Mandatory Milwaukee: Bringing the air conditioners up from storage because it’s gonna be 90 today

Some places summer traditions come and go, while some places summer traditions become icons. Mandatory Milwaukee is all about the latter. Join us as we revisit beloved and well-worn local staples summer traditions with fresh eyes, and explore how they might figure in the city’s future. This week: bringing up the air conditioners from storage because it’s gonna be 90 today.

The winter was endless and cruel. The spring has been middling and cool. Then, one morning when you’re doomscrolling before school (that’s the end of the rhyming, sorry), you see it. It’s gonna be 90 degrees today. Uh oh. You live on the third floor of an apartment building and there’s no central air. It gets hot up there! You know what time it is:

TIME TO BRING THE AIR CONDITIONERS UP FROM STORAGE.

Didn’t you just put these things away a few weeks ago? It feels that way, but never mind: It’s time to unearth these window-unit beasts and lug them up three flights of stairs. Fun!

Entering your standard-issue Milwaukee apartment storage space, this is what you see:

Hey! A 10-pack of socks! But what are those metal trays below the socks? Let’s take a look…

Yikes. MOVING ON. (The other one is Strawberry Shortcake.)

Three flights of stairs and a tweaked back that you’ll still be feeling two hours later, you’ve got one up! What are these things, 75 pounds or something? Let’s say 100.

Now back down for #2. (Jesus, these pictures look like they came from a crime scene.)

Up we go, and there they are! Time to install them! Later!

But seriously, folks [channels vibe from old G.I. Joe PSAs], extreme heat is no laughing matter. In fact, Milwaukee has issued a Heat Health Advisory for Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15. Here are some tips, courtesy of the Milwaukee Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to deal with it:

STAY COOL

• Slow down. Limit physical activity, and try to spend part of your day in air-conditioned spaces such as shopping malls, movie theaters, or libraries.

• Never leave children or pets in a parked car. Temperatures can become life-threatening within minutes.

• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.

• Take cool baths or showers and use wet towels on your skin to help you cool down.

• Do not rely on fans as a primary cooling device.

• Check in on those most-at-risk twice a day.

STAY HYDRATED

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day, regardless of thirst.

• Avoid consuming caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, as these can increase heat effects.

• Remind others to drink enough water.

STAY INFORMED

• Check local news and weather reports for extreme heat alerts and safety tips.

• Be aware of symptoms of heat-related illness

Need somewhere to cool off? Feel free to visit the following places. STAY COOL AND SAFE, MILWAUKEE.

Cudahy

Kelly Senior Center
6100 S Lake Dr
(414) 481-9611
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Cudahy Family Library
3500 Library Ave
(414) 769-2244
Open 10:00AM – 8:00PM

Glendale

North Shore Public Library
6800 N Port Washington Rd
(414) 351-3461
Open 10:00AM – 8:00PM

Greendale

Greendale Public Library
5647 Broad St
(414) 423-2790
Open 9:00AM – 8:00PM

Southridge Mall
5300 S 76th St
(414) 421-5600
Open 10:00AM – 8:00PM

Greenfield

Greenfield Public Library
5310 W Layton Ave
(414) 321-9595
Open 9:00AM – 8:30PM

Hales Corners

Hales Corners Public Library
5885 S. 116th St.
(414) 529-6150
Open M-Th: 10:00AM – 8:30PM
Friday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Saturday: 10:00AM – 5:00PM

Milwaukee

Atkinson Public Library
1960 W Atkinson Ave
(414) 286-3000

Bay View Public Library
2566 S Kinnickinnic Ave
(414) 286-3000

Beulah Brinton Community Center
2555 S Bay St
(414) 481-2494
Open 8:00AM – 9:00PM

Capitol Public Library
3969 N 74th St
(414) 286-3000

Center Street Public Library
2727 W Fond du Lac Ave
(414) 286-3000

Central Public Library
814 W Wisconsin Ave
(414) 286-3000

Clinton E. & Bernice K. Rose Senior Center
3045 N MLK Dr
(414) 263-2255
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

