Enter: Summer Fridays. Each week, our team charged ahead an extra hour each day from Monday through Thursday, allowing everybody to bank enough time to take Friday afternoons off. That left plenty of room to get out, enjoy the sunshine, and make some new discoveries.

And discover, we did.

Combined, we all did about a hundred fun things with our Summer Fridays, but we asked everybody to distill their favorites to share with the entire office. The results: a pretty impressive list of discoveries, fun finds, and “add-that-to-your-bucket-list” items for everybody to check out in the future.

Here’s a look at some of our best summer finds from 2019, and words from the team on why these discoveries made Summer Fridays such a great way to experience the season.

Aldi Little Salad Bar Ready-To-Eat Bowls

Joe Savitch - Marketing Manager

“I’m not a big fan of going to more than one grocery store in a week, but my wife recently discovered Aldi and, well… they have enough good stuff to make the trip worth it. Like these little pre-made salad bowls: they’re easy to grab and go, and surprisingly tasty for a low price. If you’re a fan of Aldi and looking for a hidden gem, you should check these out.”

Pineapple Salsa 

Sarah Szopa - Account Manager

“I started bringing this to get-togethers over the Summer and at first they were a little dubious - but after a few bites, they were on board, and now it’s almost always gone by the end of the night. It’s even been dubbed “Sarah’s Pineapple Salsa”. Just chop everything up, mix to combine, let it all marinate for a while, and then dig in. (Try with quinoa chips!)”

• Fresh Pinneaple (chopped)
• Half a Red Pepper (chopped)
• Half a Red Onion (chopped)
• A Drizzle of Olive Oil
• A shake of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and curry

American Flatbread Frozen Pizza

Matt Marquis - Design Lead

“Honestly, some days I just don’t feel like cooking. (Okay, most days.) That’s when I’m most tempted to just grab a few beers and a frozen pizza, and these American Flatbreads have been actually pretty good. A little bit more expensive than the other options, but they taste good and they’re based in VT so it’s worth it. Keep your eye out for the white box.”

Vodka + Sparkling Ice Strawberry Lemonade Cocktail

Christina Whitaker - Finance Manager

“This has been pretty much my favorite way to close out the week on a summer Friday: some good vodka, a healthy splash of Sparkling Ice Strawberry Lemonade, and some ice are all you need to enjoy a sweet, fruity, no-guilt summer cocktail.”

Thrive Market & Misfits Market Groceries

Justin Martin - Creative Director

“We’ve got special diets in our house and we’re always trying to eat healthy. That’s why we’ve been trying out Thrive Market, which is basically a monthly online membership that delivers fresh, organic produce to our door. Plus, we’re also trying out Misfits Market, which specializes in delivering ‘ugly & imperfect’ produce that would otherwise be wasted for a steal of a price. With these two together, we’re eating great and getting a ton of fresh stuff for a bargain.”

Liar's Bench Brewery, Portsmouth

Conor Snell - Social Media & Content Strategist

“We had a goal of finding the best Happy Hour in Portsmouth, but after a few weeks of shopping around, we basically settled on one spot for the whole summer: Liar’s Bench Beer Co. It’s buried in the up-and-coming West End of Portsmouth, and you wouldn’t know it’s really anything from the street—but head around back to the beer garden for tasty craft beers brewed on-site and one of the best outdoor spots in the city. If you want to drink like a local in Portsmouth, you have to check out Liar’s Bench.”

STōK Coffee

Kathy Sevigny - President

“Look, we’re in New England - we know that on a hot summer day, nothing beats an iced coffee. STōK might be the best one I’ve had so far. You can find in the fridge section of the grocery store in big bottles (which is great, because it’s usually gone in no time). It’s pretty strong, but it’s perfect with a little milk and sugar.”

Pierce Island Pool, Portsmouth

Brian Richards - Director of Technology

“When you’ve got a one-year-old, it’s hard to find a better way to beat the heat than at the pool. We found a great spot in Portsmouth at the Pierce Island Pool - just a few steps from Prescott Park and super family-friendly.”

Rewatchables Podcast

Megan O’Keefe - Social Media & Content Specialist

“I’ve been really getting into Podcasts recently, and ‘The Rewatchables’ has been one of my favorites. Basically, the hosts take a close look back at movies they deem to be ‘worth a rewatch’—usually classic hits or iconic movies with a lot more going on than a lot of one-time viewers might remember. A solid pod selection, especially if you’re a movie fan.” 

Nahko and Medicine for the People, LaBelle Winery, Ancient Fire Meadery

Joseph Stucker - SEM/SEO Specialist

“My summer finds are a trio that all go pretty great together: some world-music tunes from Nahko and Medicine for the People; local wine tastings at the LaBelle Winery over in Amherst, NH; and some really world-class local cider made on-site at Ancient Fire Meadery in Manchester. Basically a great trio for winding down on a summer day.”

Jackfruit

Amy Picciotto - Designer

“So I’m a vegetarian, but my family is full of omnivores. So my husband and I started experimenting with jackfruit, which is basically a huge fruit with internal parts that “tear” away like pulled pork. And because it’s good at soaking up flavors, it’s pretty easy to replicate barbecue. We served some jackfruit “pulled pork” to the fam and they didn’t even realize it wasn’t real meat. (Seriously… we had to convince them it wasn’t!)”

Outshine Frozen Fruit bars (coconut, mango)

Matthew Litzinger - Front-End Developer

“I’m a big fan of frozen fruit bars, but Outshine might just top the list. Not only are they refreshing on a hot day, but they’re made simply with real juice. I recommend picking up the Creamy Coconut or Mango ones—those have been my faves.”

These Are Our Favorite Summer Friday Finds. How About You?

With fall on the horizon (insert required Winter is Coming joke here), it’s nice to look back on the summer and see just how much fun stuff our team can get into—and it’s really nice to see the whole team sharing the experiences together.

How about you—did you have a favorite summer find from 2019? Hit us up on Twitter to share yours!

• Megan O'Keefe
• Social Media & Content Specalist
• megan@altosagency.com