Summer hasn’t even officially begun yet, and temperatures are already topping 100 degrees. It’s only going to get hotter, so here are a few ideas for how to still enjoy yourself in this scorching weather.

1. Take a dip. If you don’t have pool in the backyard, check out some of Preston Hollow’s public swimming holes. There’s one at Walnut Hill Park. If you’re willing pay a monthly fee, the Park Forest Pool and the Club Royal Pool have been a popular spots for families. The Bachman Lake Recreation Center has a pretty nice renovated indoor pool.

2. Grab a frozen treat. The best sno cones in our neighborhood are hidden in the back of Doc’s Food Store at Meadow and Central. They use real fruit and no preservatives. Also check out our map of frozen yogurt shops. There are many to choose from, but my personal favorite is I Heart Yogurt at Preston and Royal.

3. Duck into the library. A simply solution to beating the heat – just avoid it altogether. Entertain the kids with the summer programs offered at the library, including the Mayor’s Summer Reading Program. Here are the calendars for Preston Royal and Park Forest. There’s also movie screenings and plenty of activities for adults and seniors.

4. Get into the arts. Another way to enjoy the AC – museums. If you haven’t gotten around to visiting the great museums in our neighborhood, now would be a good time. The Museum of Biblical Arts has breath-taking art and archeological exhibits. The architecture alone will keep you lingering for a while. Speaking of great architecture, sign up for a guided tour of the Rachofsky House. The house is a work of art itself, but it also hosts exhibits inside. Also, the Meadows Museum has several intriguing collections on view through the summer.

Bookmarks Library celebrates its third anniversary at NorthPark Center, featuring a full day of children’s activities Saturday – from folk music to local authors.

Stop by North Haven Gardens for the Tomato, Pepper and Salsa Party Saturday. There’s also free classes on growing and harvesting tomatoes.

Toy Maven in Preston Royal Village hosts Craft Day 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Kids can make puppets, collages, stick art – anything they want.

The JCC Senior Art Class, back row: Muriel Miller, Pauline Helfand, Clarice Post, Tilly Prengler, Anita Holtzman, Sylvia Greenberg, Jane Guzman, Ilaya Potash, Rachel Frank, and Gilbert Cohen; Front row: Artie Allen and Veronique Jonas (Photo by Lisa Rothberg)

Most people in the neighborhood know that the Jewish Community Center offers an array of enriching classes for children, adults and seniors — from Richard Wharton’s intense cycling program to Dot Heller’s confidence-boosting ballroom dance class.

That doesn’t exclude the JCC’s Senior Art Class. I received this note in my inbox today from the group’s teacher, Veronique Jonas:

“I have been teaching this class for the past 8 years. It has been a wonderful and inspiring experience, for me the teacher and for students in this class. Some of the students are veteran painters, and some had never painted before coming to the class. Whether experienced or not, each one of our artists is gifted, creative and enthusiastic about their art. Their work is an inspiration to me and very often to each other. Each one rejoices in the accomplishments of the other.  And each one’s work is different and individual, and yet a sense of camaraderie constantly exudes from this wonderful group of very young seniors! The two hours spent with them weekly, are a special gift that I will always, and for as long as I am able, cherish.” —Veronique Jonas

What’s your favorite park? Think before you answer, because Dallas has more than 21,000 acres of park.

Make a mini movie about your favorite Dallas park and it might be featured in a TV commercial for the Park Department — come on, it’s summertime. This will be fun!

Your four-minute-or-less video should have a clear message (why you love your park) and should be entertaining and creative, if you want a shot at winning.

Visit any City of Dallas recreation center and register for the video contest by June 24. For contest rules and other information, call the Park Department at 214.671.0421 or go to dallasparks.org.

Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway and Jason Kidd gaze into one another's eyes — Councilwoman Angela Hunt has more photos of the NBA Champs' arrival on her Facebook page.

Updated 6.14: Thursday’s parade will start at the Dallas Convention Center downtown and wind its way north to the American Airlines Center beginning at 10 a.m., and the roads will be closed two hours earlier. Fans can begin arriving at 7 a.m. A special event for season-ticket holders will be held inside the American Airlines Center following the parade and televised on Victory Plaza video screens.

