Along with the weather heating up and a surplus of sunshine come the cravings for summer foods and drinks. Often, what comes to mind are hot grills, cold drinks, good burgers and – of course – some satisfying ice cream to help beat the heat. We wait patiently for these sunny days all year, so why not try and get the most out of them? Outdoor events and summertime social gatherings will be hosted all season long, and there’s no shortage of local businesses that are sure to hit the spot whether you’re looking to indulge in great food, friendly conversation or both.

Go-To Burger Joint: Buns

Buns, located on 107 N. Columbia St. in Chapel Hill, is home to some of the best burgers around. A few steps off the center of Franklin Street, Buns has been serving up juicy and flavor-packed burgers and making mouths water since 2008.

When I first walked into Buns, I was immediately captivated by the heavenly aroma of salty French fries and sizzling burger grease. The specials menu took up an entire wall near the entrance, written large in chalk for easy ordering, and Buns also offers the option to custom-order your own perfect burger. My fiancé and I ordered the Bison and Carolina burgers and took a seat inside the colorful eating area and waited for our food. The anticipation that grew was almost unbearable, and when our burgers finally arrived, I was amazed at how huge they were! The food was also delicious – there wasn’t so much as a crumb left.

“My favorite is definitely the Fire-Roasted Jalapeño Burger,” said Dylan Fitts, a shift manager at Buns. “It’s spicy, but the jalapeño and avocados go really well together. Burgers are great because a cold drink and something salty go hand-in-hand.”

Bottoms-Up Bar: The Crunkleton

The Crunkleton, found at 320 W. Franklin St., is the perfect place to stop in and have a cold, refreshing beverage that will quench your thirst.

Opened in July of 2008, The Crunkleton has a historic and unique atmosphere, a wide variety of liquors that line the wall behind the bar and plenty of local beers on tap. Tommy’s margarita on the rocks comes particularly highly recommended from me.

“The best thing about working here is interacting with guests and providing a good place for my staff to work,” said Gary Crunkleton, the owner of the bar. “We get anyone from 21 to 91 years old. Our focus is to be a neighborhood bar. I went to school here [Chapel Hill] and my family and I are invested in the community. We like to give back.”

Sweet Treats: Sugarland

Sugarland, located on 140 E. Franklin St., is where you want to be if you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whether you’re craving a cupcake or looking to cool off with a frozen martini or some amazing homemade gelato, Sugarland has you covered.

I was drawn to Sugarland, which opened in February of 2008, by bright colors and my penchant for anything ice cream related. When I walked into the dessert shop, all I could think about when I saw the numerous flavors of gelato through the display window was “Oh my goodness, what do I choose?” After sampling a few varieties that I couldn’t take my eyes off of, I decided on Cookies & Cream – and let me tell you, I could have eaten the entire tub behind the counter. It was absolutely delicious!

“Gelato is the best in the summer,” said Cailey Forstall, one of the managers at Sugarland. “Sugarland is a great place because not only is it kid-friendly and adult-friendly, but we also offer other dairy-free desserts. It’s a very fun environment. People come here smiling and our staff is really close.”

One of Sugarland’s signatures is the Frozen Martini, a special drink that blends alcohol and gelato together to create a treat greater than the sum of its parts.

“We also do really fun cakes,” said Forstall, while showing me Sugarland’s extensive bakery display. “People tend to get excited when we bring out a fancy cake.”