Central Park Picnic, Saturday July 24th

[ThomCat]

:hi:
It's time to start pulling together the details.

We will be having a picnic on Saturday, July 24th in Central Park. If you can make it, please post what you would like to bring.

My big limitation is that I can't carry much, so I'll be bringing a backpack of non-crushables. (paper plates, napkins, flatware, etc.) Please post what you will be able to bring.

I have not picked a specific area in the park, but I will be doing that soon. If the weather is good this weekend I will spend some time walking around the park to pick a location. If you have a favorite location please let me know.
:)

Thom

[Fredda Weinberg]

1. I can manage heavy items

I can pick up ice and iced tea nearby.

[ThomCat]

2. Thank you very much.

Ice and Iced Tea is wonderful!

Thom

[ThomCat]

3. CHANGE: SUNDAY, JULY 25th!

I am sorry for the mistake. My Original post should have said Sunday, July 25th. I had heard back from a couple of people that Sunday was a better day than Saturday.
:dunce:

[Cassandra]

11. Isn't Sunday the 30th? Or the 23rd?

I think you were looking at your June calendar.

[ThomCat]

12. Friggin Hell, I'm a moron!

I'm looking at the wrong month on my calendar! :dunce:

Thank you!

[Cassandra]

14. As long as I'm on a roll...

the 23rd works better for me. Which end or section of the park did you have in mind? Someplace with some optional shade, and bathrooms works for me.

[iconoclastNYC]

4. sounds fun!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. if someone lets me knpw what to bring...i will

i am a pretty good cook..but lack ideas on what to make for a picnic...

[Fredda Weinberg]

6. Got some cold cuts or leftovers?

Sandwiches work well at picnics. We could also use cold salads - potato, noodle, whatever.

[ThomCat]

8. A sandwich platter would be cool.

If nobody else brings sandwiches I might order a variety platter from a deli somewhere. (finances permitting)

[ThomCat]

7. Oh, lots of possibilities.

Any dish that can be served at room temperature works great at picnics. Pick your favorite. I'm sure we'll have appreciative people there. :)

If you are thinking of Indian foods, my wish list of great picnic food I'd include curried chick peas, flat breads, maybe some kind of chutney, Papadum (instead of potato chips) and stuff to it in, etc. :)

other stuff on my wish list would be hummus and sandwitch fixings, stuffed grape leaves, a simple vegetable platter with some kind of dip, etc.

[roenyc]

9. picnic sounds great!

How is parking up by the park? i have a tiny car. can bring paper plates, cups, soda, salad. depends on what part of the park, how far the walk from car or train. Sorry Thom - no curry here - rice and beans or baked ziti!

ok, i am not positive - have to make arrangements.

[ThomCat]

10. Parking near central park is going to be

difficult and/or expensive. :(

I don't know of any good way to park near central park. It might be easier and cheaper to bring things by cart across on the SI Ferry and then take a cab up to the park. That is what I will end up doing.

If we arrange it so that we're arriving at the same time we could take one cab and load up the trunk. :)

Rice and beans is one of my absolute favorite dishes, so there are no complaints from me there. Salads are a must, of course, so that's always a good idea.

[Smarmie Doofus]

18. I used to find parking spots fairly easily....

near CPW and 96th street. This was back in the 90's .

No guarantees.

[Smarmie Doofus]

19. OK... let's all agree on the DATE. Sunday, July 23rd?

Do I have it right?

Let me know what to bring. Perhaps I'll PM you so we don't clutter up the board with minutiae.

But Sunday, 7/23 is good for me.

[KurtNYC]

30. There are several garages on West 83rd

not sure what they cost - $20/day (?) -- there may also be some street parking since it will be the weekend but I wouldn't count on that. The garages are between Columbus and Broadway.

[ThomCat]

13. Intelligent correction: Sunday is the 23rd!

Please ignore the correction above where I looked at the wrong month on the Calendar. :P

[sabbat hunter]

15. did you get a field permit

and do we have access to bbqs?

[ThomCat]

16. I'll be going there this weekend to check out locations

and find out what bureaucratic hoops I have to jump through. :) I'll have more information shortly.

[sabbat hunter]

17. for groups more than 20

you need a permit, takes about 4 weeks to get one.

[ThomCat]

20. Unless people bring friends/partners

we are not likely to have 20 people. I'm guessing 8 people minimum, 15 people maximum, based on the people who have expressed interest and the turnout at past events.

[Cassandra]

23. Want some help on scouting locations?

I can always use the exercise.

