Rankled by dismal news that summer might not actually arrive until early fall (confusing, huh?), locals have taken comfort in cultural events, gallery openings and new restaurants in Paris to ward off gloom-induced bad behavior. Complaining has reached new, though arguably justifiable, levels among those stuck in town while those fortunate enough to have reserved their vacations for the heart of summer-letdown 2012 have been gloating in equal measure. If you’re not wearing rose-colored Paris glasses, you’re in for a bumpy ride.

As we slog through work to distract us from the squalls and uncomfortable temperature spikes, we can’t help but steal moments to scan the sky for a glint of blue light. And when the sun blankets the city, infrequently as it may be, we transform into beaming children, impatient to break free from the confines of our work spaces and run blithely through the streets. On va prendre un verre en terrasse, non? (shall we get a drink on a terrace?), goes the refrain.

Parisians crow about open spaces to have a drink, dive into brunch or gobble up a pizza with friends but in reality, terrasse is used somewhat loosely. It can also be a massive deck like at…

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