Want to have a picnic in Central Park
 

During our trip to NYC the first week of June my dh and I will be going to the Mary Manning Wash Home (1339 York Ave. @ 72nd St.) to visit a cousin who is a resident there. We are thinking of having a little lunch picnic in Central Park afterwards...is there anywhere near there to get some food to go? Or do you have any better ideas? Or, if the weather is bad (rain?) is there a restaurant you recommend near there? Or, we could just go to lunch back in midtown, etc....
But, we would love to have lunch at a bench in CP!!
Any ideas appreciated!!
Shadow

I would get all the picnic goodies at Zabar's at 81st and Broadway, not knowing where the Mary Manning Home is...perhaps you could pick up everything before getting your cousin and then walk into the park.

If you grab the 79th St crosstown bus through the Park to Broadway it will let you off a block from Zabar's. You can get premade sandwiches or salads - all sorts of cheeses and charcuterie and bread if you prefer to make your own - then walk a couple of blocks to the Park.

Considering you are on the Eastside, walk up restaurant-line 1st Avenue to 79th Street. If you don't find a place that suits you, shop at Agata & Valentina gourmet grocery, located at the corner of 79th and 1st Ave, and hop the 79th Street cross-town bus to the park.

I think you would be better off in a restaurant.

There is also a Dean and DeLuca at 85th and Madison. If the weather is nice, you could pick up food for a picnic without having to trek to the UWS. If you follow 85th to the park, you will be a block or two north of the Met. There's a nice grassy area behind the Met for picnicing...

Another option is to picnic in Carl Schurz Park, which starts at 86th street just off York Ave. There are grassy areas and also benches and fabulous views over the east river. Eli's Vinegar Factory is at 91st and York (you can take the M15 bus up 1st Ave if you don't want to walk).

For restaurants, check menupages.com

We did something similar on one of our trips, we picked up some great picnic food at Zabar's (they provided plastic silverware and napkins) and then we found a bench in the park and had a nice afternoon. Good advice regarding the 79th St crosstown.

Shadow I live a few blocks from Mary Manning Walsh Home. If the weather is good, walk west on 71st or 72nd to Third Ave (3 blocks). Grace's Marketplace is on Third Ave between 72nd and 71st (on the east side of Third). Their prepared food is superior to Zabar's and Agata and Valentina (Grace is a Balducci and was sued by her family for using the name when they first opened) and a better location for you. After you make your purchases, you can continue walking west on 72nd to Fifth Ave (4 blocks) and voila, there is Central Park! Anywhere in the park is great, but if you walk a bit north through the park, you will come to the sailboat pond which is a great place to sit on a bench and watch the boats and a lot of people walking around - it's one of my favorite spots in the park. There's a concession there to buy drinks and ice cream. If you're going back to MMW Home and you're too tired to walk, take a cab or a bus heading east on 72nd St (exact fare of $2.00 in coins or a metrocard is needed).

I agree with Central Park Girl that the prepared food at Grace's Marketplace is superior to that at Agata and Valentina.

Prices are high, which is one reason you may wish you had gone to a restaurant.

I also agree that Grace's Market is very good and much more convenient for you if you want to pick up picnic stuff. I would then get on the cross town bus on 72 st. heading west and get out at Fifth ave. and walk into the park.

If you decide to eat lunch near the home, some options with outside tables (not fancy) include Luke's Bar & Gril (3rd ave & 78-79 st) and JG Melon's (3rd & 74 st).

How about lunch on the deck of the Boathouse in Central Park? http://www.thecentralparkboathouse.com

Thanks everyone for the great ideas!
Happytrailstoyou...you are probably right about going to a restaurant but I really do want to check out Grace's (now that I know about it) as one of my NY experiences....but, we can save our options for a restaurant too. I am sure you are right about sticker shock!
Centralparkgirl...thanks for the info. about getting from the MMW home..gave me some directional info.on how to get to Grace's!
Mclaurie...think I will take the bus after going to Grace into the park.
Thanks everyone for your ideas, thoughts and advice! I have written it all down.
Shadow