Lowell restaurants take dining rooms outdoors for spring & summer

Athenian Corner serves up summer "Concerts on the Corner". Photo by Tory Germann.

Summer in the city serves up a whole new dining experience that lets you enjoy lunch in the sunshine, or diner and drinks post work when downtown sidewalks are bursting with music, the clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation among friends.  

Here’s a Howlin’ list of great local spots offering outdoor tables.

VINOPHILE ELLEN ANDRE EXPLORES THE WIDE WORLD OF WINE

Part southern tradition, part spectacle, outrageous hats are a staple of the Kentucky Derby. 

By Ellen Andre

May 4th marks the 139th year for the legendary Kentucky Derby. Known as the greatest two minutes in sports, it's an event with a long, deep tradition of pomp and circumstance.  Look for beautifully dressed people — women in their bonnets and men in seersucker suits — stunning horses competing for the garland of roses, big wagers and mint juleps!  The crowds are enormous, over 150,000, and the wagering at an all time high of over $100 million.

The part we enjoy the most is checking out the creative, fun names the horses are given: Verrazano, Falling Sky, Goldencents, Java’s War, Charming Kitty.

The other part we love is sipping the amazing selections of rose´wines perfect for warmer weather gatherings.

At its purest, the classic margarita has three simple ingredients. Photo by Tory Germann.

By The Howl Street Team

In Spanish, margarita means “daisy” but around Greater Lowell, we believe that translates to “fun in a glass.”

With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner (also known as Cinco de Drinko) we thought, what better time than now to salute one of the best ways ever invented to enjoy tequila?

So break out the tequila and please, toss aside the fluorescent green drink mix. The perfect 'rita only needs three basic things to start: tequila, triple sec and lime juice. 

Of course you can build from there but all your add-ons — salt, fruit, chilies, whatever you fancy — should be fresh. Stay true to this rule and you can never go wrong.

Here’s a list of some amazing margarita recipes, some straight from our favorite spots in downtown Lowell so you can try them out tonight to help prepare for Cinco de Mayo, and the warm months ahead. Cheers!

DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT MERGES THE BEST OF MANY WORLDS

 By Tory Germann

It’s not often you find Asian and Latino food sharing the same real estate on a menu but Green Mango Fusion, which recently opened its doors in January, has managed to find the similarities and make it work.

This cozy subterranean eatery, just a few steps away from Lowell District Court on Hurd Street, has an extensive menu that may cause a few diners to wonder why they’re hankering for their grandmother's fried plantains while holding chopsticks and sipping bubble tea.