The forecast for San Diego – as always! – is calling for lovely weather over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Why not take advantage of it and host your dinner outdoors? At Hauser’s Patio & Rattan, we’ve got all your al fresco dining needs covered. Start with seasonal décor – pots of fresh herbs, pumpkins and mums are de rigeur – and then peruse these tips to make this year’s outdoor Thanksgiving a celebration to remember.
Add Extra Seating
One thing you can never have enough of is seating for everyone in your party. Do you have more guests coming than chairs? If a new outdoor dining set is not in your plans, there are other options.
Consider creating intimate groupings throughout the expanse of your backyard oasis. In addition to three or four chairs or barstools, be sure to include enough table space to comfortably accommodate multiple plates, glasses and things such as salt and pepper shakers. A small vase of flowers or even branches with attached leaves make a simple but lovely centerpiece.
Sofas work, as well, to provide seating for all your dinner guests. Coffee tables and occasional tables stand in as the dining table, so make sure they are plentiful and strategically placed.
Pro tip: have a stack of blankets at the ready near seating arrangements so guests can stay warm and cozy.
Include a Bar
Next to the magnificent meal, your guests are sure to want a variety of beverages. A bar cart makes it easy to provide all the drinks, ice, glasses and accompaniments everyone wants. There is no need to limit the bar cart to alcoholic drinks; it can easily be used as a coffee or hot chocolate bar, too. Because it is mobile, you can easily wheel it through the pathways in your backyard and around the seating arrangements.
For a more permanent solution, opt for a bar that is meant to stay in place. These larger pieces are the ideal addition to bigger parties, since they hold more.
Pro tip: use fall-colored glasses for this special occasion and include swizzle sticks and/or straws tied with raffia. Tie garnishes in with the Thanksgiving theme, such as a cinnamon and sugar dip for tumbler rims, maple leaf-shaped sugar cubes and apple slices in places of limes.
Provide Entertainment
Of course, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without watching the big game. If you don’t already have one, consider setting up an area, under cover, for a large screen TV plus lots of comfy seating. Outdoor sofas and coffee tables are a good choice. Swivel rockers and recliners provide the ultimate in relaxing seating. Add an outdoor rug for a hint of cozy. Infrared heaters placed overhead along the edge of rafters help keep everyone warm when the sun goes down and temperatures dip. Fire bowls, fire urns and fire tables are another great source of heat where you need it and they can be easily moved as the party moves.
Pro tip: make sure you accommodate friends and family members who do not wish to watch the game, too, by giving them a quieter space to congregate – perhaps a screened porch?
An outdoor Thanksgiving is a wonderful way to celebrate what we are most thankful for: our favorite people (our customers!) and the beautiful weather we enjoy here in Southern California.