East Public Library
2320 N Cramer St
(414) 286-3000

Forest Home Public Library
1432 W Forest Home Ave
(414) 286-3000

Martin Luther King Public Library
310 W Locust St
(414) 286-3000

McGovern Park Senior Center
4500 W Custer Ave
(414) 527-0990
Open 8:30AM – 4:00 PM

Mill Road Public Library
6431 N 76th St
(414) 286-3000

Tippecanoe Public Library
3912 S Howell Ave
(414) 286-3000

Villard Avenue Public Library
3310 W Villard Ave
(414) 286-3000

Washington Park Public Library
2121 N Sherman Blvd
(414) 286-3000

Washington Park Senior Center
4420 W Vliet St
(414) 933-2332
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Wilson Park Senior Center
2601 W Howard Ave
(414) 282-5566
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Zablocki Public Library
3501 W Oklahoma Ave
(414) 286-3000

Repairers of the Breach
1335 W Vliet St
(414) 934-9305
Open 7:00AM – 4:00PM

Arlington Court
1633 N Arlington Pl
(414) 286-2905
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Cherry Court
1525 N 24th St
(414) 344-6705
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

College Court
3334 W Highland Blvd
(414) 286-2905
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Convent Hill
455 E Ogden Ave
(414) 220-4690
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Highland Gardens
1818 W Juneau Ave
(414) 344-1107
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Hillside Resource Center
1452 N 7th St
(414) 286-2905
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Holton Terrace
2825 N Holton St
(414) 286-2905
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Lincoln Court
2325 S Howell Ave
(414) 286-2905
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Locust Court
1350 E Locust St
(414) 286-2905
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Merrill Park
222 N 33rd St
(414) 286-5100
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Mitchell Court
2600 W National Ave
(414) 286-2905
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Riverview
1300 E Kane Pl
(414) 286-2905
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Community Services
650 W Reservoir Ave
(414) 286-2905
Open 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Humboldt Park Wading Pool
3000 S Howell Ave
(414) 257-8098
Open 11:00AM – 3:00PM

Smith Park Wading Pool
5462 N 33rd St
(414) 257-8098
Open 11:00AM – 3:00PM

Oak Creek

Oak Creek Community Center
8580 S Howell Ave.
(414) 768-5840
Open M–W 8:00AM – 4:00PM
Thursday: 8:00AM – 6:00PM

Oak Creek Public Library
8040 S 6th St
(414) 766-7900
Open 9:00AM – 8:00PM

Fairfield Inn & Suites
6460 S 13th St
(414) 570-8888
Lobby Open 24 Hours

The Cornerstone
155 W Sunnyview Dr
(414) 570-9755
Open 24hrs

Salvation Army
8853 S Howell Ave
(414) 762-3993
Open 9:00AM – 3:00PM

Oak Creek Assembly of God Church
7311 S 13th St
(414) 762-2010
Open 9:00AM – 4:30PM

Shorewood

Shorewood Public Library
3920 N Murray Ave
(414) 847-2670
Open M-Th 9:30AM – 8PM M-Th
Friday: 9:30AM – 6:30PM

South Milwaukee

Grobschmidt Senior Center
2424 15th Ave
(414) 768-8045
Open 9AM – 4PM M-F

South Milwaukee Public Library
1907 10th Ave
(414) 768-8195
Open M-Th: 9AM – 7 PM
Friday: 9AM – 5PM

St. Francis

St. Francis Library
4230 S. Nicholson Ave.
(414) 481-7323
Open: M–W: 9:30AM- 8:00PM
Th–F: 9:30AM – 6:00PM
Saturday: 9:30AM – 4:00PM

West Allis

West Allis Senior Center
7001 W National Ave
(414) 302-8700
Open 9AM – 4:30 PM

West Milwaukee

West Milwaukee Village Centre – Community Center
1345 S 47th St
(414) 671-8099
Open M-F 8AM – 4:30PM

Whitefish Bay

Whitefish Bay Public Library
5420 N Marlborough Dr
(414) 964-4380
Open M-Th 9:30AM – 8:30PM

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• Full “Mandatory Milwaukee” archive