When you visit the new Wright Taste restaurant in Belmar, you can expect a little bit of everything. The spot is now open and serving guests a mix of Soul, Italian, Hispanic, and Caribbean food. The team is settling in nicely in the former home of Twisted Tapas.

At Wright Taste, the 2,500-square foot indoor space can seat 100 people (at full capacity) across two dining areas. As for the interior design, youll find royal blue and gray walls; as well as tables adorned with royal blue linens, glass centerpieces, and fall dcor. In addition, they offer three TVs to watch news and sports, or karaoke if you prefer.

But the outdoor dining space is even bigger: This 4,000-square foot area can seat 125 people on a patio. Whats most unique about this, however, is the garden with a large tree in the center of the patio. Its said to be the oldest tree in Belmar, says Wright Taste founder and co-owner Andre Wright.

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The idea for a restaurant came from Wrights twin desires to always do good for the community and prepare food made with love. We decided that now would be a great time to open despite the pandemic because for us it was a blessing, Wright says. We never thought wed have an opportunity like this. And to have so much outdoor dining space, which most restaurants dont have, just made everything 10 times better.

So far, Wright Taste is a hit with Belmar residents. The locals have made it known that even in the winter, theyll be coming to our restaurant, Wright adds.

But neither Wright nor his co-owner and chef Stephon Lewis had a link to Belmar prior to opening. Of course, things are different now that they have built relationships with people in the community. (Lewis has a catering background, and his late father was a chef.)

Patrons will find an array of cuisines at Wright Taste, including Soul, Italian, Hispanic, and Caribbean. So far, popular menu items include oxtails, curry chicken, and escovitch fish (red snapper). Jerk chicken and jerk fish either mild or spicy with cabbage and white rice, are also hits, says Lewis. The vegan section of the menu offers fried tofu in such styles as barbecue, sweet Asian chili, buffalo, and jerk.

They also have some family-style options perfect for groups of four. For example, you can order large portions of fried chicken, fried whiting, baked flounder, or barbecue baby back ribs. (Each comes with four sides.) The kids menu serves up child-friendly fare including chicken tenders, fried fish, mac and cheese, and grilled cheese.

Visit Wright Taste at 1006 Main Street in Belmar. Find them online for hours and other info.

Reservations?

Yes

Gluten-free options?

Yes

Vegetarian options?

Yes

Takeout/Delivery?

Yes

Liquor license?

No (BYOB)

Kids menu?

Yes

Click here to find the latest restaurants open in New Jersey.

All Photos: Wright Taste / Facebook

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Wright Taste Brings the Right Menu to Belmar - BestofNJ.com

FARGO A 33-year-old man is accused of lighting a patio table at a downtown Fargo bar on fire this weekend, according to court documents.

Cass County prosecutors filed on Wednesday, Sept. 2, charges of endangering by fire or explosion, a Class C felony and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, against Michael Edward Williams.

Court documents allege that Williams, who is homeless, started a table on Cowboy Jacks patio, 506 Broadway N., on fire Saturday morning before the bar opened. The fire caused about $1,000 in damage to the table and structure of Cowboy Jacks, according to a criminal complaint.

The fire caused minor damage, but nothing that prevented the bar from opening on Saturday, Cowboy Jack's general manager Jerry Britttian. The establishment was able to open on time, he said.

Its unclear how or when the fire was started, but a passerby reported it before 6 a.m Saturday, the complaint said. Police identified Williams by comparing his mugshots from past arrests to security footage taken the morning of the fire, according to the complaint.

