As the days grow shorter and a breeze comes up, sometimes it's nice to plan a special evening with your significant other or friend. This one includes an elegant dinner and music in the park.
Growing up in the Philadelphia area, the Dell was a favorite place, and when your parents were using their tickets, you and a date often got grass seats. Reclining under the stars and listening to the orchestra with someone you fancy is as our friend Martha Stewart says, " A good thing!" Today, here in Oklahoma, we have concerts on Thursday evenings outdoors at a beautiful shopping area. Look around your city and see what you can find. If classical music isn't to your liking, try to find a jazz festival, Caribbean night, or Cajun Zydeco. It's staying home and sitting in front of the TV watching reruns that makes our lives hum drum. Grab that other person by their ever-loving hand, and with a picnic cooler and hamper already packed in the car, go!
We have used a lovely old quilt to sit and eat on. This dinner is not meant to be ordinary so bring nice dishes for two, cloth napkins, flatware and good glasses. I guess I stop short of sterling, crystal, and bone china, but use something lovely. If necessary, you might buy two settings of a pattern you wish to add on to for dinners at home. Sneaky, yes? Before you leave, make sure you have placed folding lawn chairs in the car for the concert. Most of us can only sit so long on the ground as it gets damp at night.
To make the dinner seem even more special, some flowers from the garden or florist are in order. Better yet, buy a flowering plant and place it in a basket with a beautiful bow. A lovely remembrance of the evening. Now, go, hold hands, eat, toast each other, and enjoy. And remember, if you can't find a concert, find a private place, bring the music, and make your own concert to remember.
*Be sure your doctor has OK'd the use of any alcoholic beverage or substitute a nonalcoholic sparkling beverage.
(for the recipes, click on The Recipes or click on the individual recipe above)
