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The Pandemic Picnic

A Guide to Social-Distance Picnicking

Here’s the thing: There’s a pandemic on. There’s no end in sight. With so much still unknown about the virus—and so little policy consensus on the risks of easing social restrictions—it’s hard to know what to think or what’s the right thing to do. In the absence of clearer guidance on charting a middle course between strict lockdown and full-on denial, what else can we do but follow our instincts to a place that balances caution and risk?

For us, we not only prefer to err on the side of caution, we believe it’s everyone’s responsibility to follow reasonable social-distancing guidelines when out in public. As much as we look forward to the day when we can go back to our favorite restaurants and bars, it’s gonna take time.

In the meantime, we’re going to stick with outdoor dining. According to epidemiologists and other smart people, the risks of contracting or transmitting the virus decreases in open air—provided we wear face coverings and maintain physical distance. This bit from the New York Times story is especially encouraging:

Pandemic life is safer outdoors, in part, because even a light wind will quickly dilute the virus. If a person nearby is sick, the wind will scatter the virus, potentially exposing nearby people but in far smaller quantities, which are less likely to be harmful.

“The virus load is important,” said Eugene Chudnovsky, a physicist at Lehman College and the City University of New York’s Graduate Center. “A single virus will not make anyone sick; it will be immediately destroyed by the immune system. The belief is that one needs a few hundred to a few thousand of SARS-CoV-2 viruses to overwhelm the immune response.”

“What We Know About Your Chances of Catching the Virus Outdoors,” The New York Times, May 15, 2020

The Times also published some guidelines for safe social-distance picnicking, which has some practical, common-sense suggestions. And we loved seeing this free design template for a sew-your-own social-distance picnic blanket from the Paul Cocksedge Studio. 

With all this in mind, we’ve been dipping our toes back into picnicking with some small gatherings in the park, by the riverside, and other locations en plein air. To ensure we’re doing it safely and responsibly, here’s our Pandemic Picnic Checklist:

1. Mask Up

Unless you find wearing a mask to be suffocatingly uncomfortable (or you’re philosophically opposed to the idea of shared sacrifice and civic responsibility—in which case, what are you doing here anyway?), this should be an easy one. And fun, too! So many different styles and patterns and ways to express your personality. (Check out some of our favorite maskers here, here, and here.

Bottom line: Cover your cake hole until it’s time to cram it.

2. Pod Up & Back Off 

This one’s not so easy. Actually, it’s really hard and awkward. It means being strict about staying in your own pods (i.e., the people you’ve been sheltering with). As tempting as it might be to rationalize the idea of combining pods within a “social bubble” or “quaranteam,” the truth is we just don’t know how much risk we’re inviting. But we really need to get used to a degree of distancing: Even if infections decline enough for people to go back to hugging and close-talking, the virus won’t go away. When the time comes again, we’re gonna need to have that muscle memory and spatial awareness to social distance on demand.

3. BYOB #1…Bring Your Own Blanket

Unless you’ve got a blanket with enough surface area—or you’ve stitched up your own “Here Comes the Sun” orbital ring—stick to separate blankets for separate pods.

4. BYOB #2…Bring Your Own Basket

This is not the time for sharing plates or family-style spreads. Pack your own food, drink, flatware, dishes, and cups. If you want to share safely, you can pre-pack individual servings or prepare separate boards of assorted appetizers for your co-picnickers. 

5. Safety Signifiers

Disinfectant wipes and liquid hand sanitizer are standard picnic paraphernalia even when there isn’t a global health crisis. Displaying them prominently on your blanket—perhaps alongside your tape measure for a smart centerpiece—signals to those nearby that you take everyone’s safety seriously.

So, get out there and enjoy. Comment and share your stories, pics, recipes, and ideas for pandemic picnicking. And please let us know how we can make this more helpful so we can update it with more suggestions and reliable information.

