BIG APPLE PICNICS ENJOYING NEW YORK LIKE A LOCAL
As summer approaches, New Yorkers and tourists will be tempted away from the city’s many restaurants to picnic and frolic outdoors. While Central Park may arguably be the most famous lawn in the city, there are more than 1,700 parks throughout all five bo
UNION SQUARE PARK
Jean Lee, founder of Jeaniuseats, prefers Union Square Park partly because of its central location. It is where the East and West Side MTA lines converge.
The park is home to statues of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Mohandas Gandhi.
It also is where the famous Union Square Greenmarket takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday year-round. More than 140 regional farmers, fishmongers and bakers are on site to sell their products.
“We are never far from connecting to the local farms that provide sustenance and nourishment to our great city,” Lee says.
Union Square Park has been open since 1839. In 1872, it was redesigned by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.
Dillon Burke, owner of Front of House Inc., loves the energy that the park attracts.
For food, Burke heads to Union Fare. His favorites are croissants, tacos and the Hawaiian poke bowl.
“Something about a paper bag picnic on a slightly off-balance bench is my idea of a perfect few hours outside,” he says.
Broadway to 4th Ave. and E. 14th street to E. 17th Street, Manhattan; Union Square Park
Union Square Greenmarket; grownyc.org 7 E. 17th Street, unionfare.com