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Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Inside the luxury world of dog wellness — as experienced by one very lucky golden retriever
The Jaguar Supersport, '65 Ford Thunderbird and '73 Alfa Romeo are taken by other clients today, so Dug — an 8-year-old golden retriever — is being chauffeured to the Sunset Strip in a presidential Cadillac stretch limo for his spa treatments. He's headed to Collar & Comb in West Hollywood, where he'll be getting a blueberry facial and exfoliating mud mask from the same professionals who groom the mutts of Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Wahlberg and Dakota Johnson. Dug sits upright on the limo's black Corinthian leather seat, flanked by crystal liquor decanters on one side and a TV and VCR on the other. He gazes out the window, tongue hanging out excitedly, as the spiky palm trees whiz by. Then he flops down and chomps on a stuffed Chewy Vuiton Paris bone toy. Such is the world of dog wellness in Los Angeles. The goal? 'Heal.' Wellness for dogs is a niche industry that mirrors the spectrum of wellness treatments for humans. As with humans, it swings from the relaxing and rejuvenating to the dubious. Vet-affiliated treatments include acupuncture, hydrotherapy and chiropractic care. Nutrition is its own subculture that includes raw and organic food, supplements and Western and Chinese herbal remedies. On the pampering end, dog spas and private practitioners offer massage, reiki meditation, inflammation-fighting red light therapy and skin and nail treatments, such as deluxe 'pawdicures.' Fido feeling anxious? Try forest bathing or see a pet psychic. Human-centric wellness for dogs is 'at a high point,' says 'Pet Buzz' radio show co-host, Charlotte Reed. One reason: As vet bills rise, there's been a greater focus on preventative care in recent years — although such preventative wellness is expensive, too. Also, as self-care for humans becomes more popular, there are simply more wellness products and services being developed for dogs. And an increasing number of pet owners now view their dogs as children, Reed says. A New York court recently ruled that dogs can be legally recognized as immediate family members in the state. 'People are worried about the world. So a lot of people are not having children — and they're treating their dogs like kids,' Reed says. 'Dogs — like kids — are a reflection of your lifestyle. If you're into health and wellness, that's what you want your dog to be into.' At the same time, warns American Kennel Club chief veterinarian Dr. Jerry Klein, pet owners must be careful not to project human desires onto animals that, at best, don't share the same tastes. 'A lot of this stuff, it's geared to the humans. But what we derive pleasure and relaxation from might create the opposite for a dog that might not want to be touched or handled. People should get their vet's opinion, always, before doing anything that might affect the dog's health.' I enlisted Dug — a wellness newbie whom I've known for years as his owners, Jeff and Lisa Alulis, are friends — to undergo a week of pampering in L.A. in order to explore some of the dog wellness treatments available. Dug is a happy-go-lucky guy. But he had a rough puppyhood, having been abandoned at a shelter where he suffered distemper, a viral disease and heartworm before being adopted. Perhaps because of that, he has nightmares, during which he kicks his feet and yelps. Could a relaxing sound bath help? It was worth a shot. Victorious Solomon greeted us at Den Urban Dog Retreat in a man bun and T-shirt that reads 'meditate with your dog.' The 10,000-square-foot space in Cypress Park, which Solomon owns with Lindsay Velez, is a dog 'wellness campus' — Canyon Ranch for canines — that includes holistic grooming, daycare, hikes and spa services such as massage, aromatherapy, reiki, animal communication and crystal therapy. It also hosts workshops and social events for pups and their humans: Think coffee, DJs and dogs. Solomon led us to a low-lit event space that featured a wall-length mural of a forest accentuated by flickering candles and swinging macramé chairs. About 20 dogs lay on yoga mats with their owners or they milled about the room as the free 'relaxation concert' began, the sounds of crystal quartz and Tibetan brass bowls commingling with intermittent barking. Sound healer Crystal Cao says she configured the event for canines: It was only 30 minutes long due to their attention spans (no distracting squirrels within eyeshot, but still) and she played 'lower, primal, base tones to keep them calm and centered.' But every time she swayed the ocean drum, filled with beads that mimicked the sound of rain, Dug got up to explore, standing in front of it, head cocked to the side. Eventually, like most other dogs there, Dug took a cue from his humans and relaxed on his mat as they stroked his fur. He left the sound bath seemingly relaxed, per usual. But the nightmares persisted. Would his owners bring him back? Absolutely — if just for the dog social hour that took place in the yard beforehand. Dug is up for nearly any water adventure. But walking on a treadmill, in a glass tank filled with water at chest level was new to him — and admittedly a little scary at first. But the folks at Buddy: Canine Wellness in Studio City were so patient he got through it. (Plus, the spa-like lobby featured soothing, scented