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Man accused of starting patio table on fire at Cowboy Jack's in downtown Fargo - INFORUM

North Austin-based G&N Creations recently rebranded as Reach for the Sky Bakeshop. (Courtesy Reach for the Sky Bakeshop)

Texas barbecue and Vietnamese fusion restaurant Smokin Beauty opened Aug. 28 at 11806 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin. The eatery offers a unique menu with items such as brisket and pork belly banh mi. Smokin Beauty has a patio currently open on weekends with a drive-thru window for weekday service. 512-436-9379. http://www.smokinbeautyatx.com

North Austin staple Ross Old Austin Cafe officially reopened in mid-August as Luisas Patio, located at 11800 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin. Luisas Patio sells traditional Mexican dishes, such as street tacos, sopes and enchiladas, and serves Latin American-inspired alcoholic drinks. The restaurant has also kept on cooks from Ross Old Austin Cafe and offers dishes from the former restaurants menu, such as the famous chicken fried steak. 512-835-2414. http://www.facebook.com/luisas-patio-100472191777473/

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Roundup: Ross' Old Austin Cafe reopens as Luisa's Patio and other Northwest Austin restaurant news - Community Impact Newspaper

Massachusetts allowed restaurants to resume outdoor dining with restrictions on June 8, following nearly three months of takeout and delivery only. During the week of June 8, over 100 restaurants in and around Boston quickly opened up their patios; here are details on many of those. Others are taking a slower approach.

Each week, well highlight a few more patios that are reopening in the Boston area right here, as well as any other pertinent info and updates regarding outdoor dining. (Note that this will not be a comprehensive list as there are hundreds of patios in the region, with more to come as cities and towns find ways to quicken and ease the permitting process.) Know of a recently opened patio thats especially spacious, comfortable, and following safety protocols well? Hit up the tipline.

PATIOS NOW OPEN (OR OPENING THIS WEEK)

OTHER OUTDOOR DINING UPDATES

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477 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA 02135

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Boston-Area Patio Updates, Summer 2020 (Updated Weekly) - Eater Boston

It goes without saying that Juneteenth should be more widely recognized as a national holiday. Instead, its known as a Texas state holiday, commemorating the day a Union general rode into Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, to declare that all slaves were now free. Nevertheless, Black people around America have reclaimed this holiday as their independence day; this year feels especially important in light of the continued Black Lives Matter protests. When we saw that Black People Eats put together this list on Instagram of Black-owned restaurants with patios that are offering Juneteeth specials, we wanted to give these businesses some more attention. So, what are you waiting for? You can get a meal for just $6.19 in Chicago all weekend long!

2205 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

An adorable breakfast cafe that caters a balanced blend of healthy food and guilty pleasures, Lizzy J Cafe can meet all of your needs this Juneteenth. Enjoy outdoor seating in this divine oasis.

Juneteenth Special: French Toast Side Any Flavor ($6.19)

17093 S Jodave Ave, Hazel Crest, IL 60429

Smoked meats are the name of the game at Maes Que House, a Hazel Crest restaurant just past the tip of South Side Chicago. With a few tables outside, Maes Que House is allowing patrons to dine in again.

Juneteenth Special: Pork, Turkey, or Chicken Mini Tips with Fries ($6.19)

1200 E 79th St, Chicago, IL 60619

Featuring an eclectic menu that highlights dishes from varying cultures, The Woodlawn is offering a flatbread special on Juneteenth that includes the Gyro, Italian Beef, Buffalo Chicken, and Jambalaya.

Juneteenth Special: Flatbread Special ($6.19)

1072 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Frontiers outdoor space is a breezy haven away from the streets of Chicago, and though their Juneteenth special is a $6.19 martini, youd be remiss not to also order some delicious meats served right off their patio grill.

Juneteenth Special: Martinis ($6.19)

1415 N Wood St, Chicago, IL 60622

A New Orleans-inspired outpost in the heart of Wicker Park, Ina Mae embraces their funky, Southern-style roots with a delicious Juneteenth special.

Juneteenth Special: Nola Hot Sausage Sliders ($6.19)

756 E 111th St, Chicago, IL 60628

A quintessential Chicago food truck that roams where it may, Lexington Betty Smoke House will be located in Pullman all weekend, serving up their Juneteenth special.

