At a meeting of city council’s executive committee this week, Kelly Higginson, of Restaurants Canada, gave Toronto politicians a much-needed reality check.

“I just want to remind the room that [at] this time last year our restaurant community was in lockdown for the fifth time,” Higginson said, referring to past pandemic restrictions that forced restaurants to limit service or close their doors — in some cases, for good.

This summer could be the first since the pandemic was declared that Toronto’s restaurants “might be operating with some level of normalcy,” Higginson told the committee.

Up for debate at the city committee were proposed changes to the city’s hugely popular CaféTO program that would impose new fees on restaurants that participate. Yet Higginson and her industry colleagues made clear in their deputations that it is too soon to begin charging restaurants thousands of dollars to participate in the program and warned that new expenses could decimate the program itself.

Though previously free, the city is recommending that businesses pay a one-time application fee of $865 to participate in CaféTO, in addition to an annual fee that would range from roughly $1,500 to $3,000.

On top of this, restaurants with curb lane patios would be required to invest in accessibility platforms to the tune of around $14,000 — or half that amount if they apply for a federal grant.

The latter requirement is a worthy and necessary investment, but restaurant owners say it is one they cannot realistically make at this time, even with the grant support.

“I submit that the report as written is too much too soon,” John Kiru, of the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, told the committee about the city’s proposed changes.

The good news is that Mayor John Tory, who referred to CaféTO as “a pride and joy of the city,” appears to have gotten the message.

On Tuesday the mayor introduced a motion asking city staff to address the concerns of Toronto’s restaurant owners. Specifically, the motion requests that staff report back to city council next week with some options for potentially allowing restaurants a grace period until they are required to invest in the costly platform installations.

The motion also asks city staff to re-evaluate the proposed “fee schedule.” Tory said he hoped staff could provide a path to implement the changes in a “slightly more moderate way.”

It is a hope we share. After all, CaféTO enabled the restaurants to serve guests safely outdoors on sidewalks and curb lanes throughout the pandemic, generating, according to one study, $203 million in economic benefits to the city. It turned formerly dull main streets into vibrant destinations and breathed life into Toronto at a time of enormous loss.

Of course, the city should and must make CaféTO fully accessible. It is also reasonable that private businesses pay their fair share to operate on public land.

But if the city wants the program to exist, period, it has to account for the financial reality of an industry barely scraping by. The city’s hospitality industry is just recovering from lost business during the pandemic and is now struggling with staff shortages and inflation, which has pushed the cost of food skyward.

Under the new fees proposed for CaféTO, if the program doesn’t falter altogether, it risks losing the participation of the small businesses that make our streets interesting and lively, leaving only the chain restaurant patios (arguably the only businesses that can afford to take on the new fees all at once).

A grace period on the added expenses is warranted. It would be a shame if on the road to making CaféTO a permanent fixture on our streets, the city imposed barriers to its survival.

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More than 30 restaurants in Niagara-on-the-Lake have temporary patios thanks to emergency legislation that was passed during the pandemic.

The NOTL council plans to grant a third permit extension to the restaurants that operate temporary patios but staff admits it has homework to do before it can make these patios a permanent feature.

At a meeting of the committee of the whole Jan. 24, staff came to council looking for direction on whether to pursue a permanent solution for the temporary measure.

Director of development Kirsten McCauley told council that restaurants can continue to use temporary patios without having to compensate the town for lost parking fees associated with patios built over on-street parking spaces.

Nor would they be charged an application fee.

However, if the town replaces the temporary patio program with a permanent one, “A fee would need to be implemented to offset additional staff resources,” a staff report said.

It will take almost 20 hours and $1,500 for staff to process each permit, the report said.

“That seems like a long time,” Coun. Wendy Cheropita commented.

Coun. Nick Ruller, the former fire chief, and chief administrator Marnie Cluckie pointed out that it was feasible for a permit like this to involve half a dozen town departments.

Ruller said the clerk, bylaw, finance, road, building and planning departments each might need to review a single patio permit.

However, Coun. Gary Burroughs felt “a lot more input” was needed before the town could make the patios permanent.

“It has affected the streetscape of Queen Street. Is that the shape and form that we want to move forward? Is that what the businesses want?” he asked.

“I think we need to do a little bit more,” he added.

Staff research into the permanent patio solution will commence once the patio extension receives final approval, likely at the next council meeting.

Reed Davidson, a line cook at the Sunset Grill, told The Lake Report the restaurant gets lineups out the door during patio season.

“People come down here for the look of the town,” he said.

“Those window spots over there, always the first seats to go,” he added, referring to seats by the restaurant’s street front window.

Davidson remembers when restaurants were closing their doors at the start of the pandemic and how many career cooks like himself had no job security.

