Stay Breezy

Save the skinny jeans for fall and choose flowy, loose-fitting dresses and tops that shield your skin from the sun while allowing cooling breezes to circulate. “My go-to is a Sibel Saral top in white—it has a square, boxy fit that doesn’t stick to you, which I love,” says Abejas boutique owner Christina Mitchell.

Don't Sweat It

Guys who struggle not to sweat through their shirts should start with moisture-wicking undershirts by brands like Under Armour—the better to stop the sweat before it hits your button-up. Some dress shirts also have sweat-wicking capabilities including performance-fabric shirts by J.J. Watt’s preferred brand, Mizzen + Main. If all else fails, stick to white, which camouflages wetness better than gray or bright colors. —Sarah Rufca

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The Ultimate Summer Six-Pack

Sure, Bayou City beer connoisseurs love their stouts and porters, but it’s the pils and kölsches we know most intimately—the beverages that power us through July’s yardwork, August’s block parties, and September’s longest dog days. Here, our six favorite local lagers:

Weekend Warrior

Karbach Brewing Company
ABV: 5.5%

An instant classic from the Spring Branch brewery that’s quickly taking over Texas, this pale ale is dry-hopped, which rounds out the bitterness of its four-hop blend into something crisp yet mellow that pairs easily with everything from Indian vindaloo to chili cheeseburgers.

Oso Bueno

11 Below Brewing
ABV: 5.3%

The Willowbrook brewery specifically designed this American amber ale to pair with “Tex-Mex, days that end in Y, and patios,” and it does, thanks to a balance of three malts and three hops that keep “oh-so-bueno” both toasty and crisp.

Sam’s Daily

Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co.
ABV: 5.8 %

The Sam pictured on the can is none other than Sam Houston himself, for whom this bright, barely malty cream ale is named. If you’re looking to wean a friend off big-name adjunct lagers, this is the stuff to buy (and lucky for you, it’s almost as cheap as, well, the cheap stuff).

I Tell You Wit

Bakfish Brewing Co.
ABV: 5%

This crisp, sweet witbier pours the color of liquid gold, with the tart citrus and mellow banana notes of a good Belgian beer—an excellent example of the style from the brand-new Pearland brewery, which opened in March.

Dome Faux’m

8th Wonder Brewery
ABV: 5.2%

This throwback cream ale, as the EaDo brewery describes it, is meant to evoke memories of ordering frosty plastic cups of Dome Foam beer at summer baseball games inside the 8th wonder of the world itself—the Astrodome, the first air-conditioned stadium on the planet—hence its light flavor and colorful can festooned with the red, orange, yellow and navy of the ’80s-era Astros.

Blue Testament

Back Pew Brewing
ABV: 5.2%

The Kingwood brewery calls this pilsner its “most approachable” brew, though we’d also call it the most Texan, with a flavor that calls to mind the old-school Hill Country beers of our German and Czech settlers and a sweetness derived from Texas blue corn. —KS

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Bring the Heat 

Don’t let the heat dissuade you from a little light gardening this summer; there are certain plants, after all, that flourish in the melting glare of the sun—like the ones below, which will grow like weeds, keeping you in stock week after blistering week. All are best enjoyed fresh; no cooking required.

Basil

Gardening gurus say: The more you prune this bushy beast, the bigger it will grow.

Easy Caprese Salad

☀ 1 ½ lbs. ripe tomatoes, sliced
☀ 10 oz. fresh mozzarella, torn into pieces
☀ 10 fresh basil leaves
☀ Extra-virgin olive oil
☀ Salt and pepper

Arrange tomatoes in a layer on a platter. Top with torn pieces of mozzarella (we recommend Paula Lambert's hoja santa-wrapped mozzarella at the Houston Dairymaids). Drizzle with olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Finish with basil leaves.

Serves 4.

Cucumbers

Gardening gurus say: Keep these water hogs well-saturated, and the cukes will keep coming.

Cool as a Cucumber Margaritas

☀ 2 cucumbers, peeled and chopped
☀ 1 ½ oz. blanco tequila
☀ 1 ½ oz. fresh lime juice
☀ 1 T. agave syrup

Juice cucumbers in a juicer or blender (if using blender, strain pulp out of juice before using). Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker; mix lightly. (For the tequila, try Tapatio Blanco 110, $48.99 at Spec's.) Pour over ice into highball glasses; garnish with lime or cucumber wedge.

Serves 4.

Jalapeños

Gardening gurus say: Water these peppers every other day, but keep them in full sunlight.

Sweet-and-Spicy Salsa

☀ 2 c. ripe mangos, diced
☀ 1 red bell pepper, chopped
☀ ½ c. red onion, diced
☀ ¼ c. fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
☀ 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
☀ ¼ c. fresh lime juice
☀ Salt

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir until well combined. Serve with tortilla chips or on tacos.

Serves 4. —KS

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How Ice, Beans and Jelly Can Make Magic

Taiwanese shaved ice, known in its homeland as baobing, is a cool treat that provides a dizzying array of make-your-own options. Chinatown has several purveyors of the crystalline dessert (we’re looking at you, Juice Box and Twinkle), but for our money, the two locations of Star Snow Ice (9252 and 9889 Bellaire Blvd., 713-779-8886) offer the most refreshing version.

