Warm Up the Night! Patio Heaters and Fire Pits

In some areas right now, the weather is ideal for sitting outside in the evening -- the bugs have gone and the sky is clear -- but the nights are chilly. Don't let the cool evenings send you inside -- extend your outdoor living season by heating your deck or patio.

John Williams, director of the Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration at the University of New Orleans, said traditional sit-down restaurants and diners have been a tougher sell, but a number of factors are changing that.About Champion Minerals Inc.The move could lead to smaller restaurant spaces in the future, a welcome concept when commercial real estate prices top $35 per square foot.Naked Pizza CEO Randy Crochet said pizza delivery is dominated by those who can stay top of mind and make ordering easy. The New Orleans-based health-conscious pizza chain set up online ordering three years ago. Now a quarter of orders at its 17 locations are online.

Propane heaters can be economical to operate. Depending on the heat output level you set, a standard propane tank can provide 10-12 hours of heat."You don't need to pay rent on to-go (orders) and delivery," McGoey said.Williams said restaurants face rising labor and real estate costs. And everything from fine dining to quick service is competing for the limited portion of food money spent outside of the home -- down to 44 percent from more than 50 percent in 2006, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture research.At Copeland's of New Orleans, Hugo Marin gushes about the brand's traditional dining expertise.For all heating units to perform optimally, they will need the right location. The ideal site is a combination of walls or fences (to radiate the heat back into your space) and overhead structures that will prevent the wind from blowing directly through your selected area.Champion Minerals is an exploration and development company focused on discovering and developing significant iron ore resources in eastern Canada, particularly in the provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland & Labrador. The Company's projects include: the Fermont Property Holdings in Quebec, jointly held by Champion (82.5% interest) and Fancamp Exploration Ltd. (17.5% interest); the Attikamagen Iron Property in Quebec and Labrador, and; the Powderhorn / Gullbridge base-metal Projects in central Newfoundland."We saw the trend and we just capitalized on it," Mantilla said.

With the wide selection of outdoor heating devices available, you're sure to find one that right's for you. So heat up the night - and go right on enjoying your outdoor space.

Author: Debbie Rodgers