Undoubtedly, you know someone whose enthusiasm for a three day weekend borders on fanatical, who possesses aprons like this, knows the secret to the perfectly done hamburger, and whose house you always end up at on Memorial Day weekend. Epic backyard gatherings are made memorable by the people who host and attend them, but can be enhanced by their setting. This week, we crunched our data to find the Top 10 Cities for Backyard Barbecues based on yard size, decks, and BBQs, but we also wanted to drool over particularly special setups. This Outdoor Living Spaces Collection includes many quirky, lavish, and cozy spots that put the mind in vacation mode. Can you almost smell the barbecue?
745 Milwood Ave, Venice 90291
List Price: $4,500,000
Beds: 2
Baths: 2.5
Listed by: Richard Stanley, Coldwell Banker – Los Feliz
Proving that you don’t necessarily need a vast yard to host parties, this home in Venice features a small side-deck festooned with a variety of lanterns that make the enclosed area glow with charm. Also known as the Lantern House, this locally famous landmark makes the most of its Southern California setting by creating fluid indoor/outdoor spaces that make outdoor relaxing natural.
397 Mills Rd, North Salem, NY 10560 
List Price: $10,950,000
Beds: 4
Baths: 4
Listed by: Linda Gracie, Houlihan Lawrence Inc.
This 1930s North Salem, NY home occupies just a fraction of its 70+ acre lot and is reached via a quaint cobblestone drive. Appealing to the equestrian, the property has its own barn, riding ring, stable, and paddock surrounded by lush trees. In the backyard, a pool with flagstone patio and an adjacent open cabana beckon. The fireplace stretches the seasonality of this New York estate into the fall, making time around the pool possible even when cooler nighttime temps set in.
22431 N Violetta Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
List Price: $2,200,000
Beds: 4
Baths: 5
Listed by: Mark Marsillo
A wraparound backyard porch stretching the length of this Scottsdale home allows lots of access to the temperate southwest climate and looks out over a custom-shaped pool. A separate outdoor enclosure matches the home’s Pueblo Revival architecture style and shelters a hot tub and lounging deck, flush with a small grassy lawn. A fire pit on the corner of the grounds is a great option when the temperature dips during chilly desert nights. Mirroring the arid environment, these spaces offer lots of choices when hosting a party.
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