Cool It Down! BACK

As the thermometer rises on what’s to be a hot, hot, HOT! summer, planners are casting about for an artillery of smart cool-down options. Sure, events set for air-conditioned venues need not worry too much about battling global-warming’s sweat factor. But, it’s summer, and time to move the happenings outside. Here’s a cool line-up of must-have beat-the-heat ideas and tools from TSEvents’ XS experts:

Cocktail Quenchers

High-octane martinis and heat don’t pair well so the mixologists at Flairco recommend tall, refreshing cocktails made with fresh juices and a splash of liqueur. Stretch cocktails with the effervescent addition of sprite or ginger ale. Frosty blender drinks are fun but filling. www.flairco.com

Patio Refuge

Take advantage of cooling lake breezes with an event on the patio of the Waterside Bistro. This hidden gem, part of the Waterside tennis club facility in the docklands, offers tiered patio seating for over 150 (over 200 including indoor area) and gorgeous vistas of the Toronto Islands and the city’s skyline. Shade tenting on the lower patio converts to full enclosure in inclement weather. www.watersidesports.com

Playing With Water

Inaugurating its first summer season is Teluscape at the Ontario Science Centre, an interactive outdoor venue offering some pretty cool water fun. Included is a wetland pond surrounded by a naturalized area, a water maze with one metre-high water-jet walls and the Funtain, a sound sculpture fountain that can be played like a musical instrument. Ideal for corporate family outings. www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca

Frosty Licks

No hot day is complete without a cooling ice cream treat. Below Zero recently added FrozFruit all-natural, fat-free frozen fruit bars to its selection of branded ice cream novelties which also includes Ben & Jerry’s and Popsicle. Ice cream carts (complete with bells and umbrella) are available with minimum orders of the yummy treats. www.belowzero.ca

Gourmet Beverage Company

From Hot to Cold

A shot of caffeine will jolt event guests out of their warm-weather lethargy, but make it a cold one. The Gourmet Beverage Company offers cold coffee stations serving iced cappuccinos, frosty chai lattes and citrus-flavoured iced teas. All natural juice smoothies and lemon-ice granita drinks are deliciously energizing. www.gobevco.com

Below Zero now carries FrozFruit.

Wind FX

Keep the air circulating with giant industrial fans and wind machines of film-industry quality. Performance Solutions gets air currents moving with fans boasting mega-watt names such as Tornado and Twister II. Three Tornadoes make outdoor gatherings of 200 people a breeze. The secret is all in the fan positioning. www.performancesolutions.net

Make It Rain

No need to do a rain dance when guests can chill out in a rain room. Superior Events offers misting tents in various sizes (go big because it’ll be a popular site!) that can help turn body heat down without getting soaked. Other games that add a fun water factor include dunking tanks, foam-filled wading pools and paddleboats. www.superiorevents.ca

Iced Elegance

Icewine comes into its own during the hot months and not just for dessert. The winemaker of The Ice House, producers of the award-winning Northern Ice, recommends serving chilled icewine as a delicious aperitif sipper or adding it to champagne. The Niagara-made wine, which was recently released in the LCBO, also makes for an ideal summer event gift. www.theicehouse.ca

The H20 Secret

Keep water, water everywhere! Enville Catering entices guests to stay hydrated at water bars that serve the refreshing liquid in all its thirst-quenching forms including spring, mineral, sparkling and flavoured. Also add event cachet by serving unique and stylishly designed bottled water such as the artesian waters of Fiji which come in an unusual square bottle that makes for beautiful displays. www.enville.com and www.fijiwater.com

The Tools

As temps push past sweltering, guests will give their kingdom for swag-bags filled with cool accoutrements like mini hand-held battery-operated fans, available with light-up imprinting from G.R.I.P. Gear Promotions. New this season is the CooLoop active water scarf. Fill the scarf with cold water; inside, hundreds of freezable beads maintain the cool temperature. www.gripgearpromo.com