Want to bring your dog to dinner?

Hey there! I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer night than sitting out on a patio with my best friends. And like a lot of Chicagoans, my bestest friend of all has four legs and a wet nose.

Okay, truthfully, my dog Chippy would rather stay home. Other dogs freak him out, and it makes him uncomfortable when people look at him for too long. But that’s why I need all of you to bring your dogs out on the town! I want to live vicariously through your well-adjusted animals.

For now, Chippy and I will stick with picking up two mini burgers and a scoop of peanut butter from the walk-up window at D’agostino’s in Wrigleyville. They have an extensive dog menu — and an easy-escape route for dogs that hate mingling.

See you on the patio! I hope that the rest of your summer patio excursions go smoothly. Let me know what bugs you the most about your fellow outdoor diners and their pets. I love to complain!