Juneteenth Special: Mini Rib Tips with Fries or Smoked Chicken with Fries ($6.19)

756 E 111th St, Chicago, IL 60628

Soul food, meet vegan. Unbelievably good eats await you at Matani Restaurant, even if youre not a plant-based diner.

Juneteenth Special: BBQ Cauliflower ($6.19)

717 W Maxwell St, Chicago, IL 60607

One of the coolest, underground Chicago handouts, Phlavz has more than enough spacious outdoor seating, awash in violet neon lights.

Juneteenth Special: Jerk Chicken Sammich ($6.19)

1368 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615

Dont believe you wont believe it? Try Cant Believe Its Not Meat for yourself and let us know.

Juneteenth Special: Hotdog & Fries ($6.19)

1660 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615

This straightforward restaurant has been giving back to the neighborhood since they opened. Having gifted over 150,000 free meals to people in the community, Litehouse is a shining beacon of hope in Hyde Park.

Juneteenth Special: Fire Glazed Salmon Bowl ($6.19)

7101 S Yates Blvd, Chicago, IL 60649

This neighborhood breakfast cafe is the perfect place for some peace and quiet. Slow down and grab a coffee and a panini here.

Juneteenth Special: Breakfast Panini or Turkey Bacon Avocado with a 16 oz Black Iced Coffee ($6.19)

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11 Black-Owned Restaurants With Patios Offering Juneteenth Specials This Weekend - UrbanMatter

In mid-May, Boor and Charles Hemminger, another architect with a restaurant-heavy practice, put together some designs to see if they could get enough socially distanced seats into a dining room to stay in business. San Francisco hadnt yet issued its specific guidance for how restaurants could open, but the architects had the gist. They turned bars into prep stations, because they couldnt figure out how to give people bending an elbow enough elbow room. They moved tables farther apart, thought about barriers, and took over patio and parking spaces where the restaurants had them.

They learned a few things. Risk of infection is a combination of how much exposure someone gets and how long they get it. And while customers might spend an hour or two in a restaurant, staff are there all night. Patron-to-patron infection is a thing were worried about, but a bigger risk is patron-to-staff, Boor says. Those are the people youre concerned with protecting. If they get sick, the whole operation goes down.

Without significant changes to how much street space a restaurant is allowed to take up, Boor and Hemminger couldnt really make outdoor dining plausible. In a restaurant operating on the typical dining model of table service, I have not yet seen a case where outdoor seating would make up for the amount of lost indoor seating due to distancing, Boor says. Even the ones that come close require some pretty big assumptions about making that outdoor seating usable, like building something like wind screens and heating elements. Few cities in the US have year-round pleasant weather in the evenings, whether thats because of heat, humidity, cold, or rain. So restaurants trying to expand their borders are going to have to build some kind of nimbus of infrastructure to minimize the picnic-in-the-rain vibe. Of course, the more enclosed an outdoor space is, the more it is like an indoor spacewith all the concomitant risks.

Many restaurant owners are hoping that cities will give them more space by taking it away from cars. That would include parklets that replace streetside parking. (These require strong barriers around their perimeter and a floor built level with the sidewalk, because streets often slope downward toward curbs to redirect rainwater and debris into gutters). And then you have to figure out how to actually build the things. Abueg says San Franciscos rules only let a parklet extend 6 feet into the street; Berkeley seems likely to ask for barriers 2 feet thick. That only leaves 4 feet of space for tables.

All of this suggests that the best plan might be to forget about piecemeal parklets and just close streets altogether. Pedestrian-only plazas are common in many other parts of the world, but less so in car-happy America. The mayor and city council of Berkeley initially promised a huge number of street closures to accommodate outdoor dining, but the drawings Abueg and Morris came up with depict a much reduced and more realistic visionshort stretches of converted street, with maybe a block here and there fully closed to automobile traffic. They even encountered resistance to the idea of closing a particularly obvious candidate, Center Street, which extends west from the UC Berkeley campus into the citys downtown. Center is lined with restaurants that run the gamut of cuisines and price points; it has a museum at one corner (with a skyscraping hotel under construction). The stretch is a block from a subway station, and the area is full of students. Seems perfect, right?