candles and a jar of milk bone treats.) Buddy isn't affiliated with a veterinary practice. It doesn't diagnose or prescribe but focuses, instead, on preventive health through fitness and recreation. In private sessions, dogs perform strength building and cardio workouts on an underwater treadmill or in a small swimming pool heated to 85 degrees, supposedly to aid blood circulation. (The initial hourlong visit is $250 with fitness assessment; then it's $100 for 30-45 minutes.) The workouts are zero- or low-impact and easy on the joints, so suited for older dogs or those with arthritis or recovering from injuries. Dug is in excellent health. So he visited Buddy for recreation — several clients come to burn off energy when it's too hot to walk outdoors. Dug donned a life jacket in the pool and treaded around in the water, chasing a ball as co-owner Jazz Pritchard led him around in circles on a leash. Dug's head is so massive that, with the rest of his body mostly underwater, he resembled a blond, furry Hippo cutting through the water's surface. If the goal was to tire Dug out, it was met: He slept soundly when he got home. But still: nightmares. Reiki for humans is a Japanese energy-healing modality that, practitioners say, aids relaxation, pain relief and overall health by realigning the body's energy centers, or 'chakras.' For dogs, it looks like a gentle petting session. Reiki practitioner Stacey Gong worked on Dug for 30 minutes as he laid on the grass, seaside, at Miramar Park in Redondo Beach. Gong works for Tailwagger's Massage & Hydrofitness, which also offers restorative and sports massages as well as inflammation-fighting cold laser therapy, among other services. Dug gazed out at the ocean through the Torrey pine trees, as Gong smoothed his fur and gently ran her fingers along his spine. She softly squeezed his hip muscles, then caressed his midsection, shoulders and neck. Dug flipped onto his back, all four paws stretched out wide — Reiki was not so bad! 'His chakras are in pretty good shape,' Gong said afterward, as she applied a series of five essential oil blends specially created for animals. But his third eye chakra, she added, was slow. 'It's swinging in the right direction, but we made it faster, so everything will be in concert,' she said. 'And the dreams — I don't think they're bad. It's more like he's chasing bunnies.' With his chakras aligned, the wind rippling his thick blond fur and smelling of pungent, earthy oregano oil, Dug stood up, panting merrily, and stared directly into the L.A. Times photographer's lens, as if posing. Now on his third day out, Dug seemed to be feeling confident, more familiar with the camera that trailed him, even seeming to court it at times. Was Dug a wellness influencer in the making? If so, Dug already has nearly 4,000 followers on Instagram. Photos of Reiki, seaside — a quintessential L.A. experience — stand to boost that number. But if nothing else, the $150 Reiki session was not a bad way to spend a Dog Day Afternoon. Dug hopped out of the limo at Collar & Comb (the same limo featured in the 1988 movie 'Twins,' starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito) and — like any aspiring wellness influencer — posed for photos, snout in the air, in front of the luxury, members-only grooming and wellness salon. It was a feast of scents inside: gourmet chicken feet treats! New plushie toys! Fresh mint leaves and aloe vera for his upcoming facial! Collar & Comb is a canine luxury ecosystem, with three social houses for dogs and their humans, three grooming salons and four private dog parks, not to mention a fleet of high-end vehicles to transport four-legged clients. And Dug got the true VIP treatment. He was whisked into a soundproof 'spa suite,' where the founder, Paul Leonard, and master stylist, Yanko Hernandez, prepared the ingredients for his treatments. They swirled hand-muddled blueberries and raw honey into organic, sugar-free yogurt for his facial; they stirred exfoliating Japanese volcanic sand into mineral-rich Korean mud for his hydrating mask. In his pursuit of perfection, Leonard barked orders to his staff with all the intensity of an ER doctor in an episode of 'The Pitt': 'Towels!' he yelled. (They appeared within seconds.) 'Comb!' (Same.) Dug took it all in stride, seemingly enjoying the two sets of hands rubbing the fragrant food into his face. He even managed to sneak in a lick, tasting the yogurt. Meanwhile, Dug's dad was treated to a plush bathrobe and champagne while relaxing in a massage chair as a mix of lo-fi jazz and jungle rock played on the sound system. He watched Dug getting pampered through the glass wall. Dug was blown dry and finished off with a hotel-grade, organic cotton towel, rubbed with nourishing paw-balm and spritzed with 'show dog' scent cologne. He didn't join Collar & Comb given the $75 monthly dues minimum (which doesn't include the cost of treatments), but he memorialized the experience with another round of photos, this time posing with an enormous cow knee bone in-mouth, a final treat to top off the indulgent day. Dug may have enjoyed his afternoon with William Riddle, a certified canine masseuse, the most. For one, Riddle's Doggissage is mobile, traveling through parts of Orange County and Los Angeles. So Dug got to relax in the comfort of his own backyard during his deep tissue massage. And the $50 hourlong massage was essentially a vigorous petting session, though