Oh my lanta it is hot out… day 5!

Well WNY, we did it! Today is supposed to be the last day of this intense heat wave, and our weekend is looking to be in the 80’s, as it should be! Since it is Friday and a fabulous weekend is upon us, I thought I’d compile a little “things to do list” for the weekend so you can take full advantage of the cool down weather!

Friday

Canal Fest

Photo courtesy of the blogA Mom Named Mindy

·         Come enjoy great food, music, games, and entertainment on the canal-side at this fun event!

·         10am-midnight

Summer Fun at Central Warf

·         Bring the kids over to the Central Wharf to build their own colorful boat, inspired by the ones in the water at Explore and More!

·         12pm-4pm

·         $5/adults, children over 1/$5, children under 1/ free, WIC participants/free

A Walk in the Garden Exhibit

·         Come visit the Kenan Center House Gallery and view the exhibit “A Walk in the Garden,” which features the work of 28 artists ranging from photography and watercolors, to ink drawings, aqua media, and pastels.

·         12pm-5pm

·         Free

Saturday

Canal Fest

·         Come enjoy great food, music, games, and entertainment on the canal-side at this fun event!

·         10am-midnight

Summer Fun at Central Warf

Photo courtesy of funthingstodoinatlantaga.com

·         Bring the kids over to the Central Wharf to build their own colorful boat, inspired by the ones in the water at Explore and More!

·         12pm-4pm

·         $5/adults, children over 1/$5, children under 1/ free, WIC participants/free

Wildlife and Renaissance Festival

       ·      Charging warhorses and thunderous hoof beats mark the start of Hawk Creek Wildlife Center’s WILD RENN FEST July 16, 17, 23, and 24, from 11:00am-4:00pm. The 24th annual festival is highlighted by nationally renowned TV host Jarod Miller of Animal Exploration, the brave knights of Brothers in Arms Jousting, and the aerial acrobatics of free flying birds during The Royal Tournament.

·         $14/adult, $11/ veteran, $11/senior, $8/ages 5-12, free/4 and under

·         $32 for a family pass (2 adults & 3 children).

Richardson-Olmsted Complex Tour

·         Tour the perimeter of the largest and greatest of H.H. Richardson’s creations, surrounded by Olmsted landscaping

·         10am-12pm
$10/person, $5/student

Buffalo’s Biggest 80’s Bash

·         This is the 4^th annual 80’s Bash in Buffalo.  Join thousands of people rockin’ the night away to their favorite 80’s jams while dressed to the nines in their slap bracelets, miniskirts, and parachute pants!

·         7pm-1am

·         $25.00-$100.00

Sunday

Canal Fest

·         Come enjoy great food, music, games, and entertainment on the canal-side at this fun event!

·         10am-midnight

A Walk in the Garden Exhibit

·         Come visit the Kenan Center House Gallery and view the exhibit “A Walk in the Garden,” which features the work of 28 artists ranging from photography and watercolors, to ink drawings, aqua media, and pastels.

·         12pm-5pm

·         Free

Wildlife and Renaissance Festival

·         $14/adult, $11/ veteran, $11/senior, $8/ages 5-12, free/4 and under

·         $32 for a family pass (2 adults & 3 children).

Richardson-Olmsted Complex Tour

·         Tour the perimeter of the largest and greatest of H.H. Richardson’s creations, surrounded by Olmsted landscaping

·         10am-12pm

·         $10/person, $5/student

Trek Tifft

·         Visit Tifft Nature Preserve for a free guided tour!

·         2pm-3:30pm

·         Free

As always, stay safe in the heat, especially when you’re out having fun this weekend!!

Click here to learn more about how to prevent heat related illness.

Miss out one of the days of our “Oh my lanta it’s out out” series? Click on one of the following days to catch up! 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Oh my lanta it is hot out… day 4!!

Onward to day 4 of this atrocious heat wave, and it seems like we've covered the gambit on warm weather activities, so, we've decided to ask our staff and the community how they’re staying cool! 

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com

·         Mindy, one of our Facebook friends, told us they’re staying cool by playing in a tub full of cool water with the kids and munching on freezie pops

•          Amanda, a Chapter employee, is visiting her friend’s house for dinner and a/c
  
•          Adam, a Buffalonian, is planning on taking refuge in his house tonight, opening all the windows, turning on all of the fans, and hoping that a storm comes through to break this temperature
  
•          Louise, a Chapter employee, is planning on drinking lots of Gatorade tonight, and hopefully getting someone to help install her air-conditioner!
  