Star allows guests to add syrup and four fixings to a not-so “small” pile of ice for $2.77. For first-timers, choosing from more than 30 different toppings, including fruits, jellies and mochi, can be overwhelming, hence our handy guide to building the perfect baobing:

• The beans: It’s not baobing without a big pile of red beans to sweeten the deal.
• The jelly: Green-bean jelly adds a shocking green hue and a snappy texture (we promise the light flavor tastes nothing like a salad).
• The fruit: Kiwi provides the right sweet-and-sour contrast to your snow ice (melon would only make your ice too saccharine).
• The junket: There are likely to be wiggly mango and egg-flavored junkets (think opaque Jell-O) on offer, but choose almond, which adds a Euro-style flair that recalls lighter-than-air marzipan.
• The syrup: Cane syrup gives a pure stroke of sweetness without overwhelming the other flavors; condensed milk is too thick and creamy for a scorching day.  

Other Sweet Treats Around Town

Connie’s Frozen Custard
12545 Jones Rd., conniesfrozencustard.com

Born on the Coney Island boardwalk in 1919, frozen custard took almost a century to take hold in Houston, which it finally did after this stand’s 2000 opening. Don’t miss the Choc-O-Rocko, a combination of chocolate custard, roasted almonds and marshmallow cream.

Kwality Ice Cream
5636 Hillcroft St., kwalityfoods.com

Indian-born, Rutgers-educated food scientist Dr. Kanti Parekh created this small chain of scoop shops specializing in big Indian flavors. Fruity sapodilla (chikoo) or soursop (sitafal) join smooth spoonsful of ice creams that taste just like milky Indian sweets.

SweetCup Gelato
3939 Montrose Blvd., sweetcupgelato.com

Owner Jasmine Chida may have begun her business with gelato, but she’s not satisfied sticking with just one type of frozen treat. Yogurts, sorbet and custards are also available, in quirky flavors such as avocado–sweet basil and lavender–guajillo–tres leches. —Alice Levitt

Summer Thrills (and Chills)

A Unique David Bowie Tribute: Labyrinth Singalong
Where: Alamo Drafthouse–Vintage Park
When: July 2, 7:30 p.m.

Since Bowie’s death in January, legions of fans have paid tribute to the musical icon. But we’re guessing few have belted out songs from this 1986 George Lucas–directed cult classic starring Bowie himself and a very young Jennifer Connelly.

Shakespeare, Meet Olivia de Havilland: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Where: MFAH
When: July 2, noon 

The museum pays tribute to actress Olivia de Havilland, who would have been 100 years old in July, throughout the month, screening classics such as this 1935 comedy featuring de Havilland as tough cookie Hermia, who risks everything for love.

India’s True Colors: Gurukulam
Where: 14 Pews
When: July 8, 7 p.m.

Follow students at an ashram in Tamil Nadu as they undertake a spiritual journey in this vibrant documentary shot in the dense Indian forest.

Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner: Dirty Dancing Quote-Along
Where: Alamo Drafthouse–Mason Park
When: July 9, 7:30 p.m.
and
Where: Alamo Drafthouse–Vintage Park
When: July 23, 7:30 p.m.

Nothing says summer like this sweaty ’80s romance about a bored teenager who falls for a hunky dance instructor. You could try to recreate the famous dance-scene finale, but for our money, the quote-along will be more fun—the more obscure the line, the better. Impress your friends by joining Baby as she announces, “I carried a watermelon.”

Playin’ with the Boys: Top Gun
Where: Alamo Drafthouse–Mason Park
When: July 10, 6 p.m.
and
Where: Alamo Drafthouse–Vintage Park
When: July 20, 7:30 p.m.

Tom Cruise plays a daredevil fighter pilot training to join an elite Navy unit as he challenges all comers in this vintage ’80s action flick. Almost as iconic as the movie itself are the songs—including “Take My Breath Away,” “Danger Zone” and “Playin’ with the Boys”—that set the mood for love, fierce air battles, and the single-greatest all-male beach volleyball scene ever captured on film.

Opera for the Masses: La Favorita
Where: River Oaks Theatre
When: July 27, 7 p.m.

Set in 14th-century Spain, this four-act French opera by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti—recorded live—tells a tale of love and loss in a king’s court.

Cello There, Ladies and Gentlemen: Music of Strangers
Where: 14 Pews
When: July 29, 7 p.m.

This documentary—from Academy Award–winning director Morgan Neville—follows Yo-Yo Ma, arguably the world’s greatest living cellist, and his Silk Road Ensemble as they travel the world.

There Will Be Blood: Dr. Butcher, M.D./Burial Ground Double Feature
Where: Alamo Drafthouse–Vintage Park
When: July 30, 9 p.m.

What could be more thrilling than two low-budget horror flicks, back to back? The Alamo revives 1980 B-movie classic Zombie Holocaust (a.k.a. Dr. Butcher, M.D.) for one terrifying night, pairing it with 1981 grindhouse zombie film Burial Ground.

Sex, Drugs and Beethoven: A Clockwork Orange
Where: MFAH
When: August 5, 7 p.m.

Round out your summer with one of the freakiest cinematic experiences of all time by taking in Stanley Kubrick’s trippy A Clockwork Orange, part of the MFAH’s Restorations and Revivals series. —Jeff Balke