks for cooling off with us! Stay hydrated today.

Alaina Johns
BSR editor-in-chief