different than the Reiki he'd experienced. Riddle applied increasing degrees of pressure, gently loosening up Dug's muscles at first, and stimulating circulation, before going deeper. Dug stretched out on a blanket by the swimming pool, a fountain trickling nearby. Riddle noticed that, like many dogs, Dug's neck area was tight — dogs put 60% of their weight on their front legs, stressing their necks, Riddle explained — and so he spent more time massaging that area. Fine by Dug! Riddle performed somatics on Dug, slowly and smoothly moving his limbs to supposedly refine brain-muscle connection. Fine by Dug! Riddle even used a small metal tool that looked like a comb to help relieve tension. It was like being brushed. Also fine — two paws up! Riddle performs canine massage for both relaxation and rehabilitation — he says that it relieves muscle tension and stress, increases blood flow and mobility and may ease pain from arthritis. But he strongly recommends discussing it with a veterinarian first. Dug ended his massage with a beef stick treat — he'd have his new best friend back to the house any day! Social connection is a key tenant of wellness. So Dug ended his week at Dog PPL, a private, members-only dog park in Santa Monica with a staff of eerily beautiful people. It's like Soho House for pups. For $120 per month, members can visit as often as they'd like. Pet owners must submit vet and vaccine records and dogs undergo a 'temperament test' before being accepted. The fake grass-laden park is also monitored by 'rufferees,' who are trained in canine safety and behavior. It's as much a community for humans, with a cafe and bar (cocktail of the day: muddled hibiscus margarita) and high-speed Wi-Fi so dog owners can work from the park while their pets play off-leash. Events include fitness classes and trivia nights. Dug trotted in, gleaming from his facial and relaxed from his massage, and immediately made new friends. After stopping at the amenities table for fresh water, towels and doggie sunscreen, Dug tussled with another golden retriever, Bubbles, who was wearing a Goyard collar from Paris. But ultimately, she was too expensive for his taste. Then he bonded with a German shepherd named Gino — the most popular guy in the park. Dug was part of the in crowd! Soon they were a threesome, with a Goldendoodle named Harry. (Dog park gossip: Harry had a crush on Gino too and that stirred tensions between him and Dug.) No matter: The visit was thoroughly enjoyable, the perfect way to cap off a week of wellness in Los Angeles.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Grease fans only just learn what T in T-Birds actually stands for after decades
The 1978 cult classic, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, is a favourite for many thanks to its charming storyline and catchy tunes - but some people are only just discovering facts about the film Almost 50 years after its cinema release, some fans of the film Grease are still puzzled about what the T in T-Birds stands for. The 1978 cult classic, featuring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, remains a favourite for many due to its captivating storyline and memorable songs. The film tells the story of Sandy Olsson, played by Olivia Newton-John, who transfers to Rydell High School after a summer romance with Danny Zuko, portrayed by John Travolta. On her first day, she discovers that Danny is also a student at the same school, and their love story resumes but new obstacles arise. Sandy is welcomed into the Pink Ladies group - Rizzo, Frenchy, Jan and Marty, while Danny is a member of the T-Birds along with Kenickie, Doody, Sonny and Putzie. Yet, even after all these years, some fans are still querying on Reddit: "Why was their gang called the T-Birds?" According to Romper, the prevailing theory about how the T-Bird's got their name is linked to their mutual admiration for a particular car - the Ford Thunderbird, which was seen as "the dream car" in the 1950s. A statement reads: "They named their greaser gang after the luxury speedster itself, becoming 'the Thunderbirds' in the process. "From there, it's a quick jump over to 'T-birds.' If they had been around when the gang were all kids, the boys probably called themselves 'the Hot Wheels.'". One thing to note, though: "Danny's cherished 'Greased Lightning' was not - sadly for the T-birds - a Ford Thunderbird. "Greased Lightning was a 1948 Ford De Luxe... but the high school boys could dream, right? "No word on what car will be used in Grease: Live, but maybe this generation of T-birds will finally get their dream Thunderbird." Weighing in on this topic, one Reddit user observed: "Grease is a parody of 60s and 70s high school movies so T-Birds would have been more like integrated into the available car stock at that point. "Those high school movies were not accurate to the T-birds availability. It being a parody is also a part of why the ages of the actors are so odd." A fellow user chipped in: "The car was named after the Native American mythological creature, so I suppose it's possible the gang was as well." Meanwhile, a third contributor warned: "It's best not to start asking questions about Grease, or it never ends. Why did Danny, a California guy, have a New York accent? "Why did high school aged characters look like they were in their 20s or older? Why is the theme song for a 50s musical in a disco/funk style?" The mysteries are endless....
