By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Jul 18, 2019 at 9:01 AM

Milwaukeeans only "need" air conditioning a few weeks out of the year, but when we do – we really do. (Hi, this week!) But not everyone has access to air conditioning, or some are forced to spend parts of their day without it. So here are 10 ways to beat the heat without the assistance of AC:

  1. The classic: Take cold shower, sit in front of fan. If of drinking age ... shower beer!
  2. Eat a Pete's Pops popsicle; rub popsicle on especially sweltering body parts.
  3. Get friend or spouse to drive on freeway; hang head out passenger's window like dog; pant if you must.
  4. Go to a neighborhood bar or beer garden and drink cold ones until you're too tanked to notice heat, humidity or to comprehend the concept of weather in general. (And then call an Uber.)
  5. Make accordion fan out of cheaper-than-it-would-be-if-you-had-air-conditioning electric bill.
  6. Listen to Christmas music and imagine winter wonderlands, Jack Frost or anything other than chestnuts roasting on open fire.
  7. Take a dip in any one of the Milwaukee County Pools
  8. Pile on winter clothing until you sense the onset of heat stroke, then remove clothing to feel remarkably cooler.
  9. Go to a movie. Oh, but don't forget your sweater because you'll be cold before the film starts. 
  10. Down a drink at Bradford Beach.


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.