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Required Reading: ‘Al Fresco’ by Julie Pointer Adams, for Outdoor Gatherings of All Kinds
As August wanes, I find myself wanting to stretch each hour of the day and spend as much time outdoors as I can—from early mornings on the porch to mid-day dog walks around the community garden to cold swims at the beach, informal wine gatherings with friends, and all kinds of picnics.
Photography by Julie Pointer Adams from Al Fresco.
Far from suggesting that an outdoor gathering must be an all-out affair, Pointer Adams captures possibilities of every scope to be together in nature—from spontaneous snacks to sit-down dinner parties (and recipes, too).
Shown here is a meal at the home of potter (and prolific flower grower) Frances Palmer, set in a verdant spot, with ladder-back chairs carried out.
Being outdoors, with some sort of food, has felt like the most relaxed, restorative way to be together for as long as I can remember.”
A basket of peaches is a sumptuous invitation in this spread by LA-based Justin Chung.
“I love to make coffee to go and enjoy it with friends outdoors.”
Couple Tessa Tran and Zach Schau host a casual dinner party in their backyard overlooking LA’s Verdugo Mountains, a former “dead space” they recently transformed into a simple pea-gravel patio.
“I love floating down a river, canoeing across a lake, or even just taking a dip in the stock-tank pool on the lawn,” says Catherine Welch.
London-based couple Amy Merrick (a writer and florist) and her husband, Philip Shelley (an architect) throw an ad-hoc picnic (and share their recipe for Undone Cheesecake, pictured) in the book.
Danish uproots Maj and Frederik Henriques now live in Santa Barbara, where they bring dinner—or just a bottle of wine—outdoors.
Al Fresco: Inspired Ideas for Outdoor Living is available via Bookshop.