97 Degree Weather/Hordes Of Tourists

Honestly it’s a tossup, but either way, this is good to know:

It took some zigzagging, but I stayed cool all the way from Grand Central Terminal to Central Park.

Starting at 42nd Street and Park Avenue, I took an escalator in the terminal to the MetLife building — finally venturing onto the street at 47th.

A short, shady walk under some scaffolding brought me to the Tower 49 building at 48th and Madison. I cut through the lobby to 49th Street.

A back entrance to Saks Fifth Avenue was right across the street. I checked out some sunglasses and flip-flops on the way to the 50th Street exit.

I cut through St. Patrick’s Cathedral to 51st Street, but then I had to brave the hot sidewalk along Fifth Avenue one block to 52nd.

At 52nd Street, I crossed the street and ducked inside the lobby of 666 Fifth.

Exiting at 53rd Street, I cooled off at St. Thomas Church and emerged outside the staid University Club, where I cut through a vestibule and wound up halfway to 55th Street.

Crossing Fifth and walking partway down 55th, I soon reached Sony Plaza, where I took a quick break on my way to 56th Street.

Another air-conditioned indoor public plaza was waiting on the other side, which I exited at 57th Street. I then crossed Fifth and wound up in Bergdorf Goodman.