Robert & Jeff, studio musicians in their mid-40s who sometimes play in the park, were relaxing underneath a tree.
Is this the hottest New York City summer you can remember?
Robert: I’ll tell you, last week I felt like I weighed a thousand pounds.
Is there anything you like to do in this weather?
NAME?: We like to come down to the park in our off time, meet new friends and gamble.

Helen Hope, an 18-year-old model, was reading in the shade.
What are you doing to stay cool in this heat?
I’m staying in the shade and drinking lots of water. I’m also eating a lot of Pinkberry.
Is there anything you like to do outside in this weather?
I like to hang out in the park and stay very still.
What are you reading?
I live in a women’s residence and an old woman was handing out books so I took this one [Five Quarters of the Orange].

Reed Dunlea, 25, who works at WNYC, was eating french fries in the park.
What do you like to do to beat the heat?
I like to go swimming—this past weekend I went to two beaches in upstate New York. I’ve also been to the McCarren Park Pool.
Did you witness any violence at the McCarren Park Pool?
Unfortunately no.

Ron, 72, is retired and was tanning on a park bench in jean shorts with a bottle of cold juice and a bag of kettle-cooked potato chips.
What do you do to stay cool in this heat?
I drink Crystal Light and stay hydrated, unfortunately it’s frozen right now.
Is this the hottest summer you can remember here?
It’s not the hottest summer but it’s definitely one of them.
Is there anything you like to do outside in this heat?
I like to sit in the sun. I’ve been coming here since I was 9 and it’s basically the same.

Kelvin Natural Slush.

It is way too early to be thinking about the summer. It’s mid-April—taxes are behind us, Memorial Day looms far off on the horizon and you can’t walk past a garden in bloom without stopping to exclaim, like a 4-year-old, “Flowers! Pretty!” No way is it time to think about the summer yet.

But. There’s a fine line between spring and summer, especially in New York, where the one can notoriously blend into the other in the blink of an eye. This week saw an uncomfortable preview when the temperature spiked on Monday to a near-record high, and even on steadier days, the midday sidewalks feel positively equatorial.

There’s a fine art to this slippery semi-season. You can’t leap right into summer standbys; there are a solid four months of real heat ahead, and anything you start doing now will be worn threadbare by Labor Day. Though we’re champing at the bit to unpack the sandals and shorts, that way madness lies. You must save yourself somewhere to slide to when August humidity turns the subway into the world’s most unpleasant rainforest—then and only then can you bust out the flip-flops and eat pints of Ben & Jerry’s with your head in the freezer.

Right now, even frozen treats should be refined, delicate, virtuous; a minor thrill in your spring-cleaned day, still healthy and light—the cherry blossom to August’s overblown gardenia.

The drinks from the Kelvin Natural Slush Co. (various locations, find them daily at @kelvinslush or this Sunday, April 22 at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market Gourmet Food Truck Bazaar, 39th Street & 9th Avenue) are Vendy Award-winning Slurpees that come in flavors actually found in nature. More reasonable beverage than gut-busting dessert, their ginger, citrus or tea slushes are all perfect for sipping on an afternoon stroll. If you’re feeling feisty, add one of their fruit or herb mix-ins for a grownup version of Coldstone Creamery’s candy-coated free-for-all. Caramelized pineapple in the spicy ginger base is a match made in tropical heaven; add basil for an unexpectedly sophisticated kick.

The Soft Serve Fruit Company (1371 3rd Ave., at 78th St., or 25 E. 17th St., at Broadway, www.softservefruitco.com) is just what its name implies, to shockingly good effect. It’s just fruit, water and cane sugar, but the texture they get out of their magic machines is light years from that time you tried to make “instant ice cream” by pulverizing frozen bananas in your food processor, shorting the engine in the process. For everyone who’s ever cursed sorbet for being too icy and hard to scoop, this is a revelation. Banana is the most treat-like, especially when topped with crushed pretzels and warm peanut butter or maple syrup (yes, it’s natural, but I never said it was virtuous), but mango and strawberry are simply delightful, no adulteration needed.

A proper Italian affogato is a perfectly respectable adult diversion, no kid’s bribe wrapped in classy packaging. OK, so it’s gelato, only a tiny linguistic step away from ice cream. But it’s a dainty portion of the stuff that is drowned in a shot of espresso, less blowsy than a Starbucks Frappuccino and far more satisfying. At Maialino (2 Lexington Ave., betw. 22nd St. and Gramercy Park, www.maialinonyc.com), a Roman-styled trattoria perfect for leisurely lunches or a midday pick-me-up, the gelato is fior di latte, sweet milk, and the espresso is dark and rich. Dawdle over this with a tiny silver spoon, watching the opposing textures merge and meld into a third while gazing upon the gated glory of Gramercy Park.

Enjoy these now while your sanity lasts and you can still appreciate something more flavorful and interesting than the blunt-force frozen trauma of a Mister Softee cone. After all, those spring blossoms are already dropping fast—didn’t somebody once say something about gathering rosebuds while ye may? This is definitely what he meant.

The dog days of summer can be hazardous to your dog. Be a cool owner and help your canine companion beat the heat this summer.

Humans have hundreds of sweat glands which help us cool by releasing moisture that evaporates on the skin’s surface. Dogs have only a few sweat glands, all of which are located in the pads of their feet. They cool themselves primarily by the process of panting and breathing, with the moist lining of their lungs, tongue and windpipe serving as the evaporative surface. They also dissipate heat by dilating blood vessels in the face and ears. Dilating blood vessels helps cool the dog’s blood by causing it to flow closer to the surface of the skin.

Minimizing your dog’s exposure to extreme temperatures can prevent life-threatening conditions like hyperthermia or heat stroke. Dogs with thick coats or short muzzles, or that are overweight or suffer heart problems, are at higher risk for heat stroke. Symptoms include hard and harsh panting, deep red gums, drooling, sluggishness, vomiting and diarrhea. Body temperatures over 105 or 106-degrees Fahrenheit can quickly lead to organ failure and death. These temperatures can be reached even with moderate heat and exercise.

Never leave your dog unattended in a parked car, not even for a minute. Temperatures inside a vehicle with the windows rolled up can easily reach 160 degrees in a matter of minutes. Just five minutes inside can lead to death. Consider leaving your dog at home when you run errands on a hot day.

I see many dogs being walked in public places wearing canvas muzzles, presumably because they don’t get along well with other dogs or people. While you may be trying to prevent a bite, you are also preventing your dog from panting and cooling off. Basket muzzles are a much better alternative, as it allows your dog to pant freely, but also adds the layer of protection you are looking for.

If you enjoy exercising with your dog, do so at the coolest part of the day. Noon time jogs are not a good idea.

If you think your pet may be experiencing heat stroke, take immediate steps to cool them down, and then seek veterinary attention. This usually entails hosing off with cool water or submerging in a tepid bath. It may not be enough to just bring them into air conditioning. Ice packs applied to the armpit and groin can help. Once at your vet’s, further cooling procedures can be done. Some of the consequences of prolonged, extreme elevations in body temperature can cause the irreversible process of multi-organ system failure leading to death.

On hot days, the coolest thing to do may be to leave Fido at home.

–
Robin Brennen is the chief of Veterinary Services at Bideawee on the East Side.