[ThomCat]

24. Sure

Fredda is going to be with me so there will be three of us. Walking in the park is better with company. :)

[Fredda Weinberg]

28. Here's a fun place to start

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=central+park+&t=h&om=1&ll=40.780541,-73.971561&spn=0.000827,0.002682

[itzamirakul]

22. I have never seen any barbequing in Central Park...does anyone

know if this is permitted? I don't think so...Too bad 'cause it would be a lot of fun to grill some dogs (of the weenie-type) :)

[ThomCat]

25. I haven't seen any grills.

I'm guessing that it's only pre-prepared food. But I'll be confirming that this weekend.

[ThomCat]

31. No grills. Sorry.

:(
Only pre-prepared food for this picnic.

[itzamirakul]

21. Picnic sounds really cool! I hope that the location will be

West Side, below 82nd Street 'cause I tend to get lost in CP rather easily and need to be able to access my bearings according to the sidewalk on CPW. Somewhere near the entrance at 8th Ave and Columbus Circle would make me very happy! Will also make it much easier to get transportation when it comes time to leave the park. :)

At this point I am leaning toward bringing fried chicken. Or maybe curried potato salad or curried pasta salad. Probably both. Or maybe some build-your-own sandwich fixin's, like grilled chicken strips, pita pockets and lettuce-tomato add-ons. Anyway, I am a Libra so it will take me a moment to decide after I see what everyone else is going to bring.:think:

Suggestion: Freeze some bottles of water to tuck around food, especially food with mayo and/or eggs in it so that it stays cold and safe to eat.

Also, I guess we need to bring blankets to sit on the grass, huh?

[ThomCat]

26. We'll definitely scout out that part of the park.

We need to be someplace nice, that's easy to get to, and easy to find. I imagine we'll check near a number of park entrances.
:)

[Fredda Weinberg]

27. I'm off to find a good map ... we hit rock!

Actually, we decided to start closer to the street entrance, in a dell without so many boulders ... a block away from restrooms, hurray!

We've got lots of food and beverage options ... I even saw Vietnamese on the way from the Broadway line.

Be right back ...

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

29. I'll be there!

I could bring hummus and quinoa tabouli. :-) Yummy and vegan.

[Fredda Weinberg]

32. Want felafel balls? I like 'em lukewarm

But could crisp 'em before I go.

Does anyone want fresh or cold things? I'll have a shopping cart.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

33. Falafel would be cool.

I'm not particular about their temperature.

[ThomCat]

34. Here is what people are bringing.

Fredda is bringing Iced Tea and Ice. She's also putting together the map for us. :)

Haruka3_200 is bringing Hummus and Tabouli

itzamirakul is bringing food (not yet decided exactly what)

KurtNYC is bringing plates, napkins and forks

LionessPriyanka is bringing food (not yet decided exactly what)

I'll be bringing fresh fruit salad

Others have said they're coming but haven't said if they can bring something.


It's looking good. :7

[Cassandra]

35. I'm going to decide next week

I'm thinking of something protein that won't be too expensive.

[jonnyblitz]

36. I am pretty sure I am coming but I am travelling metro -north

commuter rail out of New Haven because I am not a huge fan of driving far on I-95 on a sunday in CT in the summer so I don't want to be lugging tons of food in the heat for the train ride so I won't be bringing anything therefore I won't eat the food! I might just throw a peanut butter sandwich in my napsack or something!!!

I can bring the weed tho, OOOOPS JUST KIDDING!!! :rofl: :eyes:

:D

[Fredda Weinberg]

37. Want vegan?

I've got no problem shlepping. Wanna share felafel?

[jonnyblitz]

38. i lived on fast food falafel in amsterdam!!

it's sad that the first thing that pops into my head when i hear that word is Bill O'Reilly, but I digress. :P yea, I will give it a try,!! I will repay you somehow....

[ThomCat]

39. It's a picnic. We share.

I figure not everyone can bring something. So those of us who can will have enough for everyone. :)

Come. Bring your cute self. That's enough. :hug:

[jonnyblitz]

40. i know but i don't want to eat stuff if i don't bring it!!

fredda is bringing me a falafel, that will work!

speaking of cuties (thanks for the compliment btw) another DUer from CT might be coming with me if he can get the day off which he put in for but hasn't gotten a response back on yet..:D

[LynneSin]

41. I'll see if I can make it

If I come, it'll be a last minute thing. If the weekend is as hot as this week is forecasted, to be honest it's not good for me out in the sun. I'm so freaking fairskinned it just gets to be too much on me.

