It’s patio season in Fayetteville
It’s my favorite time of year in Fayetteville right now. The students are back, the city is alive with energy, the weather is getting cooler, and the Razorback football team is still undefeated.
According to weather.com, the 10 day forecast for Fayetteville doesn’t show a day over 80 degrees, with evenings with the upper 50’s and 60’s.
In other words, it’s patio season again.
There are only three things more satisfying than grabbing a hoodie or light jacket and heading out after work to enjoy a drink and/or some great food at one of my favorite local patio destinations, and only one of them doesn’t involve some kind of freaky sex.
There are several factors that go into making a perfect patio, and here are my top 7.
- Plenty of seating: Call me lazy, but after a long day of work the last thing I want to do is stand around somewhere. That’s why a perfect patio most definitely has to have enough seating and preferably a table or two to rest my drink on when I’m not drinking it. It also helps if those seats have a cushion or a pillow on them, too. In case of ‘roids. (Gross.)
- Service, please: Sure, I can go to the bar, order my own drink and carry it back to my table. But for my money, I’d much rather have someone bring it to me. It’s just better that way.
- A good shade/sun mix: The weather this time of year is awesome, but it can also be unpredictable. Sometimes you need a little protection from the sun and other times, you want to soak it in. A perfect patio has a little of both.
- Food, please.: I don’t need a five-course meal or anything, but snacks are good. Plus, you can put them on top of your drink to keep the flies out. Ok, nobody does that.
- Drink/appetizer specials: We’ve already established that a patio is best enjoyed with a cold beverage and something to munch on and it certainly helps if those items are offered at a discounted price. Dollar drafts, cheap wells, 1/2 price whatever, and beverages served in pitchers are things to look for.
- Something to look at: A few trees, some flowers, Dickson St. traffic, or a freaky lady in a tube top. A good patio has something in the way of scenery. There really is no substitute for good old fashioned people watching, so it helps if your patio attracts some characters.
- Some good tunes: Just about anything is enhanced by good music and a patio is no exception. A good band also contributes to item #5 and bonus points are awarded if said band attracts that guy from the George’s happy hour crowd with the slippery shoes.
These are some of the things I look for in a patio when I’m looking for one. The next couple of months are going to be prime for patio chilling so if I were you, I’d enjoy them while you can.
It’s been a while since we’ve asked and there are some new places with great patios in town, so tell me Fayetteville, what are some of your favorite patio locations around town?
Comments
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By skalmt on September 2nd, 2009
I love the old Hog City patio…too bad nothings there anymore. I also really like U.S. Pizza’s patio and Smiling Jack’s when they have music.
By Mullva on September 2nd, 2009
The biggest thing that most business owner miss is the sound system.
A QUALITY sound system!!
Most think of it as an afterthought and it can kill the patio mood quicker than just about anything than rain.
I give you Theo’s as a prime example. It’s a cool place to hang out. The food may not be a very good value and their drinks on the high end of the scale on Dickson, but that is thier clientele. But they do have a great patio, with a different view of the area. The one thing they don’t have is a kick ass sound system that matches the upscale atmosphere. The patio has ONE speaker for the entire area. Inside is not much better. They may have three speakers, but they are the same $29 bookshelf speakers from Best Buy or Rat Shack.
Here’s the rub. With only one crappy speaker on the patio, the guys setting closest to the thing cannot hear any conversation going on with their date(Mullva??). On the other side of the patio, you can’t hear the music.
So to all you business owners out there, PLEASE don’t cheap out on the stereo speakers on the patio! Once you do, take an active roll to keep the volume at a comfortable level for whatever you are trying to accomplish with your business (band venue, restaraunt). It may be one of the last things you think about or install, but it is one of the items that is used every single day! If you don’t have a great musical ear, get a buddy to help you listen to a couple of different speakers and pick which one fits your situation best.
All of us patio lovers beg you!
By Alannah on September 2nd, 2009
There are so many good patios of yore (Sassafras, Tuesdays, OLD George’s beer garden) that it makes it tough to choose good ones today. I like Little Bread Company’s little patio, Jammin’ Java on a Farmers Market Saturday, Smiling Jack’s for lunch and the old standby, Common Grounds for drinks.
By Brandon Kittler on September 3rd, 2009
Tables & Ale
It doesn’t get super-crowded like Dickson St, but is still downtown and near all the action. The folks there are always really laid-back, nice patio, decent rotation of beer (cheap, too), pool tables. Nice place.