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Justices uphold convictions of man who confessed to 2006 killing after 17 years
The Kentucky Supreme Court has upheld the convictions of a man who fatally stabbed 61-year-old Paul Clayton during a 2006 home invasion in Elsmere. Timothy Delehanty, 38, was sentenced in Kenton County Circuit Court in August 2024 to 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to numerous charges, including murder. He was also convicted of attempted murder for assaulting a fellow jail inmate while awaiting trial. As part of his appeal, Delehanty argued that the judge presiding over his case erred by denying motions to withdraw his guilty pleas and by not holding a hearing on his request to represent himself. In a June 20 opinion, the justices unanimously denied Delehanty's appeal, saying the trial court did not rule in error on either of those issues. Travis Bewley, an attorney representing Delehanty in his appeal, declined to comment on the justices' decision. Delehanty's early 2024 arrest was prompted by an unlikely confession 17 years after Clayton's killing. Clayton was found dead at his Eagle Drive home in December 2006. Prosecutors say he was lying on the floor of his living room, which was covered in blood, and the residence had been ransacked. Delehanty was quickly identified as a person of interest but wasn't charged in connection with the killing until January 2024, when he admitted stabbing Clayton 50 to 60 times before fleeing in the slain man's vehicle. At least one witness told police that Delehanty had been driving Clayton's 1996 Ford Thunderbird, according to earlier Enquirer reporting. Police at the time said Delehanty "rented" the car to a 16-year-old, who was later found asleep inside the vehicle in Covington. Delehanty was identified in a lineup and arrested for receiving stolen property. The case went cold for the better part of 20 years until Delehanty was stopped by police while trying to leave the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Covington with an IV still in his arm. He told the officers that he was responsible for Clayton's death, according to a criminal citation. At the time of the killing, Delehanty, then 19, was living at a trailer park in Elsmere with his mother just a few doors down from Clayton, Detective Nick Klaiss said during a court hearing. When asked during an interview about why he stabbed Clayton, Delehanty responded that he had 'this overwhelming desire to go kill him," Klaiss said, adding that Delehanty was able to recall details that only someone at the scene would know. While Delehanty has since argued that his public defender failed to adequately represent him, the justices disagreed. They noted that his trial lawyer concentrated on developing a mental health defense 'based around what Delehanty shared about his state of mind around the time of the murder,' court records state. However, the attorney found after reviewing medical records that any mental health issues were likely 'drug-induced' and there was no evidence of psychosis. His attorney also negotiated with prosecutors on a plea deal for roughly a month, but was unable to secure a sentencing recommendation that pleased Delehanty. Prosecutors were seeking a minimum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. After Delehanty assaulted the inmate at the Kenton County Detention Center, prosecutors sought life without parole. Prosecutors indicated they could pursue the death penalty if Delehanty refused to accept a plea. 'However, when Delehanty attempted to murder a fellow inmate, which was captured on video surveillance, his bargaining power nearly vanished,' the justices' opinion states. Instead of receiving life without parole or a death sentence, as well as a consecutive sentence of up to life in prison, he received concurrent life sentences with parole eligibility after 20 years, the opinion states. The justices found that Delehanty's request to represent himself was a reaction to his belief that the court was about to sentence him for the attempted murder case, despite his request to withdraw the guilty plea. 'Delehanty was visibly agitated and panicked, thinking his attorney was not advocating for him,' the court said, adding that he abandoned the request after the issue was settled. The justices also found Delehanty made knowing admissions to the jail attack, which was caught on camera, and the murder. He admitted to confessing to the killing while speaking with police and said in court, 'I killed Paul Clayton.' Delehanty is currently incarcerated at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex and will be eligible for parole in early 2044. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kentucky Supreme Court upholds convictions in 2006 NKY killing
Miami Herald
22-06-2025
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Midwest cities bake as heat wave blankets the Central US