•          Jordan, a Buffalonian, is planning on visiting his friend’s house tonight for a cookout and pool party
  
•          Faye, a Chapter employee, is going to be Canalside taking advantage of the cooler temperatures by the water while listening tonight’s concert series

What are you planning to do tonight to stay cool? Comment below and give your fellow WNYers some ideas on how they can cool down tonight!

First day to the “oh my lanta it is hot out series?” Click on the following days, 1, 2 and 3, to catch up on our tips!

For tips on how to stay safe in the heat, click here!

Oh my lanta it is hot out... day 3!

Did we all mishear the meteorologists this morning? It’s getting hotter AND muggier?! We didn't think it was possible, since even making a quick walk down the street has us feeling like we’ve run a mile. 

Photo courtesy of
video.planetgreen.discovery.com

Staying inside near the air conditioner and fans has been the solution to most of our heat related woes this summer season, and that’s whats being recommended by many new stations.  But what many people fail to realize when they’re talking about Buffalo is that a lot of us don’t have air conditioners! After all, summers here don’t last very long, and we don’t generally experience heat waves like this. So, if you’re one of the many living without an air-conditioned in your life, what are you to do?

After much researching, this red crosser couldn't find much help for staying cool indoors, especially without air-conditioning, but I've included some of my own solutions below as well as some that I found perusing the web, and additions are always welcome!

Some keeping cool indoor tips:

• Keep the windows open and the blinds/shades drawn
• Try not to use the stove/oven
• Wash your hands in cold water
•  Drink lots of iced water to stay hydrated
•  Try to make meals as non-cook as possible or use a grill
• One of my favorites, Feta and Mint Couscous Salad
• Sandwiches
• Hotdogs, hamburgers and grilled chicken
• Grilled corn or other vegetables
• Soak your feet in ice water or take a cool bath/shower
•  Put an ice pack on your neck
• Create as much air flow/cross ventilation as possible using windows and fans
• Try to keep electronics, like the television, turned off
• Games like scrabble, slap jack, checkers are fun and don’t require too much moving around, plus if everyone in your household is playing you can focus your fans on that part of the room to help cool off!

As far staying SAFE during this atrocious heat wave, it’s important to remember that excessive heat can cause deaths and heat-related illnesses.  Because of this, Dr. David Markenson, of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council has provided us with some of the following tips:

•  Never leave a child or pet in a parked car – even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of a car can quickly reach 120 degrees.
•  Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day – even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol that dehydrate the body.
• Dress for the heat. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing in layers. Avoid dark colors that absorb the sun’s rays.
• If you must work outdoors, take frequent breaks to hydrate and cool yourself. Avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
• Protect yourself from sun exposure even on cloudy or hazy days. In addition to dressing for heat, apply a broad-spectrum (protection against both UVA and UVB rays) sunscreen and reapply as indicated, wear eye protection (wraparound sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection) and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
•  Be a good neighbor. Check in on the elderly, young children and pets to make sure they are not suffering from the heat.

Want to learn more? Learn how to prevent and treat heat-related illnesses by attending a Red Cross First Aid course. Visit www.redcross.org/training for details or to register.

To see other ways to beat the heat, check out day 1 and 2 of our Oh My Lanta, It’s Hot Out series, and be sure to share your “stay cool” tips below! 

Oh my lanta it is hot out... day 2!

As it is still quite toasty out, and it looks like it may continue to be all week, we thought it’d be great to highlight a fun cool down activity each day! And since I was reminded of this great idea right after I posted yesterday’s blog, I thought it would be great to mention today!

Photo courtesy of the fatlossauthority.com...
just get a small :)

Go see a movie! Not only are theaters notoriously chilly, but you‘ll also get to see one of Hollywood’s latest hits and have something to talk about with your friends at lunch!  


Some of the movies out in local theatres now are:

• Cars 2
• Larry Crowne
• Midnight in Paris
• Zoo Keeper
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 2
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon
• Winnie the Pooh

Movie costs to pricey?

Check out Movieland 8 Theatre in Cheektowaga! It’s very affordable and they have great popcorn and drink deals!

OR

Check out your local grocery store! They often have movie passes available at the Customer Service desk for cheaper then you’ll pay at your favorite theaters.

Don’t want to drive all the way to the theater just for a movie? Visit your local mall’s theater and make a day of it! Shopping, eating, and a movie? That’s my idea of a perfect evening.

As always, stay safe in the heat! And be sure to share your favorite cool down activities with us so your fellow WNYers can beat the heat!

For tips on how to stay safe in all the heat, click here!

To read yesterday's cool down tips, click here!