A friend on another forum asked what your favorite thingto bring to a picnic. Cookouts and patio BBQs don’t count. Everyone seemed to agree that they’d never been to a picnic. I can’t remember my last one. Are picnics still a thing?
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I visit a senior living center about once a month just to say hi to the folks there.
Every once in a while I will arrange a picnic for everyone in the facility’s courtyard.
I usually bring take-out dim sum, pizza, and one time I just bought 100 Costco hot dogs for everyone.
We set up tables and folding chairs in the lawn area, and usually end the day with a rousing tournament of tic-tac-toe.
Sorry, I know that doesn’t answer your first question – what to bring to a picnic – but it kind of does answer the second one – are picnics still a thing (answer: yes!).
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In the summer in nyc, yes.
You might enjoy this thread:
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Absolutely picnics are still a thing! Come to Stockton on a summer Wednesday evening for a concert in the park. The city sponsors free concerts with a variety of music, and people pack picnic dinners to enjoy the music, watch kids run around, and dance in front of the bandstand. Sometimes I’ll make something, other times we’ll pick up some banh mi or a pizza. Spread out the blanket, crack open a beer or two, and chill.
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Me neither.
Unless you count a lunchtime sandwich eaten on the patio - on one of those rare days when the weather permits it on this small, cold, wet island off the coast of Northern Europe.
We had our first picnic of the season two days ago - a mid-morning picnic - carried in a backpack through the woods and down to the beach, where we watched the ospreys hunt.
Homemade baguette with cheese.
Pasta salad with spinach, ham, red and green peppers, black olives, pine nuts, parm, and vinaigrette.
Table grapes.
Panforte.
Water to drink.
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I just recently reserved a picnic site at a local city park for a day this summer, for a birthday party for a friend. There are a lot of picnic sites scattered around local city and regional parks, and they seem pretty well used during the warmer months. As for what to bring, I’d say the obvious choices aren’t too different from what you’d take to a barbecue or other potluck.
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For the first day of summer we’d head to the mountain lake’s beach with a fried chicken dinner picnic. Sometimes we’d stay until the sun set. Memories…
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There were years when I was very little that my mom and I would take the train instead of flying to visit my grandparents. My grandmother would always pack us a fried chicken hamper to take back on the train …Memories indeed. She actually sent me a cast-iron chicken fryer when I was all grown up. I still have it, although I don’t believe I’ve ever fried any chicken in it. Wow I could go for some now!!
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Mother’s Day picnic was on a friend’s boat this year.
The NYT lemon soufflé french toast recipe, strawberry rhubarb compote, pear Bellini’s and grilled veggies. Reheated well where needed.
Still love a picnic meal! 
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In NYC, picnics in Central Park are still very much a thing in summertime. Fresh bread, cheese, dry sausage, fruit and a bottle of wine or sparkling juice make a lovely picnic lunch.
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Especially during Met Opera performances or what have you.
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Or Little Island.
I went there once and it was SO CROWDED that I fled pretty quickly. Maybe I’ll give it another shot.
We went on one a couple of years ago–picked up subs and soda and went to Cheesequake State Park. I described it elsewhere in HO, but basically, the tables/benches were difficult for the mobility-impaired, which caused a bit of a problem. It was not the glamorous sort of picnic, with a wicker basket, checked cloth, fancy wine, and gourmet cheese, but hey! we’re not glamorous people.
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Def! When the newness wore off we went and off performance season. The park is wonderful.
A lifetime ago, I thought cold fried chicken was the best thing you could take on a picnic, so when the future Mrs. ricepad and I were dating, I made some fried chicken for a day at the park. I don’t remember what else I packed, but I distinctly remember that the fried chicken went over like a turd in a punchbowl with her. I think she ate it to be polite, but later told me she didn’t consider fried chicken to be picnic food.
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I think a cookout counts if you’re in a park and it’s their grill, just not your back yard.
Shoreline Lake in Mountain View has a lawn near the lake, and we often see picnickers there in warm weather. Some of the local geese have decided that it’s ok to hang out near the humans because they drop food scraps and can sometimes be extorted for more.