Patio extensions were a big help, keeping restaurants open at a critical time.

The Sunset Grill seats almost 80 people in the winter, but its patio extension adds nearly 30 more seats, he said.

That translates to a significant and welcome bump in business, said Davidson.

Coun. Maria Mavridis – who also runs two restaurants Corks Wine Bar and Firehall Flame on Queen Street – said she had a different experience in 2020.

The outdoor seating at Firehall Flame is allowed under the temporary patio program.

The additional 18 seats it provided were not a financial game changer during the lockdowns, Mavridis said.

“It helped us keep our employees employed,” she said, but as the 86 indoor seats were still inaccessible during lockdown, they weren’t bringing in any revenue.

Mavridis did not declare a conflict of interest in the debate over the patio program, and noted it was not necessary.

“It’s not directly for just my patio,” she told The Lake Report. “It’s for the entire community.”

According to the Municipal Conflict of Interest act, council members do not have to declare a conflict when benefiting from services also provided to the wider community.

She said her restaurants are still recovering from the lockdown.

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BUY TICKETS

Prefer a hi-fi sort of Sunday session to basic beers at the pub? Well, you’re in luck because Poodle Bar & Bistro is here to elevate your weekend with a fresh instalment of its ever-popular Patio Party. The Fitzroy spot will be serving up the goods once again this Sunday, February 5, complete with special guests in tow.

Kicking off from 2pm, it’s set to be a two-level affair with refreshments to suit all kinds of weekend cravings. Upstairs, you’ll catch the crew from Hector’s Deli slinging a few of their cult-favourite sandwich creations which you can pair with drinks from Romeo Lane’s cocktail-shaking legend Joe Jones. Alternatively, mosey on out to the patio to feast on grilled goodies courtesy of Club Kitchen.

As for the drinks, consider yourself equally spoilt for choice. A low intervention-leaning wine selection is being curated by Dazma Wine Company, while the folks at Sopra Seltzer will be cracking open a few of their latest fizzy flavours. Plus, Poodle’s own bar will have plenty of other tipples to round out the fun.

All that to enjoy alongside sounds from the day’s lineup of guest DJs — Simon TK, Salvador Ricardo, DJ Sarah, Georgia Bird and Alessio Latina. Tickets are an easy $10, with eats and drinks to purchase as you go.

Joe Jones

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Weather Shield recently expanded its VUE Collection, a modern, all-aluminum product line, to include the new Hinged Patio Door. The new door system joins with the Collection’s existing Multi-Slide Patio Doors to create beautiful glass gateways that combine expansive outdoor views with the ability to maximize space and seamlessly blend into most room configurations.

 What the company says

“Functionality, elegance and sophistication are the hallmarks of our VUE Collection,” says Chris Schield, Vice President of Supply Chain & Product Management. “Our new Hinged Patio Doors exemplify all of these qualities, while beautifully merging with all of the other windows and doors in this Collection to create customizable aesthetics that also deliver exceptional strength, durability and performances.”

About the collection

A classic choice defined by clean lines, square interior profiles and modern aesthetics, Weather Shield’s new VUE Collection Hinged Patio Doors can be hinged to swing to the inside or outside depending on the available space and each room’s configuration. Available in customizable heights up to 12-feet tall, they are also constructed with a unique polyamide design that helps prevent thermal bowing in addition to promoting exceptional thermal and structural performances.

In addition, architects and homebuilders will enjoy the opportunity to aesthetically combine these doors to other VUE Collection products to create one-of-a-kind designs highlighted by an extensive palette of color, finish and hardware options. Other distinct Hinged Patio Door features include a stainless steel, multi-point lock system that firmly secures the door panel in five places and an optional simulated lock box that mimics the look of a steel door.

 

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Make the most of your outdoor space by maximizing space and design.

John Bessler

If you’re lucky enough to have an apartment with outdoor space, it’s likely not very big. Fortunately, you can make the most of limited space without skimping on style or blowing your budget. To help you create the ideal outdoor sanctuary, we’re sharing our best small apartment patio ideas. Whether it’s adding pops of color, choosing smaller furniture, or getting strategic with your plant placement, there are several easy ways to create a welcoming outdoor space, regardless of size.

Make your patio an extension of your apartment (and your square footage) by embracing the bones of the space. For example, if your outdoor space is concrete and industrial, try metal furniture with warm touches and a few small plants. Or, try a vintage rocker and a small side table to fit more of a rustic space. Take inspiration from these small apartment patio ideas and create a space you’ll love to lounge in.

Hang String Lights

Aaron Menken, Hatch & Maas Collective

To avoid clutter on a small apartment patio, only shop for decor that is functional. Here, woven lanterns act as a decor statement, but also provide light for evening gatherings. Using electric candles at night imbues the space with warm ambience and functional lighting so you can see your guests. Woven items like this are an ideal choice for small spaces because the airy nature of the weave allows for more visual space.