The Mavericks parade will happen on Thursday morning, says team spokeswoman Sarah Melton to TV news reporters.

We should have more details early Tuesday morning, Melton says.

When we do, we will post them here.

And those of you who are worried that our city can’t afford a parade, relax!

Cubes is picking up the victory-celebration tab.

The Mercury’s executive chef, Chris Ward, is holding his annual grilling class,“Prime Time III,” this Saturday, June 18 from 12–2 p.m.

The class will focus on how to select, season and grill quality cuts of beef. Lunch will be served from a special menu offering tomato mozzarella salad, sirloin, porterhouse, Kobe beef and cowboy ribeye with béarnaise sauce, twice baked potatoes with crème fraiche and blackberry cobbler, plus margaritas and mojitos.

During the class, Chef Ward will auction off a Hasty-Bake 369 Portable Charcoal Grill to the highest bidder.

… or sometime around June 20.

After the Mavs took a 2-0 lead over the Heat during the ’06 finals, plans for their victory parade were announced. The Mavs didn’t win another game in that series. It’s been a bitter memory for Mavericks fans, until last night. Sweet redemption.

Now, that parade will finally happen.

City of Dallas spokesperson Frank Librio just spoke on air with the anchors at WFAA and verified that, yes, “the city has had a blueprint and a game plan in place for several years.” But of course, after that ’06 thing, any talk of such a thing was strictly off limits.

Librio said to expect the victory celebration the week of June 20. We don’t have an exact date yet, he said.

After the NBA Champs return home, the city and the team will solidify plans.

The parade route, says Librio, will likely run City Hall to the American Airlines Center. “We are ready to throw a big party,” he said.

Can you believe Fourth of July is just around the corner? It’s less than a month away, and we’re getting excited about all the parades, picnics, fireworks displays and concerts that are going to fill the weekend.

We’re keeping a map of holiday events in Lakewood/East Dallas, Lake Highlands, Oak Cliff, Preston Hollow and Far North Dallas; check out what we’ve got so far below. Is your house of worship, neighborhood association, school or organization celebrating this year? First share the event with us and other Advocatemag.com visitors by entering it into our EventFinder here. Then we’ll put it on this map.

If you’re like us, you don’t make plans until the last minute when you’re already out. Scan the QR code on the left with your smartphone (download a QR code reader from your smartphone’s app store, launch the app, then point your phone’s camera lens at the code). That way you’ll have it on your phone and can whip it out when it’s time to decide where to hang out on Fourth of July weekend.

If you need a break from the kids, Saturday is Parents’ Night Out at the Town North Family YMCA. Parents can drop off their children 6:30-10:30 p.m. and have an evening to themselves while the kids enjoy arts, crafts and a movie. Pre-register by Friday to avoid the $5 late fee.

Noon-5 p.m. Saturday is your last chance to attend the Texas Visual Arts Association Signature Show of 2011 at Norwood Flynn Gallery. The artists in the exhibition were selected for this juried show, so it’s sure to be worth seeing, and it’s free.

The Preston Royal Branch library is putting on the Sparky Puppet Show on Friday, sponsored by Dallas Fire & Rescue. The show caters to infant, toddler, pre-school, and elementary school ages, and is located in the auditorium 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Then later in the conference room, adults can attend the Preston Royal Purls Knitting Social. Whether you’re an experienced knitter or just learning, everyone is welcome. The social is 1-3 p.m. and needles and yarn will be provided for beginners.

Don’t know what’s happening with the violets in your garden? This Saturday, the Alpha African Violet Society is sponsoring a group discussion on morphed violetsat 10:30 a.m. at North Haven Gardens.

This Friday — and every Friday evening in June — The Shops at Park Lane presents the “Movies Under The Moon” free, family movie series.

This week, June 10 from 7–10 p.m., pack a picnic basket, grab a blanket or chair and watch “Despicable Me.” Before the show, Whole Foods Market will have arts and crafts giveaways for the kids.

If summertime has left you with little time to pack a family meal, Gordon Biersch will have hot dogs, pork sliders, soft drinks and more available for purchase. For mom and dad, they will also have wine and beer.

“Movies Under The Moon” takes place in The Park near Bailey’s Prime Plus and Fresh Berry. The movie for June 17 is “E.T.,” and June 24 is “Shrek.”