5 Ways to Beat the Summer Heat in La Cañada

Although there’s a 20 percent chance of rain Friday, according to the National Weather Service’s Weather Forecast Office in Los Angeles/Oxnard, highs are still expected to hover around 92 degrees Fahrenheit, making Friday one of the year’s hottest days.

Saturday's high—also with a 20 percent chance of rain—is forecast to be 90 degrees, and the high for Sunday is expected to be 93 degrees. In fact, the weather office has issued an "Excessive Heat Watch" warning from Friday through Sunday.

And to make matters worse, the 20 percent chance of showers is likely to ensure that humidity will remain relatively high. That, in turn, would render swimming somewhat unattractive, making it tougher to cool off without air conditioning.

So what can those of us do who don’t have air conditioning at home and don’t want to travel far—wisely—to be in an air conditioned environment? Here are five suggestions on how to cope with the heat wave:

• 1. Consider spending the hottest hours in a public facility, such as the . Enjoy reading without dripping onto a magazine or book. Another idea is to rent a DVD, pop it into your computer, put in some ear buds and sink (not slide) into a comfy chair. 

• 2. Want a chilled latte with your reading material? Try or either of the two Starbucks: the one on or . 

• 3. You're sweating wherever you're walking this weekend so, you've earned it: how about a milk shake from ? Still calorie conscious? They have delicous, real fruit shakes too.
• 4. And a place so dark and heavily air conditioned, you might just need a sweatshirt: movie theater. Wrap your fingers around a chilled beverage, dial into a film and block out the hazy, hot city. 
• 5. Hop over the 2 Freeway and duck into the Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Americana, on Brand Avenue in nearby Glendale. (Parking is free for two hours, with validation, which you can get by making any purchase at the Starbucks café on the bookstore’s third floor.)