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The Backyard BBQ! = THE Outdoor Activity

Weekly Topic: Favorite outdoor activity

The.One.Autumn

** Reading Practice for middle Intermediate and up
Words, phrases in this color have definitions at the end!


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Favorite outdoor activity?

Backyard BBQ!

These are the best in the warmer months; late spring and early summer, when it’s really nice in the day and night hours.

I’m more of a kick-back gathering type of person, so the fun, yet chill atmosphere just can’t be beat when when the weather is perfect for being outside. It's super invigorating.

Backyard BBQ’s, like any kick-backs, are really flexible in terms of what you do besides eating. It really just depends on the type of friends you have and how big your gathering is. Anything from poker, other card games, classical board games, drinking games, karaoke, it can even involve video games, especially if you have a tv in your backyard and at least one person with a Nintendo Switch – Mario Kart, Mario Party and Smash Bro’s (for those that are really competitive, especially fun if there are gamers at the kick-back) are perfect party games.

In the summer months, having someone host a bbq that also has a pool in their backyard is a mega plus!

Also a perk, these types of gatherings are often pot-luck style parties, so if you have friends, or friends of friends, that are awesome cooks, you’ll have quite a day of nice feasting ahead of you!

And as for food, the sky is the limit here! Of course the ‘main event’ is the bbq classics, but if you go with the pot-luck style, then you might just end up with quite an eccentric variety of food, depending on who your friends are and what they like making!

Usually the variety is in the deserts, though, lol

There is actually a skill behind BBQ'ing, from seasoning the meats, marinating, and other food prep, knowing how long to let various meats, veggies, ect, cook, how to cook them, and even grill care – so someone who is well knowledgeable about this can really be a perk for a great bbq party.

One last optional perk – the ‘non professional’ bartender – provided everyone is of age. There’s actually plenty of really creative and delish party drinks that are non-alcoholic (some are actually just non-alcoholic versions of cocktails, slightly altered) but if you have someone that’s superb with mixed drinks – it’s a very nice addition to have. It’s always good to have both types of drinks available too.

In my opinion, it's much more preferable to the generic bbq drink, which is soda. (Incredibly boring choice!)

Lastly, kick-backs are easy to put together and don’t take a lot of planing to do. They can be as small or big as you want them to be, so if you really wanted to, you could plan for a really small get-together within a couple of days of having it.

The chill energy of a backyard bbq is just hard to beat; it’s the best!


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*BBQ = Barbeque

Kick-back = a casual, relaxed, very comfortable small party, mostly made up of good friends but can include friends-of-friends. Generally held at someone’s home, can sometimes be held in other, private locations (slang)

Chill atmosphere = a relaxed, laid-back environment (slang)

Can’t be beat = there is nothing better, you wont find anything better, it’s excellent, top quality (idiom)

Invigorating = stimulating, brings energy to something

Gamers= a person who plays video games with very high dedication and passion, as a hobby (computer and console games specifically). Someone who is into esports is a gamer, for example. 

Mega plus!= Mega means something is very, very big, or very, very good Plus refers to addition, something being added to something. Mega Plus = a very big addition (slang)

Perk= something very positive for fortunate that is gained in some way

Pot-luck= a gathering, get-together, where everyone brings different food, dishes, to be shared with everyone. Generally this is homemade food, but it is very common for people to bring food bought from a store or restaraunt. Generally, potlucks (alternate spelling) are informal gatherings.

Feasting= a feast is a very big meal that is enjoyed as if you are celebrating something (even if you are not). It will feature a variety of foods, dishes, and drinks

The sky is the limit = so many possibilities that there is no limit to how many there are (idiom)

Eccentric = something that is so different from the norm, something that is so different from the usual pattern of things, that it seams odd, strange; it’s very unusual.

Food prep= food preparation (casual, informal speech)

Grill care = care of the bbq grill

Provided everyone is of age= if everyone is a legal adult, then……

Of age= a legal adult

Delish= delicious (casual, informal, slang)

Superb= a very high quality thing; something that is excellent

Generic= something very general, lacks originality

Get-together= a casual, informal gathering of a group of people

Chill energy= a laid back, casual feeling, environment. Similar to “chill atmosphere”

Hard to beat= something so good that it will be hard to match, or to find something better

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This column was published by the author in their personal capacity.
The opinions expressed in this column are the author's own and do not reflect the view of Cafetalk.

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