Hey All!

Does anyone have any suggestions as to a romantic spot to have a late evening picnic in NY or Brooklyn. I was considering a beach area but I don't know if you are allowed to be on the beach at night. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Um, I don't think you'll find any beaches in NYC ... And the only beaches I can think of that you can get on at night are either in the Hamptons or certain ones facing the LI sound. All jones beach parking lots close in the evening... can't speak about Brooklyn... I would head to a nice, remote spot in Central Park in the late afternoon. That can be very romantic as well!

The south end of Central Park's Great Lawn, near Belvedere Castle and the Turtle Pond. Perfect!

How late in the evening are you talking about??? NYC is safe but I wouldn't be too "removed" too late. Besides, it's, ahem, dark, ya know.

Brooklyn Bridge Park in Dumbo, Brooklyn! It's what I'd call an urban beach, minus the sand, LOL. It's located between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges and is directly on the water facing downtown Manhattan. I believe it closes once it's dark out...then you can move on to the ferry landing and have some homemade ice cream. Which is very romantic until the tour buses start unloading

Seriously, though, it's a great spot which many, many people choose as their wedding photo location!

Michelle -

Sorry - NYC has several large beaches. Have you ever heard of Coney Island, the Rockaways - or any of the beaches in the Bronx?

Not that I would do a late night picnic at any of them - they're really for swiming during the day.

And not sure what you mean by a late evning picnic - 11pm? midnight? I'm not at all sure there's anyplace - except a buidling's penthouse garden I would want to do that kind of a picnic.

If you're talking about an early evening picnic - 7pm or so - I would do Central Park - or even the Cloisters - if the park is open late enough.

nytraveler: By NYC, I was referring specifically to Manhattan. I am very aware that the NYC-area has beaches, including Coney Island, the Rockaways, City Island, etc.

The Ramones made Rockaway Beach sound pretty cool!!

Thanks for all your great suggestions. I was actually thinking like 7-8:00, packing a little picnic dinner and sitting by the water somewhere so I figured the beach would be nice but I know they all close at certain times....NY Traveler mentioned the cloisters..where is that? And I may also check out Brooklyn Bridge park, that sounds great. Thanks again for everyone's help!

Up to The Cloisters. It doesn't get any prettier than that, looking out from that high spot across the Hudson.

a couple of people have mentioned the cloisters, but where is that exactly?

The Cloisters is in northern Manhattan, up near the tip, in Fort Tryon Park.

http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_Of_Ar...ment.asp?dep=7

I said it once, but I'll say it again: The south end of the Great Lawn, with the Turtle Pond & Belvedere Castle in the background, is the perfect picnic spot (and, as a bonus, there are convenient restroom facilities very close, next to the Delacorte Theater).

Thanks Gekko! I actually looked up the Belvedere Castle and Turtle Pond and it looks awesome but do you think that's a spot that we could go to in the evening? Central park is so big and not really knowing my way around at night, I don't want to get lost!

The Great Lawn area (where Turtle Pond is located) is very popular and well lit in the evenings. During the summer and fall there will be softball games going on and there are always people walking their dogs around. It's probably one of the safest places to be in Central Park, day or night.

If you go in from the Fifth Ave. side of the Park it's very easy to find, just go around to the back of the Metropolitan Museum, cross the road and walk about 30 feet straight ahead nad you will be on the Great Lawn Oval. Look south and you will find Belvedere overlooking Turtle Pond and a nice lawn for a picnic. It's a little more complicated to find from Central Park West.

This is one of my favorite parts of the Park, we spend a lot of time in that area.

Thank you soooo much! That sounds perfect and I think my decision has been made! Thanks again for all of your great suggestions!