How To Host A BBQ Party

BBQ Season Is Here! Here is an article to help plan your next Grillin' and Chillin' Party.

Nothings says “bring on summer” like a barbecue party, and few pleasures in life can compare to the joy of cooking and eating out of doors. When organizing a barbecue party, do as much prep work in advance as possible, so when guests arrive, you have nothing left to do but grill and socialize. Make sure to fill your yard with tables and chairs, so every guest will have a comfortable place to sit and eat. And remember, a barbecue party doesn’t have to take place in your own backyard. You can also host a barbecue at a local beach, park or other natural setting.


Invitation Ideas
A barbecue party provides a superb opportunity to have a little fun. If you’re hosting a traditional, Texas-inspired barbecue, print your party details on cactus, cowboy boot, blue jean or map of Texas cut-outs. You can also hunt down prefab invitations in interesting, barbecue related shapes, such as grill lids, hamburgers or hotdogs. Don’t forget to specify that this is an out-of-doors event, request extra tables and chairs if necessary, and include a rain date or a backup plan if desired.

DecorationsOutline paths with river stones or candles in tin buckets, and hang lights or lanterns from tree branches. If you have room, set up a tent or canopy and place citronella candles or Tiki torches nearby to keep those pesky mosquitoes away.
Tall tin buckets filled with sunflowers or daisies make for lovely barbecue party centrepieces and look especially nice when placed on a table that’s been laid with a checkered or gingham tablecloth. If you’re going for a look that’s a little less country, fill tall, clear, cylindrical vases with water and line the bottom with decorative rocks. Choose gerbera daisies, pansies or even wheatgrass for these sleek floral centrepieces.

The Playlist
Go for music that will make your guests remember delightful summers-gone-by and anticipate the many wonderful summers still to come. Some albums to add to your CD changer or MP3 player:
• I’m a Mountain or Songs for Clem - Sarah Harmer
• Fields of Gold (Best of) - Sting
• Hits – Joni Mitchell
• The Big Chill (Soundtrack)
• Sundown or Gord’s Gold - Gordon Lightfoot
• Sweet Baby James – James Taylor
• Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs – Derek and the Dominos
• Younger than Yesterday – The Byrds

Cocktail Inspiration
Serve specialty beers and a selection of wines designed to match the flavours of the food you’re serving. Keep these in large tin buckets filled with ice. Mix up a few refreshing non-alcoholic “mocktails,” too, such as cranberry, pineapple and lime juice mixed with soda. Don’t forget to place pitchers of ice water with slices of lemon, lime or cucumber on all the tables to keep guests hydrated on hot days.

Menu Ideas
Plan a simple yet delicious barbecue menu that will give you plenty of opportunity to show off your grilling prowess and keep you out of the kitchen. Delicious items to try:
• Grilled fruit, such as peaches and pears
• Grilled vegetables, such as zucchini, tomatoes, radicchio and baby artichokes
• Grilled Shrimp
• Grilled whole fish
• Grilled steaks
• Grilled beef tenderloin
• Rotisserie chicken
• Grilled Pork
For a change of pace, make your own grill sauces, marinades and salad dressings. Stay away from creamy concoctions that will spoil in the sun. A good rule of thumb for barbecuing and a must for food safety reasons: keep cold foods cool with ice packs, coolers and shade, and hot foods hot with hot plates and foil.

Party Activities
Entertaining outside means plenty of activity possibilities, such as co-ed volleyball, badminton, horseshoes, three-legged races, water balloon wars and more. The adventurous can hold hot sauce tasting contests or pie eating championships, too! Don’t forget – the process of grilling can itself become a competition, so don’t be afraid to relinquish those tongs. Just look at the bright side: it means less work for you!

Favour Ideas
Gift your guests with homemade barbecue or hot sauces in sterilized glass jars or bottles, labelled with your house recipe if you so desire. You can also print out a few of your own recipes to give out upon request, or send guests home with grilled leftovers for dinner the next day.

