Started as a response to pandemic restrictions, al fresco dining has taken off as customers, restaurant owners, and city officials realize the social and economic benefits of outdoor dining spaces.
In a paywalled article in the Boston Globe, Yvonne Abraham describes the persistent popularity of the outdoor dining programs that proliferated during the pandemic. As Abraham points out, “The trend is evolving well beyond the stopgap measures of construction barriers and plastic cones. Five-star hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants are transforming it from shabby to chic.”
And the form is evolving: “It’s taking the form of pop-ups, picnics, cocktail gardens, and poolside dining. Gourmet cuisine is being offered up in caves, heated yurts, and converted ski gondolas, and on tables in the shallows of the ocean.” Restaurants are making creative use of nearby spaces to create entirely unique experiences and an added draw for tourists.
According to the National Restaurant Association, forty percent of consumers say they’re more likely to choose a restaurant with outdoor seating. Many restaurants that began with temporary seating installations that were broken down at the end of the night are shifting to more permanent designs. Even as fears of COVID-19 subside, customers seem to enjoy the diversity of options offered by al fresco dining, and cities have started to extend programs slated for termination and relax rules related to outdoor dining facilities.
FULL STORY: Pull up a chair: Outdoor dining isn't going anywhere
Seattle Extends Outdoor Dining for a Year, Eases Rules on Heaters for the Winter
Outdoor dining is going to hang out for a bit.
New York Outdoor Dining, Open Streets Programs Now Permanent
New York City will now be measurably less car-centric for the indefinite future.
Who Should Manage New York’s Outdoor Dining Program?
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Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
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Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
San Diego Swaps Parking Lane for Kid-Friendly Mini Park
The block-long greenway will feature interactive play equipment and landscaping.
Tracking the Invisible: Methane Leaks From LA’s Neighborhood Oil Sites
Environmental advocates are using infrared technology to monitor and document methane leaks from neighborhood oil sites, filling regulatory gaps and pushing for stronger protections to safeguard community health and the climate.
Montana Bill Promotes Parking Reform
A bill before the Montana state senate would bar cities from requiring more than one parking spot per new housing unit.
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