Summer In The City

Image of a stand of trees in Rock Creek Park courtesy of Declan McCullagh Photography.

Two weeks ago we were given an inappropriately early dose of hot summer weather. The mercury was pushing well into the nineties, and the heat index was well over 100°. No fun. Sadly, the recent heat wave was just a taste of things to come.

It is incredible how how hot the city can get in the summer time. Damn that urban heat island effect. It makes one really appreciate the street trees and front porches that are features of older city neighborhoods. Other than spending all day in a movie theater or other air-conditioned spaces, what can a person do to get relief? Luckily, DC has several options for cooling off on hot summer day.

DC's queers have always been comfortable hanging out in the shade of the trees in Dupont Circle. More recently, gay guys are spending Saturdays in Malcolm X Park playing croquette or Twister. However, another park looms nearby that provides much more comfort from the summer heat. The temperatures in the Rock Creek Park are routinely 10° cooler than in the rest of the city. Unfortunately, you can't just walk down to P Street Beach to reap this benefit. You have to go further north, where the forest is much denser and the park widens significantly north of Park Road (from Mt. Pleasant) and Tilden Street (from Cleveland Park). Up there in the main body of the park, you'll find hiking trails galore and the main drag (Beach Drive) closed to through traffic on weekends. Instead of cars, you'll see the road overrun by outdoor enthusiasts enjoying the park's cooler climes via roller blades, sneakers, bicycles and baby strollers. Local gay outdoor group Adventuring.org even has regular organized hikes in the park, with one coming up this Sunday. The best way to visit the park is to download a map, or join a group that plans events in the park. Just don't go jogging through the park looking for a Chandra Levy souvenir. (Too soon?)

Another best-kept secret is the set of public pools in DC. Free to District residents, these pools provide the most effortless way to keep cool on a hot summer day. The most popular pool for the gays is the Francis Pool at N and 25th Streets NW, but there are many more. Other good options are the Georgetown Recreation Center pool (34oo Volta St NW) and the pool in East Potomac Park, which isn't metro accessible but is very easy to bike to (take the Rock Creek Trail to Ohio Drive SW and keep going).

If you find yourself on a bike ride or a run near the zoo, make sure to stop by the misting station by the rear entrance to the zoo (off of Adams Mill Road and Harvard Street) where on hot days a steady cloud of water droplets wafts through the air, providing great relief to overheated bodies. (You may have to kick some screaming kids out of the way.)

I am also working on a post about non-Rehoboth summertime destinations for DC queers. In the mean time, let us know what you do to stay cool during the summer.