By Bobby Panza
Some like it hot, indeed. On Saturday, day four of the heat wave that started on Wednesday in NYC, I put on a tropical-esque shirt and sunblock, donned a pair of chunky sunglasses, and slipped on my limited edition Zabar’s Vans. I was off to ask random people on the Upper West Side how they are dealing with the extreme heat that has been trapped over us and much of the United States by a “heat dome,” which occurs when “strong, high pressure traps hot air over a region, preventing cool air from traveling in and causing temperatures to rise on the ground and stay high,” according to The Guardian.
The temperature was roughly 90 degrees as I ventured out around 11:30 a.m.
Ahmed Ibrahim, 29
From: “Asia,” has lived in the U.S. since 2011
Ideal Thermostat Temperature: “Around 60-62 degrees. Cold.”
Location: Behind the hot dog cart at the southeast corner of Central Park West, diagonally across from the Dakota on West 72nd Street.
I’ve been working here since 2016. When it gets hot, I put a rag in ice and put it around my neck or head. Business is not good right now because of the heat. We’re only selling water, Gatorade, and, sometimes, soda. No food.
Lydia Gibson, 39, and Reggie, 1
From: London, living on the UWS for the last two years
Ideal Thermostat Temperature: “We don’t like it too cool. Somewhere in the region of 78-82 degrees. We don’t ask for a lot.”
Location: West 87th Street Dog Run in Riverside Park.
The heat has been challenging. Last year, it threw me off completely. I didn’t know America got this hot, this muggy. This year, even when you add the heat dome on top, at least we’re more prepared. Reggie is one year old and managing okay. I think he recently started to become a bit more mature and that’s helped him with the heat. I got him in August, 2023, when it was hot, though not this hot and muggy. He was three months old and was, like, “What is this?” He was just figuring out life let alone heat. This time around, he’s got a routine, he’s got a community, he’s got friends, he’s got expectations! Now it’s just the issue of the heat he has to deal with rather than ‘what is this thing called life?’
Blanche, 40 (declined to disclose last name), wife and mother of two children
From: New York City, currently living in New Jersey
Ideal Thermostat Temperature: “Oh, it depends if it’s me or my husband. For me, it’s like 75-74. For him, it’s like 68.”
Location: Outside Hippo Playground at West 91st Street in Riverside Park.
“We came in for a birthday party. Good times, good times. We’ve been coping with the heat through water play and mostly staying indoors to be honest.” (laughs)
Chase Wynans, 67
From: Harlem
Ideal Thermostat Temperature: “72 degrees because I have two huskies.”
Location: Samuel N. Bennerson second playground adult fitness area (NYCHA Amsterdam Houses), West 64th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and West End Avenue.
My friend lives here. We work out together. You know, bring the boombox out and get some reps in. Today, I’m focusing on upper body workouts. There’s some good basketball that gets played here, too, but it’s still kind of quiet right now. Good time to enjoy things. The heat? I’m from the islands, so it doesn’t bother me.” (laughing) Need anything else?
Emmet Gilroy, 27
From: Upper West Side
Ideal Thermostat Temperature: “I normally keep it around 72. Not too cool, but keeps it cool enough.”
Location: Under the scaffolding outside Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ at 620 Amsterdam Avenue and West 90th Street, during a thunderstorm that began around 2:05 p.m.
I’ve been keeping the air conditioners on, staying indoors during the peak parts of the day, and just trying to stay cool as best as I can. The days I’ve been at work have been a relief because I work indoors. I’m a nurse at Montefiore Medical Center up in the Bronx. We keep it cool in there, so that’s been a nice escape from the heat of outside.
I had to run out to get some food. Honestly, [the rain] was kind of nice. Walking up to get the food I was feeling the heat, then I started feeling the drops and was, like, ‘Oh, I’m about to get caught in the rain here.’ It’s actually quite nice. It feels pretty good. I don’t mind the rain that much at all.
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Reggie looked delighted. My dog is from Georgia originally. Loved the jet though even this, she runs inside when we come from a walk.
A valuable lesson that it’s never too hot to skip upper body workout day. Go Chase!
Lydia and Reggie are delightful! He’s got expectations!
Chase is 79? Very impressive.
67
These are cute interviews.
My AC’s broken so I’ve had my windows open the past week. It’s been weirdly enjoyable – I feel like a kid again (I grew up mostly without air conditioning).
My A/C is broken, too. I didn’t realize it would get this hot this early. I’m not worried about myself, but I am concerned about my dog. I have all the windows wide open and 2 fans going at maximum, until I can arrange to get a new A/C and get it installed. It’s a bummer.
Nice mini interviews Bobby. And great pics all around, espesh of Reggie.
It’s 90 degrees. Not 100.
It’s reallllly not that bad.
All that said, we need congestion pricing and emissions reductions NOW. Unless you want this heat to get worse and your kids to grow up in a NYC that resembles New Delhi
So, you believe if NYC spends enough money on reducing emissions they can change the temperature of the earth? NYC could stop all emissions in fact NYC could slide into ocean and it would not make a difference in world temperature. The only thing congestion pricing decreases is the amount of money in a working person’s pocket.
I recommend the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s nice and cool inside, the Harlem Renaissance exhibition that’s running now is spectacular, and it’s pay-what-you-want for NYC residents!
I love this continued work on different subject matters. Bobby really gets around out there! Even in the rain multiple times now. I respect that hustle. Hope to see you out there someday.