Alfresco Style

If, at the first hint of warm weather, you troll the streets of the city looking for a cafe that puts out its outdoor seating before anyone else, than you’ll agree that there’s nothing better than dining al fresco. We’re so enthusiastic about it that we’ll trudge up four flights of stairs from our kitchen to our rooftop for the chance to drink a morning cup of coffee or have supper under the stars. To our minds, save for the unexpected downpour or the occasional need for a bit of air conditioning, there’s no reason not to dine outside during the summer months. Whether it’s drinks on the porch or a barbecue on the patio, take your meals outside while you can. It’s the little things that make life a picnic.

Photo descriptions, left to right, first row:
Rock Solid For every beach stone that Windham, New Hampshire, artists Anne Johnson and Arra David gather, they toss a quarry-bought stone into the sea as a replacement. These ocean-smoothed-stone napkin rings are the perfect foil to that sudden gust of wind that can uproot an outdoor party. $42/set of four. Abodeon, Cambridge, Mass., (617) 497-0137, www.abodeon.com

Keep it Simple Chill the soda, tote the plates, carry the dirties back inside. The Tub Trug, frost free, UV resistant and made of100 percent recycled material, makes outdoor dining a breeze. The carryall comes in olive (shown), black, ocean blue, dark green, orange and sky blue. $14. Black Ink, (617) 723-3883, Boston and Cambridge, Mass., (617) 497-1221, www.blackinkboston.com

Think Pink Or any of the twenty-two other colors FermobUSA’s folding table comes in. The forty-six-inch lacquered, anti-rust table collapses easily, making it easy to tote along for a picnic as well as to store back at home. $462. Flora-Style, South Dartmouth, Mass., (508) 996-2332, www.flora-style.com

Pop Hit It takes 111 recycled plastic Coke bottles to make Emeco’s 111 Navy Chair. Modeled after the company’s classic aluminum version, the 111 Navy Chair is suitable for outdoor use. 34”H x 15.5”W x 19.5” D. $230.  Design Within Reach, Boston and Cambridge, Mass., Westport and Greenwich Conn., (800) 944-2233, www.dwr.com

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Modern Classic Originally designed by Richard Schultz to weather the corrosive salt air at Florence Knoll’s Florida house, the aptly named 1966 Collection has grown to include multiple tables and chairs in a host of fresh colors. The table shown here has a glass top on a frame of cast and extruded aluminum. 60” x 38” x 26 1/2”H. Icon Group, Boston, (617) 449-5506

Garden Party Suspend this hand-painted Chinese paper lantern on a backyard branch and transform a casual dinner into a garden party. If you’ve got the power, light it up by putting Christmas lights inside. 12”H. $22. Pod, Brookline, Mass., (617) 739-3802‎, www.pod.bigcartel.com

Ooh-La-La Have your hotdog—slathered with mustard and relish of course—while perching on a classic French Bistro chair in lacquered metal. That’s global style. $99. Homeward Bound, West Hartford, Conn., (860) 233.9500, www.homewardboundstyle.com

Curve Appeal From Lyle and Umbach, the boldly graphic lacquered wood Highland Dining Chair comes in teak or mahogany and is available in classic black, shown here, as well as in fifty-nine other colors. 30”W x 23”D x 40”H.  $4,680. Furn & Co., Boston Design Center, (617) 342-1500, www.furnco.us

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Knot the Usual Not only are these nautically inspired melamine coasters great for a beach party, they make wonderful house gifts as well. $16. Front, Boston, (857) 362-7289, www.bobsyouruncle.com

Carry On Rather than trying to juggle a stack of glasses, make things easier—and more efficient—with this woven metal tray. The tray, crafted in India, has room enough for seven glasses. $46. Cambridge, Mass., (617) 497-6677, www.nomadcambridge.com