Every Wednesday, Kevin and Jenna talk to a local home expert Susie Calabrese about the things that make our lives easier, from home improvement to DIY to parenting. April is the month for spring break for your kids. This week Susie gives some fun ideas to do at home with your kids if you having a spring break staycation. Then she gives us some advice on preventing water damage in your home after all the April showers.

Image credit: Getty Images

Every Tuesday, Kevin and Jenna talk about all things food in Connecticut with Alex from CT Food Girly. With the weather getting nice out this week she tells us all the best spots here in the state to grab a bite or a drunk outside on patios and decks.

Nothing makes me happier than eating outside and knowing that the warm weather is here to stay!

I’m going to start us off with two awesome spots for outside patios in Milford. One is Village Bistro, a tapas, brunch, lunch, dinner and wine bar.I was just here this winter to check out their brunch menu and cocktails, they were phenomenal. They have a grand patio that opens up in the spring, that is perfect for their happy hour. They have the string light son, glass fire pits as well, comfy chairs and cute flowers. You can share a cheeseboard, caprese salad, mussels, pasta, steak or chicken. They also have special dancers, music, and events held out on their patio as well. The menu is great, the tapas are delicious, perfect for a group of friends to come and eat together and share some small plates.

My other Milford spot is Dockside Brewery. They have a huge patio and outdoor area that can fit a ton of family and friends looking to sit by the water. I went there for a shoot and checked out their winter heated and decorated igloos. That was a lot of fun. For the spring and summer, they call their beach area, Juicy beach, where you can sit under umbrellas on a picnic table and enjoy their food and drinks. They have a great beer list including their own brewery items, guest beers and outdoor guest beers. For food, I love the shareable section with wings, pretzel bites, calamari, pretzels, nachos and more. This is a great spot to kick off the warmer weather outside this spring.

The last one on my list is September in Bangkok located in New Haven. I just went there for a shoot and it was not my first time dining at this delicious thai restaurant. From the colorful cocktails, to the lunch menu and specials, this has always been one of those places I keep going back to. The service is top notch and they are currently planting flowers for their outdoor patio. They have plenty of room under the string-lit patio, and it’s the perfect spot for a romantic dinner date. My sister and I love to order the coconut shrimp, crab rangoons, and tacos. She orders the Pad Thai in Sept with grilled prawns and I get the spicy, Drunk Man Noodles with chicken and chili oil. Don’t miss out on this spot, their cocktails are equally amazing as well, especially outside on the patio.

____________________________________________________________________________

Nothing makes me happier than eating outside and knowing that the warm weather is here to stay!

For awesome outdoor patios, I’m going to start us off in Stratford with Riley’s By The Sea. This is a great seafood restaurant, serving lunch and dinner, with options like clams casino, clam chowder, steamed native clams, ahi tuna tartare and much more. They have an outdoor patio that overlooks Long Island Sound and also an outdoor bar area that I’m sure is such a fun time in the spring and summer when packed on the weekend or for their happy hour.

Another great outdoor patio spot is Sitting Duck Tavern in Trumbull. Now they have locations in Stratford and Oxford as well, but their Trumbull location has a great outdoor dining area. It’s fenced in between JBC cafe and a nice cozy spot to enjoy a meal this spring. They all have a great beer menu and cocktail menu. For food, I’m going for their Cadillac Burger, made with bbq, cheddar blend, bacon, chipotle ranch and fronions. Also, their tomato bisque and bang bang shrimp with sweet and spicy sauce. Sounds like the perfect meal to enjoy outside.

Lastly, this is one of my family’s favorites, Biagetti’s in West Haven. I always have something nice to say about this old-school italian-american family-run spot. Not only are their portions extremely large, but they are truly flavorful as well. You get the soup and salad course, side of pasta too, adding in your appetizer and entree, and you’re never leaving Biagetti’s hungry. Now, they do have a great enclosed outdoor patio, with fairy lights, umbrellas, and flowers. It’s a nice spot if you want to enjoy your stuffed lobster or stuffed shrimp outside. They also have a full bar inside as well, so you really can’t miss if you go to Biagetti’s in West Haven this spring.