The Dog Days of Summer

No doubt you've heard the expression while watching the local weather forecast: “These record-breaking high temperatures definitely signify that the dog days of summer are here.”

You may immediately imagine a couple of hound dogs, lying on a porch on a hot summer afternoon, too hot to even pant. The term “dog days” actually refers to the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star, during what is typically the hottest, sultriest time of summer.

So let's while away these dog days with some summertime trivia:

• Despite the sweltering heat while filming the 1958 movie The Long Hot Summer, co-stars Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward married during the production.
• One of the most famous cinema summer camps is the fictional Camp Crystal Lake from the Friday the 13th movies. The real camp where filming took place was Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco, a Boy Scout camp in Blairstown, NJ.
• Seals and Crofts' 1972 hit Summer Breeze is still one of the most popular summer songs of all time. One of the backing instruments was a child's toy piano.
• The Woodstock festival, held in August of 1969, is famous for being a “free concert.” Advance tickets were available at New York record stores or by mail, for $18, and 186,000 were sold. Due to a late change in venue, organizers abandoned building ticket booths when the festival-goers began arriving by the tens of thousands.
• National Lemonade Day is August 20th. Celebrate with some awesome recipes.   

Stay cool and be safe!