I hope you all were able to find a way to cool down in the city this Fourth of July weekend. This was one of the hottest in my memory. And the holiday practically begs us to get outside: fireworks over the river, barbecues on roofs and in the park, pilgrimages to Rockaway Beach. 

July is always sweaty in New York City, and New Yorkers are tough. But as fun as the holiday is, extreme heat and humidity makes it more difficult, and even sometimes dangerous, to keep classic outdoor celebrations going as normal.

Earlier this week, I was working in a coffee shop that was showing the France vs. Sweden World Cup match, which was played in New Jersey. As I watched the players sprint out of the corner of my eye, I could hear the commentators talking about how hot it was down on the field.

FIFA mandates cooling and (controversial!) hydration breaks when the wet bulb global temperature (WBGT) — a combination of air temperatures, humidity, direct sunlight, and wind — breaks 90ºF. But there is no high temperature that will automatically trigger a postponed game, reported the New York Times.

With a heat index at outdoor stadiums in Toronto, New York City, Boston, Kansas City, and Philadelphia hitting 110ºF and July Fourth celebrations going strong across the city this weekend, I wondered how we might learn to adapt our traditions.

Part of moving toward a more sustainable future is looking for swaps: drone shows instead of noisy, smoky fireworks, or putting less red meat and more vegetables on our grills. But climate adaptation might also look changing our culture around heat. 

Our former Brooklyn newsletter editor Michaela Keil wrote about inconvenience a few months ago. This may be another form of that radical inconvenience: having frank conversations about when the safest thing to do is adjust our plans to account for the hot weather.

In the winter in New York City, we get that sometimes it’s too tough to be outside for very long. On the coldest days, we bundle up, hustle to the subway, and gather in our homes instead of spending long days in the park. With extreme heat an increasingly common feature of our summers, we may need to start treating some hot days more like we do cold ones. 

(There are also groups of people across the globe whose ways of life have evolved to account for heat. We may have some lessons to learn from them here in Brooklyn.)

Sometimes we just want to watch the soccer game we’re all excited about. Sometimes we want to grill outside with our friends like we do every year. But if we work together to find ways to celebrate that are honest about what life is like in a hotter city, we just might have more fun.

– Ella Spungen, Editor, Bluedot Living Brooklyn

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The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce held its fifth annual Energy Summit and Trade Expo on June 18. 

Doreen Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, served as the keynote speaker. Harris is responsible for advancing New York’s clean energy goals, including the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 85% by 2050.

Harris talked about grid resilience, the ability of the electric power grid to withstand and quickly recover from disruptions such as storms, heat waves, cyberattacks, equipment failures, or other emergencies.

“Grid resilience, I would say, is one of the defining challenges of where we sit today,” Harris said.

Learn what New York State is doing to account for rising energy grid demand.

“Wildman” Steve Brill has been introducing New Yorkers to the wild foods between Broadway and the Bronx for decades — first without, and then with, the city’s blessing. Steve still runs tours year-round, often multiple times a week. Bluedot sent Caroline Saunders on one of his tours, and she learned about the city’s wild greens, fruits, and more.

If you’re itching to forage, check park regulations to make sure whether you are allowed to remove plants in that area. Many trees bearing edible fruits, nuts, and leaves can be located on this Prospect Park Alliance tree-keeper map. Just be doubly sure what you’re picking before you eat it! 

(You should be aware, too, that much of New York City’s soil has been contaminated with heavy metals. While eating wild berries is generally safe, soil health is something to think about. Be conscious that you’re not foraging in particularly contaminated soil, such as near big highways.)

Dear Dot,
How bad is it to use my barbecue? Are there good alternatives?
–Lee

The Short Answer: Not so bad, though your carbon impact has more to do with what’s on your grill than how you’re cooking it. As for alternatives, give electric and solar grills a try!

Read on for Dot’s full answer.

The Bluedot Brooklyn newsletter is edited by Ella Spungen. If you have any questions, suggestions, ideas, or want to tell us what you’re doing, email [email protected].