Theater in the Park

Near Chicago is a concert venue called Ravinia. They have a pavilion with seats at the stage (top dollar seats) and then they have speakers placed everywhere so the Lawn Tickets hear everything, just do not see. People come to Lawn Seats (grass) with blankets and large picnic hampers.
The blanket goes down and the hamper is opened. The tablecloth is put down, then the wine ice bucket, the candelabra, the crystal, china, and silver, wine glasses, and food, etc.
Tonight I had offered a Special of Dinner and Jazz for our Jazz in the Park tonight. No one booked it so WE are going to do it. I have a table that folds to the size of a lawn chair. I have plates, silver, tablecloth & napkins, and bottles of cold water and goblets in a picnic basket. When going to Finland, DS left behind a wicker hamper - the meatloaf, baked potato, and green beans, bread and blueberries & my granola for dessert will go in that. Not doing it for us (I forgot to bring it down and am NOT going back up the stairs) but I also have a crystal looking doodad that holds a votive candle with a glass cover so the wind will not blow it out that I WILL have with the package to make it a candlelight dinner. We will be leaving in about a 1/2 hour. Will post a photo when we get home. I will also post it on FB and do a blog on it.
We still have a couple Improv shows, a Rat Pack on demand (singers, and 2 Shakespeare in the Park performances of Much Ado About Nothing before the end of the season. Wish me luck that I can get something started with this.
Update: Weather held off until almost the end (we were warned and left just a tad early). Due to John's mobility issues, we set up to the side. Guests will be set up in the center PLUS I have been told, if I tell him in advance, a canopy will be set up over our guests for their comfort. Talk about being CLASS. Photos - here are 2: us toasting (water in those goblets - will have sparkling cider for guests) and John's dinner plate.

What a good setup. Good luck getting others to enjoy it, and in the mean time enjoy it yourselves! It's probably good to do it yourself anyway; you may think of some things to add or change. Hope the weather is great and you have a wonderful evening.

Hope you have a blast. And posting pictures will help sell the package for the next time. Cheers.
We have several outdoor performances in a lovely park on the water. What a nice idea you have.

I am so pleased to see the photographer being photographed in these ones. Great job! and what fun!

Joey Bloggs said:

I am so pleased to see the photographer being photographed in these ones. Great job! and what fun!.

Click to expand...

It really was a great time. And it was a good practice run. Showed me what I can do and how to improve it. I did a hot meal and I am thinking I might be better off doing a cold meal. I live close enough to the Park that hot will work though. I do not want to go out and buy anything for this because I have no idea how it will go. Figured it was worth a shot though.

gillumhouse said:

Joey Bloggs said:

I am so pleased to see the photographer being photographed in these ones. Great job! and what fun!.

Click to expand...

It really was a great time. And it was a good practice run. Showed me what I can do and how to improve it. I did a hot meal and I am thinking I might be better off doing a cold meal. I live close enough to the Park that hot will work though. I do not want to go out and buy anything for this because I have no idea how it will go. Figured it was worth a shot though.
.

Click to expand...

I think a Picnic in the park sounds good...so why not just keep it picnic style...rather than worrying about a hot meal. You could do alot of fun and interesting things. Heck, I'd just like a blanket on the ground with a nicely stocked picnic basket you show.
Does anyone else set up a table and chairs? Would guests want to stand out by doing that? Casual night at a concert seems a good way to go.

gillumhouse said:

Joey Bloggs said:

I am so pleased to see the photographer being photographed in these ones. Great job! and what fun!.

Click to expand...

It really was a great time. And it was a good practice run. Showed me what I can do and how to improve it. I did a hot meal and I am thinking I might be better off doing a cold meal. I live close enough to the Park that hot will work though. I do not want to go out and buy anything for this because I have no idea how it will go. Figured it was worth a shot though.
.

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

It really was a great time. And it was a good practice run. Showed me what I can do and how to improve it. I did a hot meal and I am thinking I might be better off doing a cold meal. I live close enough to the Park that hot will work though. I do not want to go out and buy anything for this because I have no idea how it will go. Figured it was worth a shot though.

Click to expand...

fried chicken supper!

Joey Bloggs said:

gillumhouse said:

Joey Bloggs said:

I am so pleased to see the photographer being photographed in these ones. Great job! and what fun!.

Click to expand...

It really was a great time. And it was a good practice run. Showed me what I can do and how to improve it. I did a hot meal and I am thinking I might be better off doing a cold meal. I live close enough to the Park that hot will work though. I do not want to go out and buy anything for this because I have no idea how it will go. Figured it was worth a shot though.
.

