Summer in New York City is a magical time…until it’s not. One minute you’re basking in golden-hour glory, the next you’re stuck to the subway seat like a human fruit roll-up evaluating your life choices trying to beat the heat. And if you’re lucky enough to live, work or sweat in Gowanus, Brooklyn, you know the summer heat hits different, equal parts charming and chaotic.

Here’s your survival guide for staying cool while keeping your cool in the most gloriously gritty neighborhood of all: Gowanus.

1. Hydrate Like You’re Training for the Marathon

Forget La Croix. You need actual water, my friend. Refill your bottle at Four & Twenty Blackbirds (get a slice of their salted caramel apple pie while you’re at it—yes, pie counts as hydration if it’s cold). Or pop into Root Hill Cafe on 4th Ave for a cold brew and a good A/C blast.

Pro Tip: Carry a metal water bottle. Not only does it stay colder longer, but you can use it as a makeshift ice pack when pressed to your forehead during an MTA-induced heat stroke.

2. Become an Ice Cream Local

Gowanus is blessed with some of Brooklyn’s best frozen treats. You’re not just getting a scoop-you’re getting an experience.

• Ample Hills Creamery – This is your pilgrimage site. Go big. Order the Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. Do not apologize.
• The Social – Right on 4th Ave, they’ve got adult slushies and cold coffee concoctions that might save your soul.
• Other Half Brewing – Okay, not ice cream, but their slushie beers? Instant mood lift, and you’ll forget you’re sweating through your shirt.

3. Air Conditioning Is a Lifestyle

Spend a few guilt-free hours pretending to browse at Whole Foods 3rd Ave to beat the heat. Go upstairs, grab a cold drink, and take in the rooftop views. Bonus: the bathrooms are over-air-conditioned like the arctic tundra.

Or hide out at Public Records, where the vibes are high, the space is cool (literally and figuratively), and there’s often live music to distract you from your sweat.

4. Go Full Gowanus and Embrace the Canal (Sort of)

You can kayak in it! The Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club offers free paddles in the canal. Yes, it’s weirdly peaceful. Bring sunscreen and a sense of humor.

5. Dress Like You Just Don’t Care

In Gowanus, anything goes. Mesh tank top? Sure. Linen jumpsuit? Live your best life. Just make sure it breathes and bonus points if you bought it secondhand at Monk Vintage.

Leave the black skinny jeans at home unless you enjoy slow-cooking your thighs.

6. Chill the Mind, Chill the Body

Try a cold yoga class at Yoga Sole or just sit still in the shade outside Littleneck with a frozen cocktail and a lobster roll. Let the traffic on Union Street lull you into a state of sweaty zen.

7. Lean into the Weird

Finally, embrace the uniquely unhinged energy of summer in Gowanus. Join a bizarre art event at The Bell House, wander into a warehouse pop-up market, or sit on the steps of a brownstone with a mister fan you bought on impulse from Target.

It’s hot. It’s sticky. But it’s still home.

TL;DR Beat the Heat Survival Kit:

• Cold brew from Root Hill
• Ice cream from Ample Hills
• Canoe selfie on the canal
• Slushie beer at Other Half
• Gowanus-level weirdness: unlimited

Stay cool out there, Gowanus. And remember: sweating is just your body’s way of showing love.