Summer in the City

New York City never takes a break, sleeps, or slows down. Last week NewYork sweltered in 90+ degree heat partnered with typical summer humidity. That number doesn't begin to tell the story of the Big Apple in the summertime. I spent the 4th of July in NYC having arranged to meet a friend from Minneapolis there and stay with her at her daughter's apartment.  Her daughter was in Hawaii so we or rather my friend was taking care of the dog.

Her daughter's apartment is in a huge 43 building complex built in the 40's called Stuyvesant Town near the East River. The grounds are gorgeously landscaped with mature trees, huge blooming hydrangeas, fountains, playgrounds, and gardens. Strolling through Stuy Town you can imagine yourself at quite a distance from NYC. Walking the dog through the gardens the traffic seems barely audible.  The paths are shaded and clean, a cooling breeze ruffling the trees. Stand next to the huge fountain and enjoy the refreshing mist or play in huge water fountains designed for just that purpose.

Leave the grounds and New York City gets right in your face. At 90+ degrees it's like stepping into a 350 degree oven and closing the door. The heat from the asphalt shimmies up your skirt while the sun bakes your face.  I don't know where "they" get the air temp to report but it isn't from a thermometer at street level. The sidewalks, buildings, and cars gather the heat and reflect it back at pedestrians. Along with heat comes the humidity which only increases your discomfort.  I can imagine that before Manhattan was filled with skyscrapers breezes brought the residents a modicum of comfort but now the buildings block air flow superheating the city.

The heat causes more than sweat. On an outing one night to Big Gay Ice Cream our route took us down a particularly unsavory street.  Trash bags piled on the curb gave off all manner of revolting odors.  The smell wafting back to us of the man walking 10 feet ahead  was reminiscent of men's locker rooms after a tough game.  Truly the most disgusting, stomach turning smell was the sewer gas drifting up from god knows where.  I doubted whether I could eat ice cream, gay or not, after walking several long blocks enveloped by such a repulsive miasma. Fortunately, we turned off 1st Street down a darker, tree lined street where the air was significantly improved. We did manage to eat ice cream, soft serve with key lime curd, graham cracker crumbs and whipped cream! Mmmm...delish!

Let's face it, in addition to the nearly unbearable heat, the City is also noisy and dirty.  Cars honk, ambulances whine, and the sidewalks are spotted with permanent dirt.  After walking around the City all day and riding the subway you are smelly, crusty with salt and dirt, and exhausted from the assault on your senses. You crave a cool quiet escape from the summer in the City and a chilled glass of Chardonnay. Which is just what we had.

Well, maybe more than one glass, it was really hot after all.