By: Marissa Ponikowski from HGTV

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Company Spotlight: Tropitone Outdoor Furniture

 

Elegant Indoor Style, Well Crafted Outdoor Furniture

A lovely spring afternoon, the suns gentle reminder that spring is here bringing warmth to your guests as you gather around the elegant outdoor patio furniture for a freshly prepared waterfront lunch. The songbirds are out, and blooming flowers radiate the anticipation of a gorgeous summer to come. Such are the joys of the outdoor lifestyle. Since 1954, Tropitone has upheld a tradition of excellence in the manufacturing and design of outdoor patio furniture, outdoor bar stools, patio umbrellas, market umbrellas, chaise lounges, patio chairs, outdoor dining chairs and outdoor furniture sets. If it is outdoors, we will furnish it.

With leading edge designs in both consumer and commercial markets, Tropitone helps create stylish outdoor living solutions. From our exquisitely detailed and luxurious traditional outdoor furniture, that exudes fashion and sophistication, to outdoor furniture collections that offer a more urban, sleek, contemporary feel. Tropitone outdoor furniture will satisfy your desires for a more modern or traditional style without sacrificing the pure comfort of outdoor living. With the widest selection of outdoor patio furniture
styles, finishes, colors and fabrics finding elegant, comfortable furniture to fit your personal style is both simple and affordable.

When outdoor living enthusiasts‘ are looking for the highest quality traditional, classic and contemporary outdoor patio furniture, but want to fully customize their outdoor furniture, Tropitone is the answer. With over 300 fabric options, a wide variety of finish palettes, tops and styles to choose from, Tropitone allows for the creation of the perfect contract furniture and outdoor patio furniture environments; allowing you to entertain guests in comfort. You can count on Tropitone outdoor patio furniture to remain fashionable, comfortable and express your style for years and years.

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Jensen Leisure - Wood for A World of Difference

  

Not too often does a company do so much for both a community and the the environment itself.  Jensen Leisure is one of those companies.  Family owned and operated, they teamed up with The Roda Group to produce some of the finest and most durable outdoor wood furniture in the marketplace.  We are proud to offer their products and proud to help support the communities with whom they are involved and their local environments.

We welcome you to read about this wonderful wood furniture, the people involved, and the mission of these two companies: 

Wood For A World of Difference

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 The background of Ipé

(Excerpt  From Jensen Leisure Website)

With over five million acres (twice the size of Yellowstone National Park) of FSC® certified forest under management, Bolivia is the world's leader in sustainable management of natural tropical forest. CIMAL/IMR, the manufacturer of the entire Jensen Leisure Furniture Ipé collection, is directly responsible for the management of approximately half of this area.
The Chiquitania Forest Reserve - Jensen Ipé comes from the 2,120,000 acre CIMAL/IMR Chiquitania forest reserve in Eastern Bolivia. The Chiquitania reserve is a unique formation of natural tropical dry forest. It is located in the southwest corner of the Amazon basin, lying directly west of the Brazilian Pantanal, the world’s largest continguous wetland. The Chiquitania Forest provides critical habitat for many rare and endangered animals, including the Harpy Eagle, Jaguar, the Howler Monkey, and numerous species of neotropical migratory birds.
Because of the nature of tropical dry forest, trees here grow very slowly. Consequently, some of the world's strongest and most durable woods come from the Chiquitania Forest. Ipé (also know as Tajibo in Bolivia), is among the most abundant tree species in these forests.

A strikingly beautiful chocolate-brown color, Jensen Ipé weathers with strength and elegance.

CIMAL/IMR foresters carefully manage the Ipé in their forest reserves according to the demanding criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council™. Tree harvesting is planned to minimize impacts and preserve the forest’s natural biological diversity.
Ipé is incredibly strong and dense, with very high wear durability. Weather has little to no negative effect on Ipé. A handsome chocolate-brown when new, the sun gracefully transforms Ipé to a mature, elegant silver patina.
One fantastic example of the durability of these timbers are the Ipé posts and beams found in the original Jesuit missions in Chiquitania dating from the 18th century. After more than 200 years in service these structural members are still sound.

Other applications where the strength and durability of Ipé has been long recognized are in the deck boards of the historic Solferino Footbridge which crosses the Seine River in central Paris, in the famous boardwalk at Atlantic City, NJ, and in the wood slats in all of New York City park benches.

