The Best "Firsts" of Spring, in GIFs

Look past those few remaining snow flurries and straight ahead to the joys of spring.

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We cannot tell a lie: we’ve grown fairly disenchanted with the phrase “polar vortex.” Sure, it makes for an interesting enough conversation at cocktail parties—weather usually does, and bad weather in particular. But Groundhog Day has come and gone, the calendar has turned from March to April, and we’ve all recently lost an hour of sleep on the promise that we’ll be rewarded with additional hours of daylight in the very near future. In other words: Spring is upon us! So rather than whine about those intermittent doses of snow flurries that seem to be a near-daily occurrence, let’s focus on the many springtime “firsts” that await us, and bring instantaneous joy (no matter how many times we’ve done them in the past).

First day of going sockless

First day of going sockless

“Shoes and socks” may be as famous a couple as “peanut butter and jelly,” but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have one without the other. When the temperatures rise, a pair of socks just seems like a hindrance. A set of bare ankles is where spring’s “less is more” clothing mantra begins.

First beer on the deck

First beer on the deck

Lounging on the couch with a television remote in one hand and a beer in the other will always be one of life’s great comforts. But there’s something uniquely satisfying about the first time you can move that party of one outdoors—whether that means a deck, porch, balcony, terrace, or even a fire escape—and enjoy your evening indulgence with the addition of a soft spring breeze.

First baseball game

First baseball game

Whether you prefer Little League to Major League or the Red Sox to the Yankees doesn’t matter. One of springtime’s surest rites of passage is opening day at the ballpark when the umpire shouts those two words you’ve been longing to hear since October: Play ball!

First winter coat-less outing

First winter coat-less outing

Like the decision to go sockless, opting to leave your winter coat inside while you head outside for the first time can be a decision that’s fraught with anxiety: “What if I underestimated exactly how warm it is out there?” “What if I catch pneumonia?” “What if I’m the only idiot walking around without a winter coat?” But the moment you decide to throw caution to the (hopefully not too forceful) wind is the moment you’ve declared winter a thing of the past. Congratulations!

First coat-less outing-period!

First coat-less outing—period!

Want to up the ante on that victory you scored by leaving your winter coat at home? Just wait for the day when you don’t need a sweater, sweatshirt, long-sleeved button-down, or any sort of coat at all. That’s right, we’re talking about the granddaddy of all springtime sartorial statements: nothing but a T-shirt!

First shorts-wearing day

First shorts-wearing day

Want to take the thrill of the T-shirt one step further? Add a pair of shorts to equation! T-shirt not required (but very much recommended).

First outdoor concert of the season

First outdoor concert of the season

If a baseball game is one of the spring season’s most important rites of passage, then an outdoor concert is the gateway to summer. After months of confining your love of music to a sweaty indoor stadium or simple iPod and headphone setup, it’s finally time to head back out into the great big world of fellow music aficionados to sing, sway, and dance in unison, all blissfully under the stars. Heck, we’ll even let your penchant for lighting a Bic slide (but just this once).

First drive with the windows down

First drive with the windows down

Driving a car is easy: You simply keep your eye on the road and steer it in the direction you want to go. Regulating the temperature in a car? That’s an entirely different—and way more difficult—challenge. But it’s a problem that seems relegated to the winter season. When spring strikes, there are few things more invigorating then a face full of fresh air, courtesy of the car window (this rule applies to human and non-human passengers alike).

First top-down convertible cruise

First top-down convertible cruise

If you’re lucky enough to own a convertible, take the joy that comes from rolling down your windows and double it. Yes, it feels that good. Unless, of course, you’re stuck in the back seat. In that case, come prepared with toiletry bag full of hair products, and don’t expect to hear a syllable of the conversation that’s taking place in the front seat. (Which is a fun “first” experience of its own.)

First al fresco meal

First al fresco meal

In an effort to accommodate as many customers as possible, many restaurants have taken to creating nearly year-round outdoor dining sections, with awnings and heat lamps being the two main devices to protect you from the elements. It’s a nice try, but it can’t compare to excitement of seeing the staff of your very favorite restaurant lugging out all of the tables and chairs for the season and knowing that a sidewalk dining experience—be it breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner—awaits you. Important note: For our purposes, a liquid meal still constitutes a “meal” in this scenario.

First cookout of the season

First cookout of the season

A funny thing happens when an outdoor grill makes an appearance: everyone wants to man it. Maybe that’s because it’s the one piece of culinary equipment that pretty much anyone can master. After all, there’s only one rule: Don’t burn anything. But best of all? You don’t even need to be on the guest list of said cookout to experience the high it brings; the smell alone is enough to get you into the spring swing of things.

First beach weekend

First beach weekend

Summer may be the official season of beach houses and high tides. But a springtime visit to the beach comes with all sorts of extras—including fewer crowds, shorter waits, and off-season pricing—and the same beachy smells and sounds that drew you there in the first place.

First bike ride

First bike ride

The difference between a cold-weather bike ride and a warm-weather one is simple: pleasure! Sure, a bicycle can be an excellent year-round transportation option, but when the threat of ice patches and snow banks are removed, a bike ride can become a more carefree sort of activity, the kind that takes you back to your childhood.

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