Get on deck for summer romance

For some, it’s a whiff of coconut-scented tanning lotion. For others, the taste of watermelon or the sound of the ocean will do it.

For me, I know it’s summer when my landlord calls about installing the air conditioner in my attic bedroom this week. Wimpy, I know, but the humidity gets pretty bad on the third floor of the house.

But I really go summer-wild when I hear our local restaurateurs and bar owners have taken down the plastic hangings on their decks or porches. You know it’s time for a crisp beer on a warm summer night or a light dinner as the sun goes down.

Aren’t decks a great way to celebrate Maine summers? We’re cooped up inside until late spring when the weather turns warm and we’re turned loose on the deck.

That summery frame of mind is great for meeting people. We’re warm, relaxed and surrounded by others enjoying the same atmosphere.

There are plenty of bars and restaurants around town that have decks, and each one seems to have its own feel.

I remember when, as an occasional visitor to Benjamin’s in Bangor, the deck in back was great for catching a cool breeze away from the dance floor. The wood railings and walkways made me feel as if I was in a tree house. I’m sure patrons at Karma, which now occupies the Benjamin’s space, feel the same way. But few people seemed to linger outside at Benjamin’s. There was more dancing to do.

Down at the Sea Dog in Bangor, the deck has a movers-and-shakers feel to it – the last time I was there with a friend and co-worker, we saw a couple of Bangor’s elder businessmen surrounded by a group of pretty younger women. It was mighty entertaining. Most Sea Dog patrons seem to like to stay inside, maybe because the deck area near the outside bar can make for tight quarters.

Still, imagine the romantic possibilities when you have a deck and a view of the Penobscot River in front of you! And bonus points for the deck bar.

Up in Orono, the Bear Brew deck can be a mixed bag of people during the school year. Sundays it’s quiet. Thursdays it’s loud. But in the summer, as Orono locals and University of Maine employees know well, the Brew has a different vibe to it. It’s much more laid-back and less crowded. And how can you lose with two TV sets to watch Red Sox games at night?

A former partner-in-crime of mine – she’s 10 days away from getting married so I figure it’s OK for her to retire now – reported that the Bear Brew’s downstairs seating area and bar were pretty empty on a recent Friday night but the deck was much more lively. And the Brew has a bar upstairs, too.

While decks close for the winter, others stay open pretty much year-round to accommodate smokers.

That’s the case at the Riverfront in Old Town. As far as decks go, this one’s pretty basic. No bar. No Red Sox on TV. But there are plenty of people who congregate outside because the space inside can be cramped. A group of us made a recent appearance at the Riverfront for my former partner-in-crime’s bachelorette party, and there was even a cute dog hanging out (with owner, of course) on the deck. There were plenty of people outside chatting but there was still room for me to have a quiet chat with an acquaintance.

Down in Bar Harbor, where I’ve spent many a beautiful summer night, you can sit on the deck at Carmen Verandah – is there a better name for a restaurant with a deck? – which offers a great view of the village green during the day and evening, and a place to cool off from dancing at night.

For the past few summers deck-lovers gathered at Castaways, which was also in Bar Harbor. I’m not sure what’s in that space this summer, because on a recent trip to the coast I noticed there was no sign up. But I sure hope the deck remains, because Castaways was almost all deck, with a kind of gazebo that housed a full bar. For the past two summers at least, Castaways seemed to be a noisy meat market, complete with unabashed staring and beer guzzling from both men and women.

I know I’m leaving out other local decks that I haven’t visited. And I won’t even get into patios.

Still, as long as it’s a warm summer night, any deck’ll do ya.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at jbloch@bangordailynews.net.