Leisure

Old Saint Picnic

Five Ways to Eat on the Ground Like a Pro

It’s 79 degrees. It’s sunny. It’s a crying damn shame if you haven’t started planning a picnic date for the ages yet. There’s no time to waste... so here’s how to pull it off. Seriously, stop looking at us. Look down there instead.

SECURITY BLANKET

Personal Day Blanket from Steven Alan

The Tool: A striped blanket that was handwoven on antique shuttle looms in Maine.
The Trade: You always secretly thought there was something better out there than the quintessential red-and-white-checkered picnic blanket. And this melon-and-almond-striped blanket is that something. Hey, look, it matches your melons and almonds.

SOUTH PARK

Pickled Vegetables from Doux South

The Tool: A local chef’s assortment of vegetables that were pickled in things like white wine vinegar and red wine.
The Trade: Condiments. Wine. Both very crucial elements for a picnic. And in the name of conserving precious basket space, you’re bringing a winediment instead. Patent that.

SCREEN TEST

City Sunscreen Serum from Sid Mashburn

The Tool: A mysterious elixir that magically deflects ultraviolet rays from... okay, it’s sunscreen. It’s extra-powerful sunscreen.
The Trade: You’re about to spend an undisclosed amount of hours outdoors. Some solid SPF 30 is in order. Also in order: lathering it on your date’s shoulders. You don’t make the orders.

BEECH CLUB

Blue Beech Backgammon Set

The Tool: A handsome folding backgammon board with a beechwood frame, black finishes and wooden game pieces.
The Trade: You’ve spent five minutes feeding the ducks. Eleven minutes finding clowns and broccoli florets in the clouds. Next up: 30 minutes of intense backgammoning. After 30 minutes of probably learning how to play backgammon.

FOR THE CATER GOOD

Picnic in the Park from Alon’s

The Tool: Entire lunch setups prepared beforehand at Alon’s Bakery.
The Trade: Option 1: you prepare chicken-breast bamboo skewers and Heath-bar-crusted brownies ahead of time. Option 2: preorder everything from Alon’s. Show up with chicken-breast bamboo skewers and Heath-bar-crusted brownies. Pro tip: option 1 is stupid.