BANGOR, Maine - Fork? Check. Spoon? Yep. Parka? Good call.
The city of Bangor, the gateway to northern Maine, has approved year-round outdoor dining.
The city council approved a process for restaurants to get permits for outdoor dining spaces on city sidewalks and other public places.
Bangor Downtown Coordinator Caitlin Brook says she anticipates most restaurant owners will wait until spring but the option for winter dining is available. One permit would allow alfresco dining from April to October while the other would run year-round.
Bangor is the farthest northeast city in the United States with a population of more than 30,000 people. Its average low temperature in January is 7 degrees. Brook says the city could emulate the success cold weather cities such as Quebec City have had with winter outdoor dining.