How to survive the summer: bunkering lessons for locals

Another location to enjoy the cool morning hours is the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center (10750 Pleasanton). We're not telling you to go jump in a lake (this former sewage outfall wouldn't be our first choice); make the trek instead for early morning bird watching. Bring binoculars, a field guide, and a notebook to record your finds. Though birding tends to conjure images of strange Aunt Sally and her gum boots, it's a popular sport. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are over 51 million birders countrywide. Try it.

Not an early bird? Try these pursuits for nighttime fun. The San Antonio chapter of Sidewalk Astronomers offer free opportunities to use their telescopes Tuesday nights at sunset in McAllister Park (13102 Jones Maltsberger) for weekly stargazing (until July 31st) and have longer trips for larger celestial events. Don't miss the Perseids meteor shower on August 12-13, first chronicled over 2,000 years ago. For more information, check out salsa-astro.com. The stars are poetic, but mixing up poetry with street biking is something else. Fruit Sacrifice is a group of young poet-bicyclists that meet up in picturesque spots with great city views to read their own works and the classics (last time, Henry Miller and Emily Dickinson got some attention). Next round of readings is 7:30 p.m. June 28 at the gazebo in King William Park (131 King William). For more info, check random postings at their Facebook page. Type in: FruitSacrifice.

And for more chilling stations, don't forget the old standbys. Florist shops, like Mac's Flowers and Greenhouses (2806 N Mary's) are kept at a pleasant 72 degrees and tolerate "just looking" for a few minutes, but seriously consider buying a house plant to go. They add oxygen, making warm rooms feel cooler. Rich and poor have enjoyed the cooling comfort of free, book-lined rooms since the public library was invented in Boston back in the 18th century. Don't think the internets have made them obsolete — and unlike your laptop, library tables don't heat up unexpectedly. San Antonio Public Library has 26 branches open seven days a week, the Central Library (600 Soledad) keeps the doors unlocked till 9 p.m., Monday-Thursday. •