We’ve got good news and bad news. First, the good: Summer officially starts today! Yes, you may have already gone through one propane tank on your grill, a couple bottles of tequila and dozens of gallons of gas for the boat, but according to the calendar, that’s all been a mere warm-up. Today, the season truly kicks off. [Cue the illicit fireworks!] Now, the bad news: You’ve only got 94 days left to bask in summer’s sunscreen-scented glory. (Only 75 if you pack away your swim trunks on Labor Day.) Do you know how you’re spending the next three months? You do now, thanks to The InsideHook Guide to Summer. Like an expertly packed cooler, our collection of stories, recommendations and roundups has a little bit of everything: what to drink, what to eat, where to go, what to watch when it hits 110 degrees and you’ve got the shades pulled and the AC on full blast. To fill the 94 days of summer, our writers have pulled together… 11 warm-weather whiskey cocktails (because whiskey is the move year-round)49 (!) summer blockbusters, ranked (starting with Jaws, which came out 49 years ago today)10 last-minute trips you can still book (thank us later, procrastinators)11 regional hot dogs (that’ll help you mourn a Joey Chestnut-less Fourth) 100 toys for the beach to the backyard (I’ve got my eye on the six-person paddleboard)You can find some of those guides below, and the full compendium on our website. Personally, I suggest bookmarking the page for easy reference from now through September 22. We’ve got a long, languid summer ahead — and we’ll be here for you every Birkenstock-clad step of the way. - Alex Lauer, features editor |