Performance of Ipé

Timber	Specific Gravity	Weight (lbs/cm3)	Bending Strength (psi)	Hardness (lbs)	Max. Crushing Strength (psi)	Dimensional Movement in Service
Teak	0.55	40	10,700	1,000	5,500	Small
Jarrah	0.68	54	16,200	1,950	8,870	Medium
Ipé	0.97	75	28,000	3,680	14,000	Small

Durability of Ipé

3rd Annual No Sales Tax Food Drive and Raffle! Final Week!

Last chance to take advantage of awesome savings on your outdoor living purchase and to have a chance to win a Weber 18" Smokey Mountain Cooker.  Just bring in canned food or dry goods for the needy and we will pay your sales tax and enter your name to win a Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker!  Please help us help our local communities by participating in this worthwhile event.  
More info here:
Food Drive Ad
Press Release

Thank you to the many who have already participated.  Your generous donations are going to help the people who need it the most!

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patioworld@patioworldonline.com                       

The Art of Shade: Umbrellas, Cantilevers, and Pavilions

Living in Inland Southern California has many advantages in regards to outdoor living.  Great weather and many warm sunny days affords us to take advantage of our outdoor areas often.  But, as the saying goes, one can have too much of a good thing.  The sun, as good as it feels can often be too hot and can cause skin and health problems if we get too much of it.  Thankfully, there is more than one way to get the shade we need and still be able to enjoy the outdoors.

There are many different varieties of umbrellas and shade structures that can add both functionality and style to your outdoor living area.  From the classic market style umbrella to the palatial pavilions, you can create a resort-like atmosphere at home.  Let us show you a few different styles:

• Umbrellas:  These are a very versatile type of shade structure because they can be placed almost anywhere, including pools.  They come in a variety of sizes, colors, and shapes.  Like everything, there is a variety of price ranges depending on the quality and function.  Some tilt for the evening sun (and there is a variety of tilting mechanisms), some are better suited for high wind areas, and some are designed to last for years of trouble-free use without fading or rotting.  We at Patio World carry all types, styles, and price ranges of umbrellas to fit everyone's budget, fit, and function.

•  Cantilevers:  These type of umbrellas have become popular because they offer shade by having the umbrella hang by an arm on the side, so there is no pole in the middle a table or conversation area.  Like standard umbrellas, these come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes.  They even have some with lights and a sound system where you can listen to the radio or hook up and iPad.  This type of umbrella requires a little more planning because you need to have an area that is large enough to hold the base that gives the umbrella the desired weight and support. 

• Pavilions:  These shade structures gives the sense of a true resort.  Outfitted with curtains gives you privacy and respite from the sun.  These come in round, square, and rectangle shapes and a variety of sizes and colors.  Anchoring or weighing the posts is key into assuring your structure does not become damaged.

All of the above shade solutions can both greatly enhance your outdoor "living room" and provide the shade necessary to protect you from the sun.  There are many accessories that you can add on to each such as lighting, music players, mosquito nets, and drapes to make you and your guests more comfortable.  We invite you to come and see all the varieties that are available and to help you create the most relaxing and functional outdoor space that you deserve.
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3rd Annual No Sales Tax Food Drive and Raffle Going on Now!

Help Patio World Help the Needy.  Our 3rd Annual No Sales Tax Food Drive and Raffle helps charities in our local communities.  More info can be found below:

Press Release

No Sales Tax Food Drive and Raffle Advertisement

Thank you in advance for your participation and generous donations.

Sincerely,

The Patio World Team

Fire Pits: The New Centerpiece of the Outdoor Room

Remember way back when, when all you needed for a fire pit was an old washer drum and a couple of seasoned wood logs?  Well, fire pits have come a long way since "the good old days".  From simple to fancy and with a variety of fuels and table top options, the choices are endless.

Let's start with fuel.  You can have the convenience of propane, natural gas, gel fuel, and wood.