Dick Kraklow rolled into Minneapolis this past week with three generations of his family and several vintage vehicles in tow, excited for an annual gathering of the Minnesota Street Rod Association that celebrates classic cars. But instead of setting up Saturday morning to display their collection, Kraklow, 42, and his family were loading up to drive back to Wisconsin. Several members of the group are in their late 70s, and the heat radiating off the asphalt at the state fairgrounds in St. Paul on Friday caused the family to change plans. 'We love the show,' Kraklow, a welder from Muskego, Wisconsin, said as his uncle angled a yellow 1957 Ford Thunderbird onto a trailer. But ultimately, he said, 'It's too hot.' Millions of Americans on Saturday faced sweltering conditions as a dangerous heat wave brought rising temperatures to the Midwest and central Plains. By the evening, the National Weather Service reported that the heat index — a measure of how hot it feels that accounts for both heat and humidity — had hit highs of 101 degrees in Des Moines, Iowa, 104 in Chicago and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and 105 in St. Louis and Minneapolis, where the high temperature of 96 degrees broke a record for this date. In Omaha, Nebraska, forecasters said that it would feel this weekend like it was 100 to 110 degrees -- in the shade. The most extreme heat was expected to move east and south over the next several days. New York City, Washington and Philadelphia could all break 100 degrees on the heat index by the end of the weekend. Several cities could see heat records broken. Over the entire country, more than 64 million people were under an extreme heat warning. Climate scientists have found that climate change has made heat waves more common, more intense and longer lasting worldwide, though attributing a specific heat wave to climate change is tricky. Cities and towns across the Midwest on Saturday had opened cooling centers and issued warnings to residents, advising them to stay out of the sun as much as possible and to check on vulnerable neighbors and relatives. Some forecasters worried that more people could be at risk because cooler-than-normal temperatures this spring might make acclimating to this sudden jump in heat more difficult. Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago, where the heat index was over 90 degrees and climbing by midday Saturday, said in an interview that he was 'incredibly concerned about the heat wave.' Johnson, who was attending a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Tampa, Florida, noted that this year was the 30th anniversary of a 1995 heat wave that killed more than 500 people in Chicago. He said city officials were focused this weekend on supporting residents who might be most at risk from heat-related health concerns. 'Our administration has activated the full force of government' to ensure people remain safe, he said, an effort that included the city's parks and libraries; police, fire and public health departments; and a collaboration with utility companies. In the city's Lincoln Square neighborhood, where forecasters expected temperatures to remain in the 90s for several days, Jeremy Underhill and his 9-year-old daughter took refuge in the shade outside a coffee shop. 'I usually drink hot tea, but it's iced coffee today,' said Underhill, a 52-year-old operations manager at a trading firm. He added that his family was having second thoughts about their commitment to attend an outdoor block party later in the day. In St. Louis, some library branches that were serving as cooling centers were seeing an influx of traffic, said Justin Struttmann, chief operating officer for the city's public library. He said some residents who headed there for relief had been affected by the severe storm and tornadoes that damaged large sections of the city in May. 'Where we have more people that are in need of those resources — they don't have AC, maybe their home was destroyed, or their AC was knocked out from the storm -- those locations are getting an uptick of activity,' he said. In some areas, including Des Moines, a slight breeze made conditions more tolerable. Duane Huey, 72, left a Price Chopper supermarket with four 1-gallon jugs of water in his grocery cart. 'Actually, I love the heat,' he whispered, laughing. 'As I've gotten older, the cold gets to me more.' He also said that walking in the warm wind was 'kind of like getting a warm hug.' Others were similarly unfazed. Moe Nuhman, a 39-year-old jewelry trader, who was out walking 3 miles from his Rogers Park home in Chicago, thought the weather was fine. 'This is Chicago. It gets hot. I love it,' he said. 'When you walk, you live longer.' Back in Minneapolis, Kraklow and his family finished preparing their caravan of vintage cars for the trip home to Wisconsin. His son and nephew, both 17, were charged with driving one prized piece of their collection, a 1961 Chevrolet Bel Air, back home along the country roads. The vehicle didn't have air conditioning. Kraklow did not envy them. 'It's going to be a long day of just sweating in the car,' he said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Copyright 2025
Straits Times
22-06-2025
- Climate
- Straits Times
Midwest cities bake as heatwave blankets the central US
