Patio season will soon be here! How do I know? It’s technically spring, it hasn’t snowed in 48 hours, and any moment now the temperature will rise above zero. I just know it! Get ready to release your shorts and flips flops from retirement.
Okay, maybe I’m jumping the gun. The thermometer is currently sitting at -16 as I type.
But I’m hoping that one of our city’s restaurant or pub managers will see this post and open up for patio season within the next few weeks. If you close your eyes, some local decks channel the quaint bistro cafe vibe of Europe. Let’s give people a reason to feel like Saskatoon really is the Paris of the Prairies.
9 surprising reasons to start patio season early:
Feel outdoorsy without getting eaten alive by mosquitos and hornets.
Last summer was really bad for bugs in the city of Saskatoon. Name any kind of annoying insect – flies, wasps, mosquitos – and my sweet nectar-filled pint glass attracted them. Get out there early to avoid the insects before they’re back in full-force.
Being the first to find a new, unknown patio is like winning a free mini-getaway with all your friends.
With one caveat: getting there before the masses find out about it.
The feeling of having an entire patio to yourself is quite liberating. You have the space to enjoy with friends… until someone says something and word spreads.
Make nice with the servers to potentially get top priority come summer.
Relationships are everything in the restaurant and bar industry. So treat your favourite patio bartenders and wait staff with the respect they deserve. They may remember you when the deck is packed this summer and it’s between you and that douche snapping their fingers.
Tips for bonding with industry peeps: ask about how their day is going and listen to the answer, give them genuine compliments when deserved, tip them a minimum 15% gratuity for a job well done, and avoid stereotypical asshole behaviour.
Start working on your tan before everyone else.
Okay, negative temperatures aren’t the best for sunbathing. But who says it won’t warm up in a fortnight? Once it gets above zero, the sleeveless tees are coming out! Make sure you bring layers to wear once the sun goes down. Remember: east-facing is better for morning brunch, and west-facing is better for sunsets.
People watch those unlucky souls who have to trudge through mud and slush.
Cheers to avoiding mud puddles and potholes for an hour or two!
Rooftop patios with their own bars are lit! (When I say ‘lit’ I mean usually heated.)
You won’t have to move a muscle ’cause the bartender keeps drinks flowing and the heater keeps you cozy. Sit, drink, repeat!
Day drinking begins every weekend at 11 AM!
Forget waiting around all day to head to a club at 11 PM. Seize the day and get home at a decent hour. (That’s the 30-year-old, getting-in-bed-before-10-PM, waking-up-without-a-hangover voice inside me talking.)
My favourite patio season day drinks include bulldogs, margaritas, sangrias, and gringos!
Have a sunny bunch on the patio complete with mimosas and chicken n’ waffles.
Anyone who doesn’t love chicken n’ waffles is no friend of mine.
Horseshoe, or corn-hole games don’t need green grass.
Set up some lawn games on a patio and you’ll have plenty of fun – mower/shovel not required!
Patio season should start refreshingly early, Saskatoon. There may be snow and ice on the ground, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try and convince your neighbourhood patio to open early for the season. Tell ’em it will make you feel better than putting on a new pair of socks. They won’t say no!
Saskatoon spots to inspire you this patio season:
Boffins Public House, University
Original Joe’s, 8th Street
Somewhere Else Pub & Grill, Avalon
Yard & Flagon, Broadway
The Hose & Hydrant Brew Pub, Broadway
PiNK Lounge & Nightclub, Downtown
Crazy Cactus, Downtown
O’Shea’s Irish Pub, Downtown
Cathedral Social Hall, Downtown
Una Pizza & Wine, Broadway
Las Palapas Resort Grill, Broadway
Amigos Cantina, Broadway
Finn’s Irish Pub, Downtown
Browns Socialhouse, Stonebridge
Shoeless Joe’s Sports Grill, Stonebridge
Shift Restaurant, Downtown
So, which patios are on the top of your list in saskatoon? JOIN THE DO SASK FACEBOOK GROUP TO HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE DISCUSSION.
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