[Fredda Weinberg]

42. Mid 80's? Slight chance of thunderstorms?

I'll bring a big umbrella to cover myself either way, but the temp doesn't seem too bad.

[LynneSin]

44. Actually I can't make it

I forgot I'm going to be doing a friends birthday this weekend.

Next time - perhaps when it's a bit cooler

[ThomCat]

47. That sux. :(

Not that your friend is having a birthday, obviously. But that it's this weekend.

[jonnyblitz]

48. awwwwwwwwwwww

:(

[jonnyblitz]

45. I was thinking the same thing in regards to heat..

this heat makes me nauseous and NYC is NOT FUN in the heat. I will be soaking wet, smelling, and miserable the whole time. I won't have an appetite for the picnic food. funny you mention this because i was thinking to myself about this very thing.

[ThomCat]

46. The heat is supposed to break by Sunday.

So I'm hoping for cooler weather. Think cool thoughts between now and then. :P

[ThomCat]

43. Can anyone bring a blanket or two,

or some chairs? We're going to need places to sit. :)

I have some collapsable chairs. I could carry two, but only if I'm not carrying anything else. :(
I think the fruit salad is more important.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

49. please DONT carry chairs....

thats begging for trouble....just show up....unhurt, preferably.

[ThomCat]

50. I promise that I will not carry too much. :)

Thank you. :hug:

[ThomCat]

51. Weather Forcast is high 70s! Perfect weather!

:woohoo:

We have not specified an exact time. It's been kind of assumed to be Noon. So I'm specifying now just to be clear. I'll be there by noon. If you can be there at noon then please do. If you want to come later, that's fine too. Just come.
:)

Please either post or PM me if you're bringing something. We seem to be good on food, though more is not a bad thing.

We still need blankets/things to sit on. If someone has a huge tub of sunscreen to contribute that would be nice too. We will be in the shade, but there's a lot of good sun out there too.

Thom

[Smarmie Doofus]

52. The title of this thread is "Sat. July 24th"; but the picnic.....

... near as I can tell... is *Sunday,* July *23rd*, at 12 pm.

If I can suggest, perhaps the title of the thread can be edited to reflect the *actual date* of the picnic. I guarantee that some people will come to the park on Saturday if this is not done ( and maybe even if it IS done).

>>>>>Please either post or PM me if you're bringing something. We seem to be good on food, though more is not a bad thing.>>>>


Since we have food, I will bring drinks and cups: soda, fruit juice, water anything else on request. I will also bring ice.

>>>>We still need blankets/things to sit on. If someone has a huge tub of sunscreen to contribute that would be nice too. We will be in the shade, but there's a lot of good sun out there too.>>>>

I can bring two lawn-type chairs, a sheet and some sunscreen.


Thom, the park, as you know, is very large. *Where,* exactly will we meet?

Eternal thanks to you for organizing this undertaking !

[ThomCat]

53. I tried. There is a limited period of time for editing,

and then the post is fixed. :(

Sorry about that. I know it's confusing, but short of starting an entirely new thread there is no way to fix that.

[ThomCat]

54. Directions!

We're meeting just inside the 81st street entrance on the west side, in the shade right before you get to the jogging track. When you come in at the 81st street you will come to an information column. Right after that column the sidewalk splits to the right and left. Keep to the left and we're right there in the field to your left.

Fredda will be posting a link to a map. :)

[Fredda Weinberg]

55. Reposting map link

You can see the entrance on 81st St and where the sidewalk splits North & South

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=central+park+&t=h&om=1&ll=40.780541,-73.971561&spn=0.000827,0.002682

[jonnyblitz]

56. fredda, no need to bring a falafel for me, I won't be coming

after all. I appreciate the offer, though. I will get with you and others another time for sure. thanks again and have fun! :hi:

[ThomCat]

57. :(

Damn. I was hoping to see you on Sunday. :(

[Fredda Weinberg]

58. We may need a rain date

The latest forecast is calling for thunderstorms on Saturday.

[ThomCat]

59. It the weather is bad this Sunday we can push it back a week.

[Fredda Weinberg]

61. Excellent. We'll touch base on Saturday n/t

[La Lioness Priyanka]

60. i will be there with the new girl...

thom if its cancelled due to rain or what not will you call me and let me know?

i havent decided what to make yet but pretty sure it will be sweet...maybe cupcakes

[ThomCat]

62. I will.

I'm glad things went well. :)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

63. they sure did...

she says i am incredible ... :bounce:

:loveya:

[ThomCat]

64. You are incredible!

I hope you don't doubt that. :hug: