Here’s a scary thought: Those plastic plates from last year’s perfect picnic in Millennium Park have made themselves quite comfy in a landfill for the next couple hundred years or so. This year, whether you’re making plans for the Movies in the Park series, trekking up to Ravinia or just chilling by the lake, amp up the eco-friendly factor by swapping in these more Earth-friendly picks.
SANDWICHES
Pick up Greg Christian Catering sandwiches made with hormone-free meats and often-organic ingredients, such as turkey with Wisconsin cheddar on seven-grain ciabatta, or Tallgrass roast beef on tomato focaccia. $5.99 at Green Grocer Chicago (1402 W. Grand Ave. 312-624-9508).
SWEETS
Stop in Milk & Honey Cafe (1920 W. Division St. 773-395-9434) to pick up a sweet treat by Celestial Kitchens, a local bakery biz that sources ingredients from farmers markets. Recipes vary weekly, from espresso cookies and caramel-pecan bars to berry crumb cake ($1.50-$2.25).
NAPKINS & PLACEMATS
Set your Ravinia table with hemp napkins (two for $10 at A Cooler Planet, 2211 W. Roscoe St. 773-248-1110) and Napkin Catch Placemats by Josh Jakus ($19 at Pivot, 1101 W. Fulton Market. 312-243-4754). Made from recycled tires and post-consumer waste, these placemats sport special tabs to keep your napkins from flying away.
BAG
Load all your goods into a sturdy tote repurposed from plastic feed bags by fair-trade maker Gecko Traders. Colors and designs vary. $40 at Elements (741 N. Wells St. 312-642-6574).
SETTINGS
Trade plastic versions for biodegradable bamboo silverware and plates, $8 for a four-piece silverware set and $16 for 10 plates at Genevieve Lethu in Water Tower Place (835 N. Michigan Ave. 312-423-9948).
TUNES
After you’ve staked out your spot, set the mood with tunes from Freeplay Summit’s EyeMax WB solar-powered radio. It runs via hand crank if it’s dark and sports a LED flashlight for the walk home. $49 at A Cooler Planet (2211 W. Roscoe St. 773-248-1110).
BOOZE
Pick up a few bottles of Schneider’s Wiesen Edel-Weisse, an organic German wheat beer that’s fruity enough to hold its own without a citrus wedge ($3.99 for a 16.9-ounce bottle). Look for its bright green label at new Lincoln Park shop Vrai Amour (953 W. Webster St. 773-549-9740).
PICNICS FOR SLACKERS
No time to assemble your own spread? It’s the first picnic season for the Loop location of Pastoral (53 E. Lake St. 312-658-1250), and the artisan cheese and wine shop is the official picnic partner of the Grant Park Music Festival. Fest members get wine discounts on performance nights, and anyone can take advantage of the shop’s picnic kits, which use eco-friendly packaging and biodegradable potato-starch plates and utensils. Call 24 hours in advance for a Picnic for Two (pictured), with goodies in French, Italian, Spanish or American themes ($37.99; wine extra). For a last-minute fix, call by noon to order a 5 p.m. same-day pick-up of a Picnic Combo for One, which combines a sandwich or salad with add-ons such as organic potato salad or Vignette Wine Country sodas. Also available at Pastoral’s Lakeview location: 2945 N. Broadway. 773-472-4781.
