UPDATE: How to beat the Seattle heat, Jersey style

Seattle experienced its hottest day on record this summer
// (c) Stephen Finn - www.fotolia.com

UPDATE: Earlier this summer, I wrote a post about Seattle's unseasonably hot weather, along with suggestions on how to beat the heat like we did back in New Jersey.  Who knew we'd go on to experience Seattle's hottest day on record just a few weeks later?

As much as I'm ready for the heat to break, it's events like this that bond city inhabitants together.  New Yorkers had the blackout, Seattleites will have the heat wave of 2009 -- people will talk about it for years to come.

But first, we have to make it through the heat wave.  So in the spirit of summer, here's my list of how to beat the Seattle heat -- Jersey style -- with a few little extras.

1.) Go down the shore
This is Jersey speak for, "Go to the beach."  Golden Gardens is a great substitute -- close your eyes, and it's almost like you can hear Bon Jovi blaring from the boardwalk.  It also helps to take a dip in Green Lake or Lake Washington -- water is your friend.

2.) Hang out at the mall 
Every once in a while, a day comes around that's so hot, there's nothing you can do to escape ... except head to the air conditioned mall!  It's a Jersey institution, but the Seattle area's got plenty of them.

3.) Catch a movie, go bowling, or go ANYWHERE with air conditioning
If you're looking for something a little more entertaining, other Jersey favorites include heading to the movies or a bowling alley.  They're packed during the summer because -- you guessed it -- they're air conditioned. Yelp actually has a growing list of places in Seattle with air conditioning, and you can happily tack onto it.

4.) Throw a poolside BBQ
Hang out by the pool, throw some Italian sausage on the grill, put some Bruce Springsteen tunes on, and you've got yourself a BBQ!  Don't have a pool?  Running through the yard sprinkler will suffice.

5.) Have some Italian ices ... or homemade popsicles
After a long summer day, I'd wait for the Little Jimmy's Italian ice truck -- not the ice cream man.  There's nothing more refreshing on a hot day, but I've only been able to find some at the Seattle Center.  Molly Moon's sorbet comes in at a close second.  As for me, I've started making my own popsicles this year...

And if all else fails, take a cold shower, sit in front of the fan, and take in the heat while it lasts.  Before you know it, it'll be back to business as usual!