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Who says you can’t picnic in the winter? Emergin Who says you can’t picnic in the winter? Emerging from Winter Solstice and thinking back to our Santa Lucia picnic a couple of weeks ago in Central Park. We planned for cold, grey weather - all the better for wearing our candle crowns - but instead we got one of those glorious warm December days that happen sometimes. There were Santa Lucia saffron buns, Jansson’s Temptation,potato soup,  homemade gravlax, meatballs, pickled beets, cheeses, glögg, aquavit, and cookies galore. And one Swede to make it all official. Oh, and halfway through a group of singers showed up with bells and Christmas carols. It was kind of perfect. Grateful to my creative picnic pod for making winter picnicking a tradition we will continue. 📸 @jonas_snapsalot . #picnicfancy #picnicpod #santalucia #solstice #lightiscoming
This year, how about a small, outdoor Thanksgiving This year, how about a small, outdoor Thanksgiving inspired by Sean Sherman @the_sioux_chef ? In anticipation of the holiday, our small picnic-pod gathered in Central Park for a four-course meal of recipes from this beautiful and inspiring book. We started with deviled duck eggs and crispy bean cakes, a mushroom and sweet potato soup, followed by a salad with griddled squash, and a main course of cider-braised turkey thighs served with wild rice pilaf and three sister’s mash. Dessert was autumn harvest cookies and amaranth bites. It was the perfect meal in these imperfect times. I can’t recommend this book enough - both for the storytelling and the recipes. You can follow Sean Sherman’s work at @siouxchef , natifs_org and @indigenousfoodlab.  This holiday, consider donating to the Indigenous Food Lab in Minneapolis to help them feed tribal families in need. Link in bio. 📸: @jonas_snapsalot #siouxchef #thanksgiving #friendsgiving #socialdistancing #indigenouslivesmatter #indigenousfood #pandemicpicnic #picnicfancy
Good Morning!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ Good Morning!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The weather is moody here in NYC, but tomorrow morning looks like it will be sunny and gorgeous! What better way to enjoy than to whip up these super-easy lemon scones, grab your favorite coffee, and head out to your favorite spot for a breakfast picnic!  Recipe link in bio!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For us, that spot is lower Riverside Park, overlooking the Hudson. What's yours?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#picnicfancy #simplerecipe #makeitnice #picnicrecipe #picnics #picnicinspo #picnicgoals #eatoutside #dinealfresco #simplefood #easypicnic #lemonscones #breakfastpicnic #easyscones #sconerecipe #encouragement #hudsonriver
✨Happy Friday!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's P ✨Happy Friday!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It's Pimms o'clock somewhere! What we love about a good Pimms Cup is that you can really make it your own, with whatever garnish captures your fancy. It's also easy to make a pitcher, which you can put in a jar and take outside to a croquet match or...... a picnic✨🧺.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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RECIPE:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1 bottle Pimm's No. 1 Cup⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1 bottle sparkling lemonade or ginger ale⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1 -2 sliced cucumbers (not optional) along with the garnish of your choosing: citrus, assorted berries, stone fruits, sprigs of mint or rosemary are all good options.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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INSTRUCTIONS:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1. Play a game of croquet or involve yourself somehow in a polo match, sailing regatta, or Wimbledon).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2. Retire to the lawn, veranda, or gazebo. (A stoop or black-tar rooftop will do.)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
3 Fill a pitcher (or jar!) with ice, add a 50/50 mixture of Pimm’s and sparkling lemonade or ginger ale, and stir together with sliced cucumber and fruit.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
4. Hello, I make that Pimm’s O’Clock!  Serve with salty snacks and suddenly that dank back alley you call your “outdoor space” is the Garden at the Goring Hotel. Cheers!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#picnicfancy #simplerecipe #makeitnice #picnicrecipe #picnics #picnicinspo #picnicgoals #eatoutside #dinealfresco #simplefood #easypicnic #pimmscup #pimmsoclock #picnichappyhour #garnishgalore #pimmsno1 #summercocktails #picniccocktails #croquet
Sometimes you just want a picnic without all the c Sometimes you just want a picnic without all the cooking. Enter Perfect Picnic! At the end of a long week we were excited to meet up with some friends we hadn't seen in ages in Central Park (at a distance, of course!) With no time to cook, we decided to try out Perfect Picnic NYC since that was exactly what we were going for.⁣
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We ordered the 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘯𝘪𝘤 which was plenty of food for all of us. It came with 8 delicious mini-baguettes, from fresh goat cheese and fig to prociutto with blue cheese and pears. There was a generous cheese platter, a big salad, chips, lemonade and cookies for dessert. All delivered to our door in an adorable tote with little picnic blankets, included.⁣
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Perfect Picnic also offers full-service picnic experiences. Gorgeous set-ups for special occasions, catered by them, or in partnership with local restaurants. Looking to propose? I would give them a call.⁣ ✨🧺@perfectpicnicnyc 
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#perfectpicnicnyc #picnicfancy #localrestaurants #eatlocal #picniclove #eatoutside #picnicreview #centralpark #bigbackyard
The hibiscus flowers used in tea originated in Afr The hibiscus flowers used in tea originated in Africa. In Senegal, it is known as Bissap. Ghanaians know it as Sobolo, and in Nigeria, it’s Zobo. In Jamaica, it’s called sorrel and is typically combined with grated ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and rum or wine for a festive Christmas punch. In Mexico, it is called Agua de Jamaica and can be found nearly everywhere.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Happily, it is easy to make and the perfect refreshment for hot summer days:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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INGREDIENTS:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2 cups dried hibiscus flowers⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
8 cups water⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
sugar, honey, agave syrup, or another sweetener of your choice⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Cover hibiscus flowers in fresh, cold water and let sit overnight.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Strain the flowers through a cheese-cloth-lined sieve and sweeten to taste.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Serve over ice.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#picnicfancy #simplerecipe #makeitnice #picnicrecipe #picnics #picnicinspo #picnicgoals #eatoutside #dinealfresco #simplefood #easypicnic #aguadejamaica #hibiscustea #simplerecipes #hotaugustnight #aguasfrescas
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