Tag Archives: picnic

NEUE Galerie’s Scott Gutterman Relaxes at Prospect Park

Believe it or not, Central Park is not the only park in New York City. Brooklyn native and Deputy Director Scott Gutterman of one of New York’s coolest museums, the NEUE Galerie, knows that Brooklyn’s Prospect Park is the hidden gem for a perfect urban escape.

“As much as I love Central Park,” Scott told citybuzz, “I think Prospect Park is a fantastic place. They have amazing concerts in the summer, lots of beautiful meadows, and it’s a little more rolling and winding so it gets a lot of respect from the city.”

Located in the heart of New York’s most populated borough- yep, Brooklyn- Prospect Park is the place where true locals go to hang out. Designed by the same architects who created Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, is bigger in some ways than its more famous counterpart: a 90-acre Long Meadow, 60-acre lake and Brooklyn’s only forest. But that’s not all, Prospect Park has the nation’s first urban Audobon Center, a zoo and every summer there’s the Celebrate Brooklyn! Performing Arts Center, on top of year round tennis, playgrounds, and twilight tours that are like an urban safari, but with wine and cheese! Of course, Prospect Park is also great for a romantic stroll and the perfect excuse to get out of Manhattan and visit- for most New Yorkers- the real New York City.

*** Scott Gutterman is the Deputy Director of the NEUE Galerie on Museum Mile near Central Park. NEUE Galerie focuses on early twentieth-century German and Austrian art, including famed works from Gustav Klimt, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Otto Dix.

Sandy Lake Park: Picnic with a Punch

Thrill seekers, Sandy Lake Park is not for you. For the rest of us, this treasure of an amusement park has been delighting all ages for decades. With smaller scale exciting rides, like the Space Shuttle, Scrambler, and Tilt A Whirl, it’s almost like taking a trip back in time to childhood as you wait in the short lines to climb aboard.

Rides, however, are just the tip of the iceberg. Miniature golf, giant swimming pools, face painting, paddle boats, pony rides, and an arcade are all at your disposal. In fact, the arcade will certainly bring back memories with the original SkeeBall game and other “vintage” games that require skill. Frank Rush, who works tirelessly at the park to make sure families and groups alike have the time of their lives, can tell stories of the park that make everyone smile. The perfect place to host your next family picnic under the covered pavilions, Sandy Lake Park is a gem that continues to shine year after year.

White Rock’s Where You Can Do Everything or Nothing At All

Ah, the great outdoors. White Rock Lake is a Dallas landmark that brings people from all walks of life together for one common passion: outdoor beauty. A nearly ten mile hiking and biking trail provides runners, walkers and roller bladers a scenic route around the lake. The Audubon Society has a specific bird watching area and wetlands site, and the picnic areas have ample space for a large BBQ or family reunion. If you love to fish, there are designated piers for catfish, sunfish and bass fishing where you can cast away.

Special events like the Rock Marathon, the White Rock Lake Trash Bash, and several others take place throughout the year, giving Dallas residents a chance to gather together and soak in rustic beauty amidst the surrounding concrete jungle.

Lakeside Park’s a Pleasant Escape

When exploring the outdoors of Dallas, it’s a pleasant surprise to find a place where you can do it all: take a leisurely stroll, ride your bike, walk your dog, drop in the fishing pole, and have a quiet picnic. Beautiful Lakeside Park not only offers all these options, but an unprecedented view of the beautifully manicured grounds along Turtle Creek between Beverly Drive and Armstrong Parkway. The Bel-Air style homes provide a breathtaking backdrop to over 14 acres of impeccable landscaping.

The walking paths lead to an iconic wooden bridge overlooking the Turtle Creek Dam; a perfect spot for a photo op or romantic moment. One artful surprise to the park’s ambiance? Giant teddy bear statues line the walking path and leave both adults and children in awe. For a relaxing outdoor excursion, Lakeside Park is the crown jewel of Highland Park’s extensive park and recreation escapes.