Potluck Picnic Culinary Winner

Friday was great fun at the last NY Philharmonic a fresco of the season. Thanks to Caitlin, who got there at 3pm, armed with several blankets and books, we had a spot that was so close, I could actually see the stage! It may be the first time since middle school that I manned first base on a baseball field, and although I didn't catch any flying balls, all of the culinary efforts were home runs! I promise to get a few recipes up here soon.

Around 22 people showed up, both runners and the people who love them. Runners from "Waverly Saturdays" and "Columbus Sundays" mixed easily; it was no Jets vs. Sharks, but a cohesive group of cool folk.

Some of the gourmet highlights: eggplant lasagna, fresh corn feta and jalapeno salad, watermelon feta salad, Israeli couscous salad, homemade frittata, homemade quiche, homemade cupcakes, homemade chocolate chip dried cherry and pecan cookies, and much much more! Loaded plates were passed, wine flowed, clothes stayed on( you can't have everything), but besides that, it was a regular Bacchanale(stay tunes on Shakespeare in the Park, because they're putting on "The Bacchae" by Euripides...very light and happy... in August)! 

The Phil, conducted by newcomer Alan Gilbert, played some Copland American Songs, sung by Nathan Gunn, and then Mahler's Symphony #1. Both were wonderful, and I would have loved to hear the culmination of Mahler's effort, but lightening and rain ended the concert early. at around 9:35, roughly 100,000 people ran out of Central Park and away from the open ground where lightening was more likely to strike.

Home we all went, full of great food, conversation, musical glories and wet shoes.