Embrace Color

John Bessler

Don’t be afraid to fill your apartment patio with different furniture styles for an fun look that works well in a smaller space. Mismatched furniture paired with an eclectic mix of pillows creates a cool, homey feel that blends together seamlessly. Bolder design choices—like painted black and white stripes on the floor, or a patterned area rug— often work well in a small spot because they don’t overwhelm the space.

Try a Living Wall

Peter Krumhardt

If you’re able to create one, a living wall is an instant way to add depth to a small outdoor patio. Ferns, succulents, vines, or air plants work well as they grow upward. Adding plants to a brick wall warms up the space and can make it look even bigger. If you have a concrete floor, greenery and flowers will give an earthy feel and make your patio or porch feel homey rather than industrial.

Use Smaller Furniture

Embrace smaller furniture and opt for thoughtful accents when decorating a small patio. There’s no need to crowd the space with a big outdoor table or sectional. A cozy rocker and a side table that can be folded up when you don’t need it is really all you need. Add thoughtful details like a hanging plant and comfy outdoor pillow to warm up the space without causing clutter.

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Try Unexpected Furniture

Adam Albright

Sometimes a smaller outdoor space calls for furniture that can be easily rearranged or stored, so stylish beach furniture is the ideal solution for extra small apartment patios. Easily unfold a chair or two and pull out a side table when it’s time to sit outdoors and read or have a drink outside with friends, then flatten and store them in your coat closet while they’re not in use. This idea is especially helpful if you live in a place with snow and prefer to take the furniture inside for the winter. Plus, it’s easy and cost effective to switch up the pieces as trends change year to year.

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Decorate with Plants

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Engel Architecten hides a bungalow among holland’s greenery

 

Architectural firm Engel Architecten plants a contemporary bungalow of refined volumetric structure in the rich greenery of North Holland. The site is surrounded by tall trees and shapes a single-leveled residence that unwraps into four units merging them with the natural landscape. The main principle of the design follows an embracive approach toward the environment with the built structure standing in direct contact with its surrounding without overwhelming the scene with its frame.

 

The house consists of four volumes of different heights that are strategically placed on the plot with each part of the composition arranging its own function. The units are laid out around a patio that forms the heart of the house. The building is positioned somewhat higher than the surrounding landscape and a supporting plinth is set back slightly. The visually detached form accentuates the clean lines of the framework and the volumetric structure shaped mainly by light-hued bricks becomes more legible.

front facade view | all images by Stijn Poelstra

 

 

tranquility and simplicity define the interior design 

 

The surrounding greenery provides sufficient visual privacy, one of the main requirements of the plan. In addition to privacy, the project attends to the need for abundant daylight in all the rooms. Designed to sustain high transparency between the living zones and the outdoor areas, the residence guarantees intimacy through the dense forest that surrounds the plot. The volumes are situated along the corridor enclosing the patio without limiting the amount of sunlight coming through.

 

The soft minimalist design approach is strongly visible both on the outside, and the interior space. By applying soft colors, natural materials, and subtle textures, the design team preserves tranquility and simplicity throughout the living areas giving off a warm ambiance and avoiding overpowering the architectural elements. The custom-made interior is designed to the very detail and tailored to fit the needs of the users. Sufficient cupboard space in all rooms allows balance and tidiness, while the minimalistic approach of the layout ensures the prevention of superfluous features.

garden perspective

 

 

merging indoor and outdoor spaces in refined architecture

 

The project merges indoor and outdoor spaces in several circumstances, such as by continuing the masonry that makes up the spacious fireplace from the outside to the inside, and by forming large glass surfaces allowing the greenery to fuse with the living zones. The large south-facing sliding doors are slightly pushed back into the facade fracturing the monolithic character of the residence. A long skylight along the kitchen forms an interplay of light and shadow throughout the day.

 

Natural nuances are chosen for the house’s interior layout giving off a modern and unique appearance. The house is built using a long format brick in a light gray color. The precise mixing of two types of bricks creates a subtle framework. The gray color scheme is, also, applied to the rest of the exterior such as the window frames, all the aluminum work, and the architectural concrete. Together they form a single whole. By recessing the ribbon joint the horizontal linework accentuates the composition and is present in the design. The vertically placed wooden blinds ensure a balance between the interplay of lines and provide a refined and sleek appearance.

facade detail

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When planning your next outdoor project, patio design ideas can become your new best friend. Whether you have the luxury of a bungalow with a sprawling terrace or a tiny balcony in a city apartment, it can be a versatile space. Maybe it’s your private cocoon to spend a few undisturbed moments in nature, you use it for yoga or as an exercise zone, or even as an extension of your living or dining area when you’re entertaining. And no matter the size or use, an outdoor lounge can do wonders for your well-being, so it’s important to give the space your time and attention. 

