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From summer movies, to music, to throwing your own party, entertain and be entertained with our guide to surviving your Summer in the City…

What to see:

• “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2” with America Ferrera and Alexis Bledel. This time around the fab four are in college, sharing new experiences, lessons, and loves along the way.
• Mega-star Will Smith in “Hancock,” a not so superhero who has lost his heroic touch with the public and has a sticky relationship with a married woman.
• M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Happening” starring Mark Wahlberg and John Leguizamo about a family trying to outrun a disastrous, natural crisis wiping out everyone.

Where to go:

• The Fiestas Puertorriqueñas festival in Chicago with countless music, food, dance, and culture, from June 10th to the 15th at Humboldt Park.
• The Los Angeles County Museum of Art for Phantom Sightings: Art after the Chicano Movement which boasts 125 principal works of groundbreaking Chicano art, the largest ever to show at the LACMA. The exhibit includes painting, performance art, sculpture, installation, and more.
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to see the Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy exhibit that features relationship between superheroes and fashion with costumes, couture, and discussions on how superhero attire inspires fashion houses.

What to hear:

• “Sex and the City Soundtrack” featuring Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, Fergie, Nina Simone and more.
• Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends” due out mid-June, featuring 10 new tracks from the Grammy winning band.
• Mexican pop star Thalia’s summer CD scheduled for release in June, produced by the renowned Emilio Estefan and Adrian Posse.

What to read:

• “Brida” by Paulo Coehlo is the story of a young, Irish woman’s search for wisdom via spirituality.
• The latest from “The Devil Wears Prada” author Lauren Weisberger entitled “Chasing Harry Winston,” about three best girlfriends who dramatically decide to transform their lives within a year’s time.
• Sophie Uliano’s “Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life” for easy ways to go environmentally correct with your home, travel, and even your makeup.

What you need to throw a beach party minus the beach:

For those of you who don’t live in the OC you can still have your own beach party. Whether it’s in your backyard, at a park or even in your living room, it’s all about bringing the beach to you.

The Decor:

1. Blankets, Beach towels, or bright colored tablecloths
2. Buckets with ice for drinks
3. Sand and Shells for decoration (Put candles in sand)
4. Paper party-ware

Target has some great finds. Try the Daisy Steel Beverage Tub for $12.99; Iridescent 10-Bulb String Lights for $9.99; Fruit Slices Beach Towel for $14.99; Summertime Watermelon Deluxe Party Kit for $26.99.

The Food:

1. Hot Dogs/Hamburgers
2. If you don’t want to cook, make your favorite sandwiches
3. Chip and Salsa
4. Guacamole – see recipe
5. Salad – Green, Potato or Pasta - see recipe

GUACAMOLE
serves 8

• 4 ripe avocados (soft to touch)
• ½ white onion chopped
• ½ cup chopped cilantro
• juice of a lime
• 1 chopped jalapeño chile (optional)

Mash together all ingredients in a bowl with a fork until smooth. If desired, add a little milk for a smoother consistency

PAPA’S POTATO SALAD
serves 10-12 (recipe can be halved)

• 6 russet (baking) potatoes, scrubbed
• 4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
• 5 whole medium dill pickles, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• ½ - 1 whole yellow onion (depending on taste), finely chopped
• 1 small jar diced pimentos
• 3 tablespoon yellow mustard
• ¾ - 1 cup mayonnaise
• salt and pepper to taste
• paprika (optional)

Place russet potatoes in large pot. Add water to cover. Boil until potatoes are tender when you stick a fork in but not mushy, about 35 minutes. Drain and cool potatoes completely. Peel skin off potatoes and dice. Place in large bowl. Add next 6 ingredients. Add mayonnaise ¼ cup at a time and salt and pepper to bind all ingredients. Should not be too creamy. When done smooth out top of salad and sprinkle paprika on top.

SUMMER VEGGIE PASTA SALAD

• 1 box (1lb) of spiral pasta (fusilli, corkscrew, etc) cooked according to directions on box
• ½ cup chopped sundried tomatoes in oil (comes in a jar)
• 2 jars of marinated artichoke hearts
• 1 cup can white corn or 2 ears of corn (kernels cut off cob)
• ½ cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
• 5 oz goat cheese, crumbled
• If needed - ¼ cup store bought Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing

Put pasta in a large bowl. Add sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts along with the marinade. Add corn, parsley and goat cheese. If salad is too dry add vinaigrette dressing.

The Drinks:

1. Non-alcoholic Sangria Cooler
2. Frosty Delights

SANGRIA COOLER
serves 8

• 4 cups Orange Juice
• ½ cups White Grape Juice
• 1 liter Ginger Ale
• 2 cups cut up fruit of choice (oranges, lemons, limes, pineapple, grapes, peaches, strawberries)
• 2 cups ice cubes

Stir first four ingredients together in a large pitcher or bowl. Add ice when ready to serve.

SPARKLING RASBERRY (OR STRAWBERRY) LEMONADE

• 12 ounce package frozen unsweetened raspberries (about 3 cups)
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup water
• 1½ tablespoons grated lemon peel
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 liter bottled chilled sparkling water or club soda
• ice cubes
• fresh raspberries (optional)
• lemon slices

Combine frozen raspberries, sugar and ½ cup water in medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and berries thaw. Increase heat and boil 3 minutes. Strain raspberry mixture into bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids in strainer. Mix lemon peel into raspberry syrup in bowl. Chill until cold.

Stir raspberry syrup, lemon juice and sparkling water in large pitcher to blend. Fill 6 glasses with ice cubes. Pour raspberry lemonade into glasses. Add fresh raspberries to each glass, if desired. Garnish with lemon slices and serve.

What to do when you’re not entertaining:

Volunteer! Summer is not just a time of fun, but also a time to contribute and make a difference in your community. Cities across the nation have many churches and organizations that would love your help. Do some research and make some phone calls but do not let boredom strike you. Find out what your interest is and press on! If your interest is in the arts and entertainment arena, check with your local museums and theatres. If you’re into health, take the lead and start a fitness and wellness group in your neighborhood. If you play an instrument, practice at a nursing or retirement home. Give of your time and talents and help make your community a better place to live. Every city has many different volunteer opportunities. Listed below are a few great areas to explore:

• Local Food Banks
• Battered Women Shelter
• Habitat for Humanity
• Children’s and Local Hospital
• Local Museums and Theatres
• Adoption Services
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Senior Services
• United Way
• American Red Cross
• American Cancer Society
• Advocacy Center
• Animal Shelters
• Career Counseling and Coaching
• Dress for Success
• Tutoring
• Goodwill Industries
• Salvation Army
• Women’s Leadership Forums
• Agencies with Special Needs
• Nursing and Retirement Homes
• Local Church Services

Look at volunteering as a goal to help improve the quality of life for those in need. Once you experience the electrifying feeling of making a difference in other people’s lives, you’ll keep coming back for more. Still need more reasons to volunteer? Check out these benefits:

1. Just plain feeling good by helping others.
2. An opportunity to meet new people and friends.
3. Possible community volunteer credit hours, applied towards your degree plan (check with your college or university).
4. Making a difference in someone’s life.
5. Leadership experience.
6. Putting a smile on someone’s face.
7. Networking contacts for future job opportunities.
8. Sharpening your soft skills and making yourself more marketable in the job force.

Recipes by Leslie Loven. Volunteer information provided by Diana Santa Cruz.