But Abueg says she got pushback from a landlord there, just as she did at another Berkeley retail street also identified as a candidate for closure. Restaurant owners are clamoring for expanded dining, but sometimes the people who own their buildings are just used to the idea of customers arriving in cars. And some of the restaurants have come to depend on pick-up and delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats, with drivers who want to pull up out front. And many of San Franciscos and Berkeleys restaurant districts also have high populations of unhoused people who live and sleep on public sidewalks. Restaurants have never had to take responsibility for those spaces. In places like that, where the open seating will be shared by multiple restaurateurs, who will be responsible for the clean-up or for unhoused folks? she asks. So that got complicated.

Read all of our coronavirus coverage here.

Protecting the staff will still be a challenge, even if everyone is eating outside. Abuegs sketches anticipate that there will be no table service; people will order from windows at the restaurants and carry their orders to tables, like at a mall food court. Thats an assumption we made with the concept, that the fewer touchpoints the better, instead of a server going back and forth, Abueg says. You clean up after yourself, and it would also require that everybody would have an app on their smartphone to see a menu and order, so youre not standing queued up together.

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The Design and Science of Patio Dining During a Pandemic - WIRED

Summer officially arrives Saturday so that means its time to spruce up your patio.

Here are some great deals from different retailers that will make your outdoor living space the talk of the town. And you wont have to break the bank.

The River Brook Patio Sectional with Cushions, part of the Kathy Ireland Collection, is available at Wayfair.

The River Brook Patio Sectional with cushions (see photo directly above), part of the Kathy Ireland Collection, is available at Wayfair.

Theres plenty of other River Brook Patio Sectionals available here and prices start around $1,100 and swell to above $3,200.

The Navarro 9-ft. Outdoor Auto Crank Umbrella from Kohl's is priced under $60.

This Kohls Navarro 9-ft. Outdoor Auto Crank Umbrella is a steal at $57.36. They come in blue, red and tan and will keep any backyard shady while the sun is out.

This Aksel Steel Wood Burning Fire Pit retails for $137.99 on Wayfair.com.

The Aksel Steel Wood Burning Fire Pit sells for $137.99 at Wayfair.com. The antique-copper bowl finish comes with a built-in log rest and fire tool. This firepit cannot be placed on wood decks.

The AECOJOY 13'8' Patio Awning makes any space looks elegant.

Amazon.com has this AECOJOY 138 Patio Awning Retractable Sun Shade available for only $279.99. The patio awning is ideal for shading of windows, in balcony, courtyard, patio, cafes and restaurants with back porches, providing protection from UV rays and make the space looks elegant. It is water and UV resistant.

The frame is built with rust-resistant, powder-coated aluminum frame, lightweight design but solid structure can resist a certain scale wind (under level 5), retractable mounting brackets have double strand steel rope, more durable.

The Sunjoy 10'x10' Hampton Softtop Steel Gazebo with Netting retails for around $112 on Amazon.

The Sunjoy 10x10 Hampton soft-top steel gazebo with netting can be had for $112 on Amazon.com. It comes with a vented canopy, includes guy ropes for additional stability and comes with full length mosquito netting. It is made of Polyester canopy fabric. Some assembly is required.

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Here are 5 must-have items for your outdoor patio - SILive.com

As first reported by KBJR, Spirit Bay Trading is closing its doors Monday, June 22.

The Canal Park staple sells Native American art, jewelry and supplies all fantastic things I would check out anytime that I was in the area.

