Moscow’s summer heat can really take its toll on you. Step into one of the following places to catch your breath and cool off:

1. Ramstore City
Escape the heat by popping into the air-conditioned Ramstore City. To truly cool off, head to the frozen-foods section or shop around for a hat to protect yourself from the sun. We suggest you head to the IMAX for a virtual vacation.

2. Gorbushska Market
The ace audio-video market just got even better, with excellent air conditioning, making bargain-hunting a much-less-sweaty experience.

3. Bukhta Radosty
Swim at one of the handful of bodies of clean water in Moscow. The Bukhta Radosty beach, on the Klyazminskoye reservoir, is especially clean and cool.

4. Art Garbage
There are plenty of great outdoor dining options in this city, but Art Garbage is one of the coolest. It must be the century-old trees that hover over the terrace blocking the sun. It’s especially nice when there’s a bit of a zephyr.

5. Riverboat Cruise
Cast the heat away on the deck of a riverboat. You can still soak up the sun in a cool way when you’re catching a water-borne breeze.

6. Science
This sporting complex has a health center with a cold-water pool and a sauna. Science is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., so you have plenty of time to get fit and stay cool.

7. Okhotny Ryad
Okhotny Ryad is the Mecca of downtown cool (and sometimes tool, if you look around). This shopping center, even without full-on AC, lets you chill out before heading back out to the sticky streets.

8. Stone
Feel like dancing? Don’t sweat! Literally! Stone dance club is cool and cold. The marble-like interior sweeps heat away and it’s well-ventilated to boot.

9. The Phlegmatic Dog
This Internet cafe and bar, open 24 hours with air conditioning and live music on some nights, is an excellent place to chill. You can even wade in the fountains and pools outside, but you risk catching some sort of SARS.

10. Mega
For those who miss the winter ice, why not visit one of Moscow’s several indoor skating rinks? One of the best is in the huge Mega mall. You’ll feel like you’re in an American suburb.


Locations:

Ramstore City
Leningradskoye Shosse
1 Pravoberezhnaya Ul.
Metro: Rechnoi Vokzal (then take the free bus)
Gorbushka
8 Barklaya Ul.
Metro: Bagrationovskaya

Bukhta Radosty
Metro: Rechnoi Vokzal
Take a boat up the Moscow Canal. Boats leave every hour on the hour starting at noon.
Tel: 458-9163

Art Garbage
5/6 Starosadsky Per.
Metro: Kitai-Gorod
Tel: 928-8742

Riverboat cruises
Piers are located at: Moscow State University (Metro: Universitet), Gorky Park on both sides of the river (Metro: Park Kultury), Rossiya Hotel (Metro: Kitai-Gorod)
Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily at 30 minute intervals

Science
38 Bolshaya Akademicheskaya Ul.
Metro: Petrovsko-Razumovskaya
Tel: 154-5271

Okhotny Ryad
1 Manezhnaya Ploshchad
Metro: Okhotny Ryad
Tel: 737-8397

Stone
19 Kuznetsky Most Ul., Bldg. 1
Metro: Kuznetsky Most
Tel: 928-7497

Phlegmatic Dog
1 Manezhnaya Ploshchad (in the Okhotny Ryad shopping center)
Metro: Okhotny Ryad

Mega
21st km on Kaluzhskoye Shosse
Metro: Tyoply Stan (then hop on the free bus)
Tel: 933-7450