"To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring."

Talking about one of my character flaws is always an easy way to begin a blog post. They are so abundantly clear that I find talking about them to be a real ice breaker. So, I will begin today's blog post in the same ol' fashion:

I complain...alot.

Typically, my complaining involves simple things like being stressed, not getting paid to sit here at the gallery and post on my blog, or feeling fat from the french fries I ate for breakfast. But -on particularly special occasions- when the sun is shining and I feel skinny and I don't have obligations and I'm not being a jealous girlfriend, I find one last thing to complain about---the weather.

In fact, when I moved here, that was all I could talk about. Being from the south, I have a low tolerance for snow, spring lasts about a week, and then there is summer. Let's not get me started on summer. Okay, let's get me started.

It's a million degrees, the asphalt and buildings trap in heat and humidity, there is no beach on Manhattan, no where has central air conditioning, and on top of this, I don't have a car and I'm forced to go walk around it in all day.  This is the attitude I had all last summer and, needless to say, I wasn't very pleasant to be around. However, now since I have lived here a while and I have my bearings, I am really starting to appreciate summer in the city I now call my home. And even though temperatures are beginning to climb back up to that million degree range, I have found a lot of neat, summertime things to make me happy (not including cold showers and naughty things involving ice cubes).  So here are 5 of my favorite things that have come to my attention in conjunction with the changing season:

1) ICE CREAM SUNDAES!!!

Whether they include bananas like mine (featured on the left) or Reese's Pieces like Eric's (featured on the right), we both agree that the ingredient that makes a sundae best is blueberry jam:) Don't judge me!

2) FROZEN ADULT BEVERAGES!! (seen here featured with ice cream sundaes)

The one here was made from 2 different types of vodka, frozen peaches, and some juice concoction and was utterly disgusting. However, for the most part, frozen drinks are delicious, refreshing, and make you forget that you have two degrees and you're working five days a week for free and no one understands you and you'll probably never get married and your bones are metal and you always have stains on your shirt and the only person who wants to talk to you is:

3) THE TALKING WATER FOUNTAIN ON THE HIGHLINE!!!

Artist Julianne Shwartz created these water fountains as a public art piece called “Digital Empathy.” In this piece, various water fountains, bathrooms, elevators and sinks talk to you! They say both public information and speak words of love, concern and support (like "kissing improves dental health" and "don't eat yellow snow"). I think the one above is telling the inner city youth where the basketball courts are!

4) NEAT POPSICLE FLAVORS!!

This nice young lady stands outside all day in the heat and sells organic popsicles with unique flavors (like pina jalepeno). Last time I was there, she told me I looked pretty so tipped her! I usually only give homeless people money for calling me pretty but her $4 popsicle and her $1 compliment really made my afternoon. Here is my mango/chili flavored one:

5) SLUSHIE TRUCKS!!!

Recently, I have developed a taste for scotch and strong beer, paralleling these interests has come a strong hankering for hydrating post-party beverages. Nothing is better than Kelvin's Slushes. They also are doing interesting things with fruit flavors like citrus basil and lemon guava. To prevent next-day nausea after an evening of gallery and bar hopping, I ordered a ginger mint one for lunch today!

I think it needs to be noted that after trying the olive oil trick as well as Kombucha tea, this drink is the best hangover cure I have come across yet (although it must be paired with a breeze, laying in the grass, and a 5 o'clock glass of white wine).

And there you have it. Clean, summer fun that does not require a beach, a towel, or someone having to pee on you because you got stung by a jelly fish.

Anyways, my intern stipend is burning a hole in my pocket, I'm going to go buy the waterfountain and me a round of popsicles. Happy Friday!!