Spirit Bay's owner, Terry Smith, told KBJR he's nearing retirement and was considering downsizing when the lease was up. Like so many businesses, the pandemic sped up these plans.

Smith is planning to hold an auction to sell remaining items.

On a similar note, Lincoln Park cocktail lounge Noble Pour closed in March. But the space wasn't sitting silent for long.

Owner Tom Hanson also runs the adjacent OMC Smokehouse, which has now taken over the space. They knocked out a wall to expand floor space in OMC, making social distancing easier and allowing them to welcome more customers.

OMC opened its indoor dining Wednesday at 50% capacity, according to its Facebook. And, apparently, you can still enjoy a cocktail in the new space.

Hanson told the News Tribune that the expansion is a big investment, similar to "a poker hand saying, Im making my last bet here."

Minnesota's CareerForce is holding a virtual career fair Monday for those who identify as LGBTQ or are allies.

The career fair features businesses known for their LGBTQ track record. Specifically, businesses were selected for their history of inclusion and support of LGBTQ employees, as evident by their culture and policy.

Each business will share information about available jobs, LGBTQ inclusion efforts and company culture.

The fair is Monday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Find more information and register on CareerForce's event page, careerforcemn.com/events.

There's been an influx of new spaces for outdoor dining, which should come as no surprise to Minnesotans.

Restaurants weren't allowed to open their indoor spaces until recently, and were limited to serving customers at outdoor patio spaces or via delivery and pickup.

Bridgeman's is one Duluth businesses that's adding patio seating. Fox 21 reported the restaurant had plans to build a patio before the pandemic hit, but the pandemic presented an opportunity to speed up patio construction.

You can enjoy their ice cream in an outdoor setting a fantastic combination starting this weekend, when the patio is slated to be complete, according to Bridgeman's Facebook page.

The restaurant also has indoor seating.

Kelly Busche covers business and health for the News Tribune. She loved outdoor patio dining prior to the pandemic, and is happy to have even more options now.

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The Memo: New patios, OMC and more - Duluth News Tribune

VAUGHAN Dozens of nail and hair salons line Steeles Avenue in Torontos north end, but while the shops on one side of the street were bustling with weekend customers on Saturday, businesses on the other were locked up with their lights out.

The busy road serves as a border between the City of Toronto and York Region, and while the latter is in the second stage of re-opening, the former has a higher concentration of COVID-19 cases and remains in Stage 1, so many services are still shuttered.

For Toronto residents near the border, accessing some services is now a matter of crossing the street.

At nolaSalon in Vaughan, Sofia Romashova said there were some walk-ins from Toronto when they first opened on Friday, although theyre now booked up for the next three weeks.

Some of the customers are coming from as far as downtown Toronto and Mississauga.

Were booked from 9 a.m. till 8 p.m., said Romashova, adding that their salon is only accepting three clients at a time to ensure that they can maintain physical distancing between customers.

The salon wasnt allowing customers to sit on sofas inside, and went through an intensive cleaning process after each client.

Michelle Clark, a customer who was getting her hair cut on Saturday afternoon, said she was from Toronto but within a walking distance from the salon.

Im lucky I live where I live, she said.

I didnt see what the point was in opening York Region and not Toronto, but I guess its more for people in downtown.

Farther along Steeles, patrons were enjoying coffee and pitchers of beer on a patio at the Tickled Toad Pub & Grill, where the second stage of reopening has allowed restuarants and bars to serve customers at outdoor seating areas.

The pub first opened the patio on Friday, and owner Paul Merrimel said there was an immediate rush from when they opened at noon until close.

It was a crazy day, said Merrimel, adding they had to tape off a section of the walkway to account for the long line that formed.

Everyone was happy to get some sort of normalcy happening, the mood was fantastic.

Merrimel said they have many regulars who live just across the street in Toronto, who have been coming to support the bar.

While he said theyre fortunate to be able to open up before venues on the south end of the street, their business is still severely limited. The pub is licensed for around 200 people, but is currently only serving 36 at a time.

