Martinez Swelters in the Heat

Everyone who walked into Legal Grounds Coffee on Tuesday afternoon seemed to say the same thing: "Boy, it's hot today!"

As temperatures soared into the upper 90s, stores and businesses in downtown Martinez cranked up the air conditioning and did their best to draw people to the coldest, most refreshing treats in town. At Waterfront Park, workers dozed in the shade on their lunch breaks. A group of teenagers lugged an icebox full of water balloons onto the green and declared war. 

At Legal Grounds Coffee, owner Jody Rawleigh recommended his "Watermelon Freeze" for those looking for a way to cool down and kick back. Rawleigh was inspired by the Mexican cafes he frequented during his time in south Texas that offered a range of fresh fruits blended with ice. The Watermelon Freeze is simple — watermelon and ice — but very effective for hot, summer days in Martinez.

Tomorrow is expected to be another scorcher — although slightly cooler, with a high of 89 degrees.