Rich

I lived in Paris for a bit in the 70's on Rue Amelie, on block over from Rue Cler, where there were many shops where wine, cheese, baguettes and almost anything else edible was readily available.

Being poor and adventurous, we spend many a day picnicking in various parks ( Champs du Mars was the closest. ) We'd pick a spot and if the gendarme whistled, we would politely move on until he turned his back! ( most would judge how close you were to finishing, and "overlook" us ) I only remember being whistled at once or twice.

A corkscrew is handy, but even without one, the wine shops would pull the cork and push it back halfway for us. We had our own wine glasses and utensils, but they are everywhere really.

Good times!

fuzzbucket

wantgelato - you've made a very wise decision. By the way, since many shops are doing away with plastic bags (or charge for them), most of us carry one with us everywhere we go. Or you can get one of those fabric bags that fold up to the size of your fist - available in many places for about 1 EU. It's really all you need.

VGF

Probably the most beautiful park in Paris is Park Monceau - in the 8th, a mile or so from the Arc de Triomphe. Even though you're not supposed to go on the grass during the colder half of the year, people go there and spread out picnics all the time in the summer. It's a great place for people watching, there's a free museum of Asian art called Cernuschi right next to it, and there are beautiful old buildings all the way around it. Highly recommended.