In the past, Merrimel said being in Vaughan had been a disadvantage when bars in Toronto were allowed to extend hours for sporting events and his wasnt.

This time were sort of ahead and we got a jump on things, which is nice, he said.

Were obviously on the right side of the street.

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On Steeles Ave., salons and patios can open, but only on one side of the road - Toronto Sun

T-Storm Chances Increase Over Next Few DaysMeteorologist Chris Spears has your forecast.

The Action Center Helps Those In Need At Belmar CenterThe Action Center held a drive to raise money and food donations to help Jefferson County families.

Firefighters Pull Man From Lake Estes After He Tried To Save ChildrenEstes Valley firefighters responded to a call about a man in Lake Estes Saturday afternoon.

Denver Continues Community Of Color Coronavirus TestingTesting was offered at the New Hope Baptists Church in Denver on Saturday.

Early Saturday Morning Shooting Leaves Man DeadDenver police officers responded to an early morning shooting near 22nd Street and Court Place.

Denver Police Investigate Deadly Shooting Near I-25 On-RampDenver police say a man died after being shot early Saturday morning.

Large Juneteenth Celebration At Aurora Park Ends In Deadly ShootingAurora police said a 17-year-old was killed in a shooting Friday night during a large Juneteenth celebration at Rocky Ridge Park.

Supporters Of Stapelton Name Change Gather For Peaceful CelebrationWhile nothing is final yet, supporters of the Stapleton Neighborhood name change are glad decades of work is finally paying off.

Man Sentenced To 10 Years Following Drug Ring InvestigationA Greeley judge sentenced Alberto Loya to 10 years in prison for drug and money laundering charges.

Eagle Lake Camp To Remain Closed After Coronavirus OutbreakEagle Lake Camp in El Paso County reported a coronavirus outbreak among staff members on Thursday.

Police Looking For Suspects In Series Of Violent CarjackingsDenver police are asking for help identifying three suspects accused in a series of carjackings Friday, including a shooting that left a man in his 90s in critical condition.

Teenager Killed During Juneteenth Celebration At Aurora ParkAurora police said a 17-year-old was killed in a shooting Friday night during a large Juneteenth celebration at Rocky Ridge Park.

CBS4 News Update, 6-20-20CBS4 is Colorado's News Channel

Back To Normal June Temps This WeekendMeteorologist Chris Spears has your forecast.

Jeffco Schools Plans In-Person Learning This FallElementary schools will open with a 100% in-person learning option.

Black Love Mural Art Festival Coincides With Juneteenth CelebrationThe murals are on display in Civic Center Park.

USDA Secretary Visits Food Bank Of The RockiesThe food bank is seeing an increase in customers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Boulder Tracks Spike In Coronavirus Cases To PartiesThe large gatherings have taken place on University Hill near the CU Boulder campus.

Aurora Start-Up Raises $40 Million To Make New Mushroom ProductsThe company is making a mushroom-based sweetener that could be used in coffee.

Penny Ponies Galloping Away From King SoopersThe ponies at 100+ grocery stores in Colorado are being rounded up.

Reopening Colorado: Bars Allowed To Open Under Amended Public Health Order; Other Restrictions RelaxedThe statewide public health order has been amended to allow bars to open, and additional activities and events to take place, with "abundant precautions" to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19.

Definitely A Crime Committed: Aurora Detective Accused of Lying, Cheating, But No Criminal ChargesA CBS4 Investigation has learned an Aurora Police Detective resigned last month, the day before he would have been fired.

Warmer This WeekendWatch Lauren Whitney's forecast

Dumb Friends League Breaks Ground On New San Luis Valley Animal Center In AlamosaThe Dumb Friends League kicked off construction of a new animal shelter in south-central Colorado on Friday.

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Denver Working To Expand Patios Into Sidewalks, Parking Lots - CBS Denver