Still, putting together this area can feel like a less of priority, especially if you’re focused on spaces more often considered a necessity—like a kitchen or a bedroom. Luckily, as Neha Sapre, principal architect and founder of Studio Taan, tells us, sprucing up your outdoor space doesn’t have to be a time-consuming or overly difficult undertaking. Fresh off of a project blessed with both a balcony and a terrace, Sapre knows all about designing an outdoor area—no matter what the size—and is ready to share all her best patio design ideas to help you craft the ultimate outdoor lounge.

1. Let the inside of your home take the lead

In this home, the color palette of the living room flows seamlessly into the balcony providing continuity to the design vocabulary.

“For this residence, we planned the balcony at the north-east corner of the house to maximize on light and the green views outside. Sheltered by the gorgeous canopy of the neighborhood Gulmohar tree, the balcony acts as an extension of the living room,” Sapre says. Even if you don’t plan to make any structural changes to your outdoor space, you can still use this advice when planning your own project. 

Consider the way Sapre used throws, fluffy pillows, and mats in this home, which create a cozier, indoor-like look, compared to, say, leather or wood. Here, the designer opted for a neutral rug on a patterned floor to tie the various pieces of furniture together, which also happen to match the gray-toned, contemporary interiors. If you’re stuck for ideas on your own balcony, consider the decor you’ve already done inside. Have you outfitted it in sleek mid-century furniture? Perhaps some modernist-inspired balcony decor is your best bet. If you go for colors and Memphis-style design, consider continuing that aesthetic outdoors. 

2. Opt for movable furniture that offers flexibility

The outdoor sofa is from Loom Crafts, the coffee table from House of Things and the rug from Ikea.

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Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at The Patio at The Pit Room!

Modeled after pub quizzes in Ireland and the U.K., Geeks Who Drink is an authentic homegrown trivia quiz. It’s a great way to drink with friends, without burning brain cells. And it’s where useless knowledge means everything.

Our quizzes cover everything from Hungary to The Hunger Games, from science to sports, from the Billboard Hot 100 to Better Call Saul.

Each quiz consists of seven rounds of eight questions each, in a variety of formats, including audio and visual rounds.

Teams can be up to six players, so bring your smartest friends (or some likable dummies)—or come solo. We can always help you join a team!

Winning teams get bar cash and other prizes, depending on the venue. Bonus questions sprinkled throughout the quiz will net you additional goodies. But mostly it’s about establishing your dominance—or at least pleasantly surprising yourself. You’re into that, right?

This is a Weekly Recurring EventRuns from Jan 25, 2023 to Mar 29, 2023 and happens every:

Wednesdays:

7:00pm – 9:00pm

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Authorities are on the scene of an accident in Broussard and eyewitnesses tell us that a vehicle has allegedly crashed into the back of a home.

A photo sent to us by a listener backs up numerous reports we received around 8 a.m. Thursday morning (Jan. 12) about a crash involving a vehicle that reportedly came to a halt on the back patio of a Broussard home.

According to officials, Broussard officers and firefighters responded to an accident with injuries reported at 312 Overbrook Drive in Broussard where listeners described the accident off of South Bernard road, not far from Albertson’s Parkway.

One listener told us it seems like the vehicle may have hydroplaned in the morning rain but that has not been confirmed by investigators. There is also no word on anyone being home at the time of the crash.

Listener Submitted Photo

Listener Submitted Photo

This is a developing story and we will provide updates when more information is made available.

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During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Massachusetts lawmakers temporarily authorized on-premises consumption licensees to expand their outdoor dining premises and offer to-go and delivery sales of alcoholic beverages. That temporary authorization is set expire on April 1, 2023.

The Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) issued an advisory in April 2022 encouraging on-premises consumption licensees seeking to continue the service of alcoholic beverages within the expanded outdoor dining premises after April 1, 2023, to apply in the ordinary course for an alteration of premises with their local licensing authorities (LLA). The ABCC advisory further provides that failure to apply will result in the amended licenses to automatically revert to the status prior to the approval of the temporary expansion of outdoor service.

Many on-premises consumption licensees (e.g., restaurants, bars and farmer-breweries) have utilized the temporary outdoor dining program to expand their premises. While Section 12 on-premises consumption licensees may file an alteration of premises application with their LLA to ensure the continued use of their expanded outdoor premises, Section 19B farmer-wineries, Section 19C farmer-breweries, Section 19D pub breweries and Section 19E farmer-distilleries will need to seek amendments to their federal and state permits and licenses before filing an alteration of premises application with their LLA.

For more information, please see the ABCC advisory referenced above.

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