Hi,

I will be meeting my girlfriend in NYC tomorrow (Saturday) and if the weather holds up, we would like to have a picnic in Central park.

We both are from the area, but have never really spent much time in central park.

We are meeting after a while, so looking for something fun & romantic, but nothing cheesy.

We will be meeting near Macy's and going from there.

There will be 2 of us, mid 30s, want to have a lunchtime picnic on Saturday.

Can you please help us:

(p.s Safety is of utmost importance. We dont want to venture out where we should not, even though its daylight)

1) Suggest some nice spots to lay out a blanket, enjoy lunch, relax and people watch.

2) Any good places between Macys and the picnic spots to grab a good picnic type lunch....

3) Any activities that you would recommend, apart from laying out a blanket and relaxing...

4) We just want to spend time together, so dont need to visit a Tavern on the Green or take a Buggy ride...

Thanks for your thoughts,

Regards,
Andy

Macy's itself might have the picnic provisions you need at Cucina & Co in the cellar.

From Macy's, you could catch the N, R, or W train on 34th St/Herald Sq (6th Ave) and get off at 5th Ave/59th St, where you would be right by the southeast corner of the park, one of the most popular places to enter. Entering here would take you by a lovely pond, near the zoo, and you would pass many pretty spots to have a picnic. It's just a short walk to the Sheep Meadow.

OR from the 34th St/7th Ave station on the other side of Macy's you could take the 1 train to 59th, which is the southwest corner of the park. If you stayed on to stops, you could get off at 72nd and enter the park near Strawberry Fields. You'd have to walk a few blocks to reach the park. Entering the park here, it's a short walk to some nice spots with views of the lake.

Here's an interactive map:

http://www.centralpark.com/pages/map-it/maps.html

Thanks for your advice. It seems like there are a lot of options and its pretty simple to get around!

I appreciate it.

Andy

Alternatively:

1 train to 79th street - Zabar's at 81st street - enter park at 81st

1 / 2 /3 train to 72nd street - Fairway at 74th Street - enter park at 72nd. Pick up wine at Acker Merrill on 72nd street.

1 train to 66th street - Balducci's (I think it's either 65th or 66th) - enter park at 66th, close to sheep meadow. On your way, there is a wine shop at 66th and Columbus (or 67th)

It will be packed on a nice Saturday, so you should feel more than safe. You will probably feel very crowded in some parts. have a great trip.

I'd take the 2/3 or 1 train to W. 72nd Street and go to one of the following places to grab food for your picnic:

Citarella: 75th/Broadway-- It's a gourmet market with lots of great things to pick up for a picnic.

Arte Around the Corner: Columbus Avenue- between W 72nd/73rd Street-- Italian grocery-- great food.. I think they actually prepare picnic baskets for the park. Their website is: www.artearoundthecorner.com You could always call to ask.

Regardless of where you go, you can enter the Park at W. 79th or W 72nd Street... there are so many nice spots to set up a blanket.

Have fun!

call me a cynic-
but you asked about a honeymoon in new zealand and signed it "AK" then asked about last minute safaris and then Brazil as an MBA student called "RJ" all for the same time period you were meant to be on safari and then a few threads about travel in and around asia which you signed "RJ."

i don't think you are going on a picnic at all.

Kerikeri....we initially used this as a shared family account.
Thanks for your comments.

I would grab your picnic supplies when you are closer to the park. If you come up to the westside, then the previously mentioned Fairway, Citarella and Zabar's are your best bets. If you are planning to pick up a bottle of wine, I can recommend Pour Wines at the corner of 74th and Amsterdam or Nancy's on Columbus between 75/74th? though there are plenty of stores in the area.

If you happen to come up on the east side (4/5/6 to 86th street), there is a Dean and Deluca at 85th and Madison, one block before you hit the park.

As previously stated, the park will be perfectly safe on a Sat afternoon in good weather. Lots of beautiful spots to enjoy a picnic. I am in the park daily...best place to be in NYC in the summer.