Grant Park summer concerts offer an opportunity to hear fine music outdoors all summer, but they also provide an opportunity for great themed picnics. Here are our tongue-in-cheek picnic suggestions for concerts this season.
Friday. William Bolcom’s jazzy Concerto Grosso for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra.
Picnic suggestion: Large helpings of anything dipped in hot sauce.
Saturday and Sunday. Orchestral excerpts from Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
Picnic suggestion: German potato salad.
June 27, 28. Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2.
Picnic suggestion: Rock lobster tails, rock candy and caviar.
July 3. “Independence Eve at Grant Park,” featuring bass Kevin Maynor.
Picnic suggestion: Hot dogs and apple pie.
July 11, 13. “James Paul Conducts Sibelius,” with cellist Wendy Warner.
Picnic suggestion: Aquavit and herring.
July 14, 15. Britten’s Spring Symphony.
Picnic suggestion: Spring rolls and beef Wellington.
July 18, 20. A celebration of Joaquin Rodrigo’s 100th birthday.
Picnic suggestion: Tapas and a nice container of gazpacho.
July 21, 22. “The Best of Lerner and Loewe.”
Picnic suggestion: Lots of chocolate for me to eat. Oh wouldn’t that be loverly?
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All concerts are free and start at 7:30 p.m. at the Petrillo Music Shell, Jackson Boulevard and Columbus Drive.
