Question:

Dear Dr. McGrillemup,

When I was a kid my family had a ring of concrete blocks in the backyard that had some rock on top and a gas flame underneath. It was great for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs. Where can I find one of these gizmos?

Curious, C. Inder

Answer:

Dear Mr. Inder,

Those firepits were constructed and sold by the local gas utility in the '70's and 80's. Cheap, cheerful and loads of fun. As the utilities removed themselves from the super-lucrative, sexy world of appliance retailing, they quit producing the cinder block fireplaces. You can still buy the curved cinder blocks at your local garden center but, alas, there is no CSA approved kit to install the gas valve and burner.

Yours truly,

Doctor M