How To Beat The Heat On The Sweltering Subway Platform
7 photos
<strong>Leave Your Pants At Home:</strong> Make every day this summer <a href="http://gothamist.com/tags/nopants">No Pants Day</a>!
<strong>Embrace the heat:</strong> bring a yoga mat and turn the platform into your own personal Bikram Yoga studio.
<strong>Distractions:</strong> Read a book, listen to a podcast, or soundtrack your sweaty wait <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/06/09/top_5_summer_in_the_city_songs.php">with some summer songs</a>!
<strong>The power of paper (fans):</strong> Paper fans are a cheap way to keep cool. You can find them on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/78101532/vintage-40s-50s-celluloid-and-paper-fan?ref=sr_list_6&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=paper+fans&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=">Etsy</a>, or buy them in bulk <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Solid-Color-Fans-1-dz/dp/B0023TEF2U/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1311259650&sr=8-5">online</a> (men: there are even <a href="http://www.promotional-gifts-inc.com/Promotional/Fun-Toys/648532-SPORT-FOLDING-PAPER-FANS-2420.htm">sports-themed fans</a>). For the crafty: you can <a href="http://thebridesguide.marthastewartweddings.com/2010/05/diy-paper-fans.html">make your own</a>... even if all you have is a <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-simple-paper-fan/">piece of paper</a> (or a lot of used up MetroCards!).
<a href="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=zKH&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=personal+water+mister&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1848&bih=987&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=18211950641297389670&sa=X&ei=ixcnTqurMei70AHw-qnZCg&ved=0CE0Q8wIwAg">Personal water misters</a> are another inexpensive way to keep cool... until the water heats up, that is. But we prefer a squirt gun (this old Batman one is... interesting).
<strong>What not to do:</strong> <ul><li>Avoid standing near the trash cans... they're filled with hot, smelly garbage.</li><li>Stay away from newspapers, unless you want your sweaty palms filled with black ink.</li></ul>
<p>Just like you should do when <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/07/07/living_without_air_conditioning.php">you're living without air conditioning</a>, apply cold water or ice to your pulse points. To keep things portable, get a handy ice wrist pack! Bonus: it'll help with your carpel tunnel.</p>