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

It really was a great time. And it was a good practice run. Showed me what I can do and how to improve it. I did a hot meal and I am thinking I might be better off doing a cold meal. I live close enough to the Park that hot will work though. I do not want to go out and buy anything for this because I have no idea how it will go. Figured it was worth a shot though.

Click to expand...

fried chicken supper!
.

Click to expand...

The one thing I do not do is fried chicken. I was thinking of country-style ribs (lots of meat but little bone) that I can do in the oven in foil. Some homemade potato salad and corn nibblets with a few of the "penguins" on a plate as a starter and a couple biscuits. Sparkling cider for the beverage.

EmptyNest said:

gillumhouse said:

Joey Bloggs said:

I am so pleased to see the photographer being photographed in these ones. Great job! and what fun!.

Click to expand...

It really was a great time. And it was a good practice run. Showed me what I can do and how to improve it. I did a hot meal and I am thinking I might be better off doing a cold meal. I live close enough to the Park that hot will work though. I do not want to go out and buy anything for this because I have no idea how it will go. Figured it was worth a shot though.
.

Click to expand...

I think a Picnic in the park sounds good...so why not just keep it picnic style...rather than worrying about a hot meal. You could do alot of fun and interesting things. Heck, I'd just like a blanket on the ground with a nicely stocked picnic basket you show.
Does anyone else set up a table and chairs? Would guests want to stand out by doing that? Casual night at a concert seems a good way to go.
.

Click to expand...

I m hoping to get this going as a Ravinia experience. I am hoping to get the locals to think how neat it is and start with their own fun evening. If it starts being a "date night" or pack a picnic as in stop at KFC or the deli on the way home and bring the kids to the Park for supper, it will bring up the attendance.
We had between 50 and 60 people last night. It is growing, but the field is so big it still looks empty. It will be full July 1 for our concert plus the yards of the houses that border the Park get to hear everything because the Performance Center projects the sound wonderfully.

What a great idea.
I am one of those people that love the idea of providing chairs with side table. As the last accident left me with not being able to get down to ground level very easy and getting back up lady like is even... all most impossible . Oh yes love the idea of ribs. Ummmie.
May I suggest if the evening is hot . Then maybe an idea would be a nice cold basket perhaps . For an appy that could be almost any thing. For main meal Salad . rolls or, cold cuts/sandwich, maybe cheese/ with a small bunch of grapes. Salad can be layer in a big jar with dressing in the bottom then when they are ready they just have to shake the jar and voila salad has been dressed. For a sweet thing well I know you have lots of good recipes for squares or ?

gillumhouse said:

Joey Bloggs said:

gillumhouse said:

Joey Bloggs said:

I am so pleased to see the photographer being photographed in these ones. Great job! and what fun!.

Click to expand...

It really was a great time. And it was a good practice run. Showed me what I can do and how to improve it. I did a hot meal and I am thinking I might be better off doing a cold meal. I live close enough to the Park that hot will work though. I do not want to go out and buy anything for this because I have no idea how it will go. Figured it was worth a shot though.
.

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

It really was a great time. And it was a good practice run. Showed me what I can do and how to improve it. I did a hot meal and I am thinking I might be better off doing a cold meal. I live close enough to the Park that hot will work though. I do not want to go out and buy anything for this because I have no idea how it will go. Figured it was worth a shot though.

Click to expand...

fried chicken supper!
.

Click to expand...

The one thing I do not do is fried chicken. I was thinking of country-style ribs (lots of meat but little bone) that I can do in the oven in foil. Some homemade potato salad and corn nibblets with a few of the "penguins" on a plate as a starter and a couple biscuits. Sparkling cider for the beverage.

.

Click to expand...

awww cute! that sounds good too. You have some great ideas. Go for it.

I can't ever get comfortable on the ground. It's OK for about 4 minutes, then I have to start shifting positions to make it better. Give me a table and chair anytime!

Arks said:

I can't ever get comfortable on the ground. It's OK for about 4 minutes, then I have to start shifting positions to make it better. Give me a table and chair anytime!.

Click to expand...

I can fall down but need a block & tackle to get up again. For us, the folding lawn chairs are impossible to get out of (but that is what the guests will get). We have 2 Deluxe Director Chairs from Cabe lla that were about $50 each but high enough that even Himself can get out of it easily (so far). They do not fold into little tubes, but are light, fold thin, and have a side table as part of it.

I just love that picture of you and himself! It's an awesome ideal!

How sweet! Enjoyed the pictures!