The Midwest’s sacred summer-time tradition

You find yourself amidst little conversations filled with laughter at neighboring tables, and the occasional gentle, but firm clink of glasses raised together in a toast. You find yourself perfectly at peace and smile softly to yourself. You caught yourself eavesdropping. At your own table overlooking the water, the weather couldn’t be better. Laughter comes easy as drinks are poured and food is served. In the back of your mind you’re wishing this moment, surrounded by familiar faces, could last a lifetime. 

This sort of moment, the average person often finds on vacation. What if I told you, you could have that sublime respite from real life without ever having to leave?

This is where the “Staycation” was born after all.

This summer, what if you treated patio season like a mini-vacation? For those of us in the Midwest, we painstakingly wait for months until we can enjoy the warmth of summertime. We also make all of our fun, high-energy plans during these three months. Seasonal depression lurks during the rest of the calendar year. So what we decide to do with these next three months is crucial. But no matter where you live, the memories we make during these next three months can actually be the most precious of all.

Patio season offers a built-in respite from real life, an escape that’s beneficial because quality time with those you love is never a waste of time. Patio season isn’t just a marketing gimmick, it’s a ritual. It’s not an excuse to have a couple drinks, but a form of self-care and connection based upon good food and good people. Generations of families used to come together to sit around a shared meal. We can agree that we’re far from that simplicity in today’s world and often take the littlest things for granted by accident. Patio season can bridge this gap between tradition, modernity, and culture all in less than two hours. When you patronize a restaurant and enjoy the weather, you’re setting aside intentional time with those you love. 

Wherever you chose to dine, whomever you choose to invite, know that your next outdoor dining experience is part of a legacy. A home-cooked meal, whether created by strangers, a chef, or your own family, is an experience that grounds us in what truly matters. Good food and good people coming together for the right reasons.