Cool and Cheap Ways to Beat the Heat in NYC

Check out these cool and cheap ways you can beat the heat while in New York City this summer!

Photo of Washington Square Park Fountain, New York City © Ed Yourdon

Go Swimming

Photo of Swimming Pool, Central Park, New York City © Joe Shlabotnik

What better way to cool off than to go swimming! New York City has 54 outdoor pools available to the public. There are also indoor pools open year round that but those require an annual membership.

Central Park has two outdoor pools, one of which is Olympic size. Most City pools are open 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Some have extended early morning and late evening hours for lap swimming.

Eat Ice Cream

Photo of Strawberry Ice Cream © Lotus Head

We should never need an excuse to eat ice cream, but if you’re looking for one, the summertime heat is as good as any. New York City has some amazing ice cream joints with flavors that run anywhere from your typical vanilla and chocolate to some pretty unusual flavors (wasabi pea dust flavored ice cream anyone?).

For some out of this world gelato, Grom is the place to go. Not only do they use strictly natural ingredients in for their gelato and sorbet, they have a chart for anyone who has food intolerances or are vegan so that you can choose which flavors best fit your needs. Check their website for their three locations around Manhattan.

Ben & Jerry might have stores all over the world but eating Cherry Garcia in New York City on a hot summer day makes it taste even better. There are Ben & Jerry shops all over City, including one in Rockefeller Plaza.

Upright Citizens Brigade

Chill out and laugh until you cry at Upright Citizens Brigade, one of New York City’s best sketch comedy clubs. On Sunday nights UCB performs “ASSSSCAT 3000“ where they are joined by stars from Saturday Night Live and guests from some of the most popular late night shows in the US.

Another great UCB show to catch is “The Law Firm: Law and Disorder”. Here the audience submits their stories of crazy things they’ve done (some of UBCs suggestions “Did you cheat on your fiancé with the entire cricket team? Steal money from the collection plate? Joyride in an ice cream truck? Have sex with your step sibling? Expose yourself to an off duty cop?”) and the comedians act them out.

Most shows range in price from free to $12.

Free Music Fridays at the American Folk Art Museum

Every Friday from 5:30pm to 7:30pm not only can you visit the American Fold Art Museum for free but you can enjoy free live music while you wander around the galleries. Visitors can also purchase drinks and food at the museum’s café.

See a Movie

There are countless movie theaters in New York City to cool off in but why shell out the big bucks if you don’t have to. A couple of free and cheap movie screening movie alternatives:

Sony Wonder Technology Lab offers free movie screening in their high definition theater. They show contemporary movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Bounty Hunter, Armored and Charlie’s Angels.

The Museum of Modern Art has movie screenings for $10 ($6 if you have a student ID). They show a great selection of movies, including a variety of international films. If you decided to purchase a ticket to the Museum, show them your ticket stub and you will get $10 off the admission price.