As I write this, it is 83 degrees and sunny. Blue skies, no humidity, a gentle breeze... Does it get better than this? But you know this fabulous weather cannot last forever. Eat out - outside that is - while you can.

My favorite patios are quiet and a bit secluded. I like to be able to carry on a conversation while enjoying a meal with friends. Leaving a restaurant hoarse with my ears ringing is simply not my idea of a good time. Outside dining - if it's not within honking distance of a busy thoroughfare - can be much quieter than inside four walls, especially with the ongoing penchant for that "industrial look." Those hard surfaces are easy on the eyes, but hard on my ears. End of rant.

Here's a look at some old favorites, a few of my secret patios, some flashy new options and a couple of downscale and DIY ideas for dining outside this summer, ranging from Route 5 to the Falls.

Let's start off on the Lake. Hoak's porch is perched right over Lake Erie, and there's even perch on the menu. The menu is gracious and old school with a legendary fish fry, and the cool lake breezes are just delightful on a warm summer evening. Head north on Route 5 and you end up at Charlie's Boat Yard, the erstwhile Dug's Dive on the Outer Harbor. More outdoor tables and bigger umbrellas are needed, but there's something about eating crispy crab cakes adjacent to a marina overlooking the water. 

Keep heading north and soon you're at the Inner Harbor. My favorite patio sits on stilts in the water and is inside a museum. You guessed it: Liberty Hound. You feel like you're sitting on a dock, and the food is excellent. Plan on an hour wait and spend it wisely walking along the boardwalk or meandering along Veterans Way, a lovely winding path flanked by a dozen moving memorials to our fallen soldiers.

Head into downtown and you can't miss Deep South Taco's patios. Yes, that's plural. Flamboyant colors and the cactus theme set the stage for a fun evening. It's new, it's flashy and it's a bit on the loud side, but lots of fun. The nachos are - different. Give them a try with a salty margarita on the side. Seabar's narrow alleyway patio, on the other hand, is tucked away and quiet, and you won't find better seafood anywhere in WNY. My pick: the beef on 'weck sushi, but every menu item is exquisite every time. If you're up for a splurge, the Rue Franklin has one of the most beautiful garden patios I've ever experienced - anywhere. An open courtyard within the restaurant, you can hear the tinkling of the water fountain while enjoying, of all things, welsh rarebit.

My top patio pick in Allentown is Gabriel's Gate. Unbeknownst to many and utterly invisible from the street, Gabe's crispy, better-than-Anchor wings and the remarkable steak sandwich taste best on its cozy back patio. Cantina Loco's patio is a bit noisier, but the fusion menu is fun and fresh. Heading up Elmwood, Pasión's patio is set way back off the street - and they serve arepas!

Into Elmwood Village, Cecelia's is an old standby. Good food, great martinis, and a broad, set-back-off-the-street patio. Thin Man is the opposite. New and flashy, it's where the cool kids hang out on the roof swilling craft beer and munching on apps. Not recommending the food here, but it sure is fun to be up on the roof on a summer evening. My favorite outdoor eatery on Elmwood is actually Taste of Siam. Great Thai food under oversized table umbrellas along a broad walkway alongside the two-story restaurant. Great summer rolls on a warm summer day.

Like Elmwood, Hertel can be noisy. But Lombardo's serves a remarkable Carbonara on a sweet, semi-enclosed, patio that somehow makes passing traffic a non-issue. Fairy lights sparkle at night, proseco beckons, and it's hard to find a more romantic evening outdoor dining spot in the city. There's even readily available parking. 

Did you know that Adam's Rib, that old standby on Main Street in Snyder, has a delightful back patio? It's called Eve's Garden, I kid you not. Try the panko crusted fish fry, or the amazing grilled veggies with goat cheese. Another place that's been around for a while is Ruzzine's Rock Bottom Eatery way out on Transit across from Grover's. It has a delightful patio around back, great service, and a sweet menu. I loved my summer salad with strawberries and blue cheese for lunch, but the immense burgers and jam-packed sandwiches are also excellent. Then walk off your meal on the Clarence Bicycle Path and Walking Trail right across the parking lot.

The Dockside in North Tonawanda has completely remodeled and upped the ante on the culinary side. The patio, right on the Canal, with boats docking and water bikes pedaling by, is one of my new favorite places. The burgers look terrific and the arancini are super, but their grilled vegetables are so fabulous that I cannot bear to order anything else. And if you're in the Falls, don't forget about the venerable Red Coach Inn. I enjoyed both a phenomenal poached pear salad and a great view of the Rapids on the porch of this perfectly located Bed & Breakfast just yesterday.

Prefer to picnic? Pack one up and bike to Wilkeson Pointe Park on the Outer Harbor. You can purchase a cold beer to go with your goodies, and there are tables with great lake views. Or pack a bottle of vino and your favorite fare (I'm making chicken salad wraps) and head to Shakespeare in Delaware Park. The Taming of the Shrew is up through August 21st. Tomorrow is my night on the Hill.

Finally, there are Fairs, with a capital F. Every weekend, all summer long. But let's start with the grandaddy of them all. The Erie County Fair starts August 10 and runs through August 21. Get your discounted tickets in advance at Tops, but don't pick up picnic fare there. Instead, indulge in fair fare - fried dough and hot dogs and - dare I say it - deep fried oreos. It's only once a year, for heaven's sake. A few fluffs of cotton candy never hurt anybody.

But there are fairs with far healthier fare, and one is happening this Sunday (August 7). VegFest has moved to Riverside Park right across the 190 from the mighty Niagara River, and will feature the exact opposite culinary experience as that found in Hamburg: all vegan, all the time. You will be surprised at how very tasty this very healthy food can be. Try it, you'll like it! If you're feeling particularly spunky, get there early for the Tofurky Trot. And put the Wing Fest on your Labor Day Weekend schedule to undo all that goodness with some wings from across the nation right down at Coca-Cola Field.

Finally, there's your own backyard, front porch or patio. Pull that grill out and throw on some chicken breasts and fresh veggies. Or pick up some fresh, local corn at the Eden Corn Festival this weekend and throw it on the grill. Leave the husk on, soak in a bucket of water for 30 minutes, and grill for 15 minutes. Fresh grilled corn eaten outdoors is the very essence of summer.

These are just some of my al fresco favorites. What are yours? Tell me on Facebook. And bon appétit!