Bar Patios Opening Early With Warm Spring

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- This weekend we have yet another chance to get out and enjoy Minnesota.  Spring fever just won't stop.

Temperatures are expected to hit 72 and 79, respectively, on Saturday and Sunday. The warm weather means we're able to enjoy activities we'd usually have to wait weeks for.

"I think people want us to be open," said Chris Weglinski, who co-owns Sea Salt next to Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis. "Our staff wants to work. I want to get back to work.  The weather's nice."

He's stocked up on calamari, shrimp and other food. There's also plenty of beer on tap and wine for the season opener.  It comes a full week earlier than usual.  Sea Salt starts serving Friday.

"People are just antsy to get outside, and if you're from Minnesota, you spend those January's and February's just twitching to do something fun," Weglinski said.

Fan favorites will make another comeback, including grilled fish tacos, crab cakes and much more.

"I haven't had this food in like five months, so I'm kind of craving it," he said.

Minnesotans have been craving sun, and they've been getting it in record doses.

This March will be the warmest on record every for a Minnesota March. We've hit 70 degrees or warmer eight times this month.

Lord Fletcher's on Lake Minnetonka is setting its own record too.

"This time of year, never, never this time of year," said bartender Dan Suerth, who spent the afternoon stocking the outdoor bar to get it ready to open on the very last day of March, this Saturday.

"We just thought we'd get an early start on summer," he said.

Surprising, considering Jason Huesmann and staff usually can't open outside till the end of April.

"We should have some boats and a lot of people out," Huesmann said.

The Pedal Pub in the Twin Cities will also start Sunday.  It's the pub on wheels where you pedal through town and drink beer.  It's really another example of what this fabulous spring means for all of us

Spring is already going down as one of the warmest.  It's certainly something to remember.