To Dine or Not To Dine

I hope you all enjoyed the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Our big question over the long holiday weekend was whether or not to embrace indoor dining which was opened last Friday in NJ, at 25% capacity, with all the standard mask, distancing, and cleaning protocols in place, Being in the higher risk category for Covid, we are not yet ready to fully embrace indoor dining, and the gorgeous weather we have been lucky enough to have since last Friday made our dining decision easy at is was perfect for being outside.

We did make an exception on Saturday when we visited our local Brewery. They were able to handle all of 6 people in the tasting room and maybe 10 in the brewery area. We’ve been sitting outside there since it was allowed but were anxious to get inside to see the re-modeled tasting room. Our timing was perfect and we were able to score the couch where we enjoyed a couple of pints while celebrating finally being able to be inside. It was the first time since their grand opening in March that anyone could enjoy a beer (or hard seltzer) inside, and we were not the only ones taking advantage. It even seemed normal for a while as I was back in my happy place.

After our drinks we headed to a local restaurant for dinner. This time opting for outdoor seating as it was just too nice to sit deep inside a dining room. The funny thing about our dining experience was that once we got our names on the wait list, we had to wait outside the main entrance. Outdoor seating starts a few feet away and extends around to the side of the building. When the hostess came to seat us, she walked us (masks on) through the entire restaurant and bar area, out the back door and across to our table. We got a good chuckle out of taking the long way through the restaurant, passed those dining inside, instead of taking the more direct route and keeping us outside. Just one of the many things about this new reality that make us go “huh?”.

Sunday we joined the masses at the Jersey Shore. Ocean Grove was our destination, to see family. Another amazing weather day that made our dining choice easy. A fabulous seafood dinner with a nice breeze to keep us cool as we sat at a sidewalk table on Main St. Again, it felt normal for a while as we enjoyed our dinners and wondered why most of the shops were closed so early when there were so many people out and about.

To cap off the holiday weekend yesterday, we took a ride to a nearby winery for the afternoon. Plenty of outdoor seating – reservations recommended though – and beautiful views of the vineyard and the rolling hills beyond. Some good wine, snacks, and good company, made for a perfect wrap-up to the weekend. Once again, it felt normal for a while.

While we only dabbled in the indoor scene, getting out over the weekend enabled us to feel normal for a few hours at a time. And that is vital to maintaining sanity in these crazy times. So, whether it’s indoor dining, outdoor dining, breweries, wineries, visiting a produce market/farm, or hiking/biking, get out and grab as much “normal” as you can!