Eye Candy! of the week

Property: Soup to Nutz Bistro courtyard, 121 E. Kalamazoo St., Lansing

Owner: Soup to Nutz

Assessed value: $5,000

Outdoor spaces, especially in urban settings, function best and are most loved when articulated as a room with defined sides. Soup to Nutz Bistro’s secluded courtyard is a perfect example.

In the heart of downtown near the corner of Grand Avenue and Kalamazoo Street, the courtyard is one of the best outdoor experiences in Lansing. Brick masonry buildings with cornflower blue shutters and fencing with creeping vines define the walls, while the tree canopy forms a ceiling. It’s like sitting in the garden of a French chateau. In a word: heaven.

Cindi Swope, owner and chef at Soup to Nutz, said she chose the Kalamazoo Avenue location because of the courtyard — she really felt it could be something special. It more than doubles the capacity of the restaurant and is open as early as mid-April to early November, depending on the weather.

Has it been a while since you last enjoyed this glorious outdoor space unique to Lansing? Perhaps you’ve never been? I recommend going immediately to savor the beauty and to enjoy the tranquility. Soup to Nutz is open Sunday through Friday. Check www.souptonutzbistro.com for specific hours.