If you’re staying in the city this summer, there are a few things you should know before May 18 comes around. Make sure you’re prepared to conquer the city in the sweltering heat of the summer with this quick guide.

Housing + Dining

Whether you’re taking classes or not, NYU’s summer housing is a safe and secure way to make sure you’ll have a place to stay all summer long and while avoiding the dreaded apartment sublet hunt. Ranging from $200 to $400 a week starting on May 22 through Aug. 16, you can stay at a variety of rooms at NYU’s Residence Halls, although you’ll need to prove your NYU affiliation to stay in UHall, Othmer, Palladium or Alumni. You can also choose from one of eight different meal plan options, which cost between $140 and $176 per week depending on the size of the plan. The meal plans allow you to eat at a limited selection of dining locations which include Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Kimmel Center Market Place and Weinstein Dining Hall. Check out their website to find out more.

However, if you want to brave the NYC apartment market, make sure you’re prepared and well-informed. Do your research and take advantage of the resources NYU provides such as this helpful pre-recorded webinar about the process, NYU’s the housing registry, or our very own housing listings, CampusAve. Other people prefer to rent through a realtor — just be sure to check out their history online before you hand over that deposit.

Cool Down

NYC is known for getting hot in the summer. And really smelly. The blaring summer sun combined with the cement of the streets and buildings and the lack of wind turns the city into a bit of an oven. Luckily there are many options to counter the blistering heat. Get on higher ground and enjoy the breeze by visiting rooftops that are open to the public like this rooftop farm in Hell’s Kitchen. If you’re looking to escape the concrete jungle for a few hours, head over to one of the many beaches accessible by train such as Coney Island or Rockaway Beach.

Concerts

Music lovers will have no problems finding fun thing to do in the coming months. Unsurprisingly, summer is the season for outdoor concerts in NYC. For example, Central Park’s SummerStage will feature everything from New York hip-hop artists to big-name indie-rock bands on the Central Park main stage. Check out the full summer lineup here.

Movie Screening

With rising temperatures, there will be no reason to do anything indoors, including watching movies. Every Monday from June 20 until Aug. 22, head over to Bryant Park’s lawn to watch one of the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival picks.

Flea Markets

Enjoy the weather while strolling through one of NYC’s flea markets. Pick up some unique items at this one in Chelsea, or grab a friend and head over to the market at Pearl Plaza. And of course, you can’t miss out on Smorgasburg, the trendy food flea market offering delicious eats at affordable prices.

Email Catalina Gonella at [email protected].