Welcome to Miami: Sunscreen and Sweaters

Image credit:”A view of the pool from Cascade restaurant,” Biltmore Hotel

Suggested attire for south Florida air conditioning. Michael L. Carlebach Photography Collection, Special Collections, University of Miami Libraries

With RBMS a week away, it’s time to start thinking about what you’ll pack for your trip to sunny southern Florida. Coral Gables has a sub-tropical climate, with average temperatures in the upper 80s and high humidity that lead to a chance of daily afternoon thunderstorms. In addition to whatever clothes will keep you most comfortable in this weather, the two most important items to pack for RBMS are sunscreen and a sweater.

If you plan to go outside at all while you’re in Coral Gables, you absolutely need sunscreen. You’ll find a few small packets in your RBMS tote bag, but if you’re going to lounge by the Biltmore pool, I suggest bringing your own broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30. Speaking of the pool – it’s fantastic! There’s no better way to beat the heat than swimming in a luxuriously gigantic swimming pool, so you may also want to pack a swimsuit. Sunglasses are another outdoor necessity. The summer sun here is intense, and we owe it to our books and collections to still be able to examine them in lower light conditions. Hats are also never a bad idea for spending time outside. Take advantage of the tropical locale and indulge in a Panama, beachcomber, or a large sunhat.

Since nearly all of the conference is inside, it’s a good idea to make sure you have a sweater, light jacket, or even light blanket. Conference rooms in southern Florida are air conditioned to frigid temperatures. It’s a welcome respite from the heat outdoors, but it gets cold sitting in the A/C all day. The Shalala Student Center at the University of Miami, host to the Thursday plenary session, is notoriously cold. Be prepared!

–Jay Sylvestre, Local Arrangements Committee