Summer in the City

Those lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer are fast approaching. Soon the fiendish sun and wicked humidity will turn our fair city into a red-brick furnace. Still, we at Riverfront Times — cheerful masochists that we are — have grown rather fond of summer's brutality, of the air-conditioned prisons it creates, of the lethargy it summons. Oh yes, the whole fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk madness of it all. God help us, but we love it so.

So ardent is our love of summer that we have again produced a guide on how best to cheer up, chill out and embrace the chili-hot glories of a St. Louis summertime. This guide is our way of saying, "Sure it's hot, but suck it up and enjoy the city's blazing wonders."

With the help of some our finest writers, we have compiled a number of pleasurable ways to happily survive the toasty months ahead. Learn how to see the world without ever setting foot outside of St. Louis. Discover the hottest places for outdoor drinking, and some big events that simply cannot be missed. Check out some great parks that will make your summer reading a whole lot cooler. We'll even let you know about the city's best farmers' markets, where you'll find everything you need to throw an amazing gourmet dinner party. Have a magical summer.