Tuesday, Aug. 31, is National Eat Outside Day. The day's origin in unknown, but the purpose is pretty obvious — you should grab your lunch and take it outdoors. Have breakfast on your deck, invite your friends over for a cookout or go to a restaurant with outdoor seating.

 

While on lunch break, Cathy Slechta finds the sunshine and breeze a welcome change to the four walls of her office. She and her Financial Plus Credit Union coworker Diane Markey ate outside of Obee's in downtown Ottawa Monday.

"We eat (outside) as much as we can," Markey said.

At the next table, OfficeMax coworkers had the same idea.

"It's a perfect day for it today," said Jynel Overocker.

Overocker, of Harding, said she and her husband Steve also like to take their two children for picnics to eat outside.

Lee Ann Piano and Katherine Corcoran, of Noteworthy Training, also like to eat outside. They were considering having a business meeting while taking a hike, but decided instead to go to the Row House and enjoy a meal outside.

"When it's like this, you bet (we like to eat outside)," Piano said.

Frank Pullam, owner of Obee's, said people often utilize his outdoor seating.

"When it's a nice day, we do get a lot of people using the outside," he said. "They enjoy being outside in the fresh air."

Spring through fall, the outdoor seating sees plenty of use..

"But now more and more people are liking it," he said.

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It sounds like a good idea to me. I think I'll pack a lunch so I have more outside time. I bet the food tastes even better in the great outdoors.