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THE FREE LANCE-STAR
iT'S LATE AUGUST and the humidity is high.
You make a mad dash for your car, but your hair flops before you can climb inside. You've nixed plans to install a hot tub on your deck because your back yard already feels like a sauna. And you just can't seem to slather on enough deodorant.
Well, don't just stand there sweating. Weekender gives you five ways to chill out in Fredericksburg.
life's a beachSoon, pools will close for the summer. Lucky for us, the Fredericksburg area is home to a bounty of beaches.
Of course, you'll have to settle for splashing into a lake or river. And jumping in when you can't see what's lurking below requires a leap of faith.
Already hearing that creepy music from "Jaws"? Relax, silly, sharks don't live in freshwater seas. And those freakish snakehead fish? Don't even let yourself go there.
If you still won't take the plunge, there are plenty of other cool things to do at the beach.
Making snow angels in the sand will give you goose bumps.
You can build a castle or bury your little brother, read a book or tend to your tan.
Or just sit back, soak up the soothing sounds of the surf and let your summer worries float away.
ice, ice, baby!You probably won't need to pull on a parka to go indoor ice skating, but those rinks do stay pretty chilly, even when the mercury outside is soaring.
Lace up your skates and have your own Olympic moment. Pretend you're Michelle Kwan or Brian Boitano. Just do us a favor--don't go for the double axel your first time out.
Or grab a stick, a puck and 11 of your best buds, and battle it out in a game of ice hockey.
It's worth the price of admission just to see the Zamboni in action. The massive machines spray rinks with water that freezes into a fresh layer of glistening ice.
The best thing about ice skating on a man-made rink in the heat of summer? You won't have to worry about falling through.
i scream, you screamIf you're counting carbs, stop.
So what if chocolate ice cream packs 19 of the forbidden food fragments in just half a cup?
Summer won't last forever. Indulge!
If you just can't lighten up, consider an icier treat. Italian ice has 16 carbs in each half cup. Ice pops contain 11 carbs per bar.
Still not convinced?
These ice cream tidbits will tickle your taste buds, and they're 100 percent carb free.
l According to the International Dairy Foods Association, vanilla claims nearly 33 percent of ice cream sales in the United States. That makes it America's favorite flavor, followed by chocolate.
l Some not-so-hot varieties that actually have made it to supermarket shelves might make you shiver, including garlic, dill pickle and jalapeño.
l The world's largest ice cream sundae--a towering 55,000-pound treat--was made in Alberta, Canada, in 1988, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
l A New York City ice cream vendor created the cone in 1896, according to the IDFA. Apparently, the businessman's brainstorm was an effort to keep customers from making off with his serving glasses.
l One last ice cream scoop: Lick quick! It's hot out there.
frosted flicksMovie theaters seem to stay so nippy it's tempting to tote your mittens to the matinee. So watching a flick can be a great way to beat the heat.
See pages 8 through 10 for a list of the latest movies to hit local theaters, to read Rob Hedelt's reviews, or to find out about films still playing in the Fredericksburg area.
Short on dough?
Rent a cool film, take it home and crank up the air conditioning. Consider these refreshing picks:
l "Cool Runnings" with John Candy
l "Cool Hand Luke" with Paul Newman
l "The Big Chill" with Tom Berenger
l "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" with one lovely lady and a bunch of tiny men
l "Cold Mountain" with Nicole Kidman
l "Cool World" with Brad Pitt
Warning: Because of their hot stars, the last two films could have the opposite effect.
put your brain on icel Set up a slip-and-slide in your yard and invite the neighbors over.
l Rent a snow-cone machine. They go for about $31 per day at Earl's True Value in Stafford County.
l Buy tickets to a Washington Capitals ice hockey game. The team's first preseason game is scheduled to take place at the MCI Center in Washington on Sept. 3.
l Have a family water-balloon fight.
l Put on some rap music. May we suggest something by Vanilla Ice, Ice Cube, Ice-T, LL Cool J or Snow?
l Check out the calendar center spread on pages 12 and 13 for cool events scheduled to take place this week.