A pedestrian uses an umbrella to weather 94-degree heat in Chicago on June 21, 2025. PHOTO: THE NEW YORK TIMES Mr Dick Kraklow rolled into Minneapolis this past week with three generations of his family and several vintage vehicles in tow, excited for an annual gathering of the Minnesota Street Rod Association that celebrates classic cars. But instead of setting up on the morning of June 21 to display their collection, Mr Kraklow, 42, and his family were loading up to drive back to Wisconsin. Several members of the group are in their late 70s, and the heat radiating off the asphalt at the state fairgrounds in St Paul on June 20 caused the family to change plans. 'We love the show,' Mr Kraklow, a welder from Muskego, Wisconsin, said as his uncle angled a yellow 1957 Ford Thunderbird onto a trailer. But ultimately, he said, 'It's too hot.' Millions of Americans on June 21 faced sweltering conditions as a dangerous heatwave brought rising temperatures to the Midwest and Central Plains. By early afternoon, the National Weather Service reported that the heat index – a measure of how hot it feels that accounts for both heat and humidity – had hit 33.4 deg C in Minneapolis, 36.7 deg C in Des Moines, Iowa, 37.2 deg C in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and 40.6 deg C in St. Louis. In Omaha, Nebraska, forecasters said that it would feel like it was 100 to 110 degrees this weekend – in the shade. The most extreme heat was expected to move east and south over the next several days.] New York City, Washington and Philadelphia could all break 100 deg F (37.8 deg C) on the heat index by the end of the weekend. Several cities could see heat records broken. Over the entire country, more than 64 million people were under an extreme heat warning. Climate scientists have found that climate change has made heatwaves more common, more intense and longer lasting worldwide, though attributing a specific heatwave to climate change is tricky. Cities and towns across the Midwest on June 21 had opened cooling centers and issued warnings to residents, advising them to stay out of the sun as much as possible and to check on vulnerable neighbors and relatives. Some forecasters worried that more people could be at risk because cooler-than-normal temperatures this spring might make acclimating to this sudden jump in heat more difficult. Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago, where the heat index was over 32.2 deg C and climbing by midday on June 21 , said in an interview that he was 'incredibly concerned about the heatwave'. Mr Johnson, who was attending a meeting of the US Conference of Mayors in Tampa, Florida, noted that 2025 was the 30th anniversary of a 1995 heatwave that killed more than 500 people in Chicago. He said city officials were focused this weekend on supporting residents who might be most at risk from heat-related health concerns. 'Our administration has activated the full force of government' to ensure people remain safe, he said, an effort that included the city's parks and libraries; police, fire and public health departments; and a collaboration with utility companies. In the city's Lincoln Square neighborhood, where forecasters expected temperatures to remain in the 90s for several days, Mr Jeremy Underhill and his 9-year-old daughter took refuge in the shade outside a coffee shop. 'I usually drink hot tea, but it's iced coffee today,' said Mr Underhill, a 52-year-old operations manager at a trading firm. He added that his family was having second thoughts about their commitment to attend an outdoor block party later in the day. In St Louis, some library branches that were serving as cooling centers were seeing an influx of traffic, said Mr Justin Struttmann, chief operating officer for the city's public library. He said some residents who headed there for relief had been affected by the severe storm and tornadoes that damaged large sections of the city in May. 'Where we have more people that are in need of those resources – they don't have AC, maybe their home was destroyed, or their AC was knocked out from the storm – those locations are getting an uptick of activity,' he said. In some areas, including Des Moines, a slight breeze made conditions more tolerable. Mr Duane Huey, 72, left a Price Chopper supermarket with four 1-gallon jugs of water in his grocery cart. 'Actually, I love the heat,' he whispered, laughing. 'As I've gotten older, the cold gets to me more.' He also said that walking in the warm wind was 'kind of like getting a warm hug.' Others were similarly unfazed. Mr Moe Nuhman, a 39-year-old jewelry trader, who was out walking 3 miles from his Rogers Park home in Chicago, thought the weather was fine. 'This is Chicago. It gets hot. I love it,' he said. 'When you walk, you live longer.' Back in Minneapolis, Mr Kraklow and his family finished preparing their caravan of vintage cars for the trip home to Wisconsin. His son and nephew, both 17, were charged with driving one prized piece of their collection, a 1961 Chevrolet Bel Air, back home along the country roads. The vehicle didn't have air conditioning. Mr Kraklow did not envy them. 'It's going to be a long day of just sweating in the car,' he said. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