• Propane fire pits are very versatile as you can move your fire pit from one place to the other in your outdoor living space. You can create a new and different "fireside look" for each occasion. The fuel is also relatively inexpensive and abundant in most areas.  The only disadvantage is having to take the propane tank to get refilled or exchanged every so often and having the possibility of running out of fuel midway during an evening function.  So either have an extra tank on hand or make sure you have enough in the tank to utilize your fire pit.
• Natural Gas is very convenient  and inexpensive.  No tanks to worry about, just turn on the valve, light the fire, and your ready to go.  The only disadvantage is you are relatively limited as to where to locate them.  You need to have a natural gas stub coming from a source relatively close to the fire pit for it to work.  Most will have a piped out source from the house or pool equipment when first designing their outdoor area.
• Gel Fuel has the convenience of propane without the tank necessary to fire it up.  Advantages of these pits over the first two mentioned is that the fire pits are often smaller and lighter in size and weight and can even be put on table tops.  Endless sizes and styles are available.  Disadvantage, is that the fuel can be a little more expensive and the "cans" that contain the fuel will usually last between 2-4 hours depending on the size.  A very distinct look though.
• Wood, the old standby.  You get the natural smell of the old campfires you have while camping or by the beach.  These fire pits can also give you a great deal of heat for those cold nights.  Disadvantages: too much smoke and sparks can reek havoc if not used in the correct location or manner.  Remember, safety first.

Fire pits can come with tops or without tops and you can get the tops in a variety of shapes and sizes.  You can dine on your fire pits, just use them to have appetizers and cocktails, or just kick back and enjoy the fire and a top may not be necessary.  Do some planning before you make your decision.

There is an endless variety of fire pit styles and prices available to the end user.  Fortunately,  Patio World carries a wide spectrum of them.  You can see a small sample of them here. If you are undecided as to which one you think will work best for you, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we can show you all the options available.

Whether winter, spring, summer, or fall casual fireside is the  perfect centerpiece any outdoor room of any size and budget.

All Outdoor Furniture is Not Created Equal

I hear it all the time.  Why is the furniture at (insert big box store name) so much less than what you have to offer.   My response, "You ever hear the saying, "You get what you pay for"?  Well the same is true with outdoor furniture.  Very inexpensive furniture (i.e. a 12 piece furniture set for $299.00) will give you a set that starts out fine, but within a year or two...well, let's just say you will be looking for a new set."

I have been in this industry practically all my life and have seen plenty of outdoor living sets come and go.  So you might wonder, "What do I need to look for when purchasing outdoor furniture?"  Well, assuming you want something that will last more than a year or two, here are a few suggestions.

• Warranty:  A good manufacturer worth their salt will usually have a 10+ year warranty.  Usually           covering the structural integrity of the frame.  Also, if something does happen, will the warranty give you the exact same piece of furniture or something similar.  Most U.S.A manufacturers have the ability to repair or replace the exact piece you have and not just give you "this year's model from China" which more than likely will not match at all with your other pieces.
• Sturdiness:  Does the furniture feel "tinny" or flimsy.  You can tell a lot by comparing different chairs by picking them up and moving them.  
• Manufacturer:  Has the company been around a long time?  Did they survive the recession we just had?  Most U.S.A manufacturers have been around 40+ years.  There are a couple of manufacturers that have been making furniture for 100+ years.  These are the ones to seek out in case you have a problem in the future or want to add more pieces of furniture.
• Fabrics:  Stay away from polyester, olefin, cotton.  Solution dyed acrylic is the way to go.  This fabric has been used on outdoor awnings and boat covers for decades.  We usually see this fabric last 8-10 years without fading or deteriorating.  It costs a little more, but will get 5-10 times the life.

• Choices:  Are you stuck with one color and that's it?  Will it match your outdoor living area's color scheme?  Can you get matching accessories like ottomans, umbrellas, chaise lounges, sofas, etc?  

These are just a few things to consider when making any outdoor furnishing purchase.

Now, does this mean you need to spend an arm and a leg to get a set that will last more than 2 years?  No.  You can  get some great quality furniture at reasonable prices.  No, they will not be $299.00, but you also won't be spending $299.00 every year or two.  You also won't be lugging furniture to the dump that often (which is also great for the environment).  A win/win for you and the earth.
 

Welcome to Outdoor Living with Patio World

Hello and welcome to our new blog, "Outdoor Living with Patio World".  Here we will discuss and discover all aspects of outdoor living from around the house to around the world.  Outdoor furnishings,  barbecuing and grilling, gardening, entertaining outdoors, travel, weather, and everything else outdoorsy will be covered.

We hope you enjoy our posts and welcome your posts and suggestions.  Again welcome and remember:
 Life is lived better, outdoors.