Friday, July 12, 2013

Picnic Style and Tail Gating Trends for Summer 2013


Summer is here and 2013 brings great picnic and tail-gating trends to ramp up your style in the outdoors.  As featured on The Everyday Show KDVR Fox 31 and in the publication, Colorado Meeting and Events, Dawn Bitz at Grasshaven highlights five picnic trends to inspire everyone outdoors to enjoy beautiful summer days (and nights).

Personalized Picnics

Ramping up the style quotient by bringing personalization into the picnic is what this trends is all about!  Favorite colors, foods and activities only scratch the surface. A glorious picnic basket like the Seine Deluxe Picnic Tote adds neutral style to any picnic experience. Pack non-breakable red wine glasses or white wine glasses suited to your wine palette. Bring butcher or large sheets of craft paper and sidewalk chalk for go anywhere hopscotch.  Add tablecloths, placemats and table runners that are completely reversible and ready for the outdoors.  One side features beautiful patterns while the other side is customizable and personalizable with chalk (available soon on grasshavenoutdoor.com).  

Evening Picnics 

Take a cue from the movie and let twilight set the tone.  Welcome the evening outdoors. Start your outdoor experience as the evening cools and the sun begins to set.  Romance the setting sun with a beautiful picnic perfectly positioned to capture the evening glow.  Bring beautiful and stylish LED, battery powered lanterns to set the mood. Add glow in the dark bocce balls to enliven the activity outdoors.  Remember, the evening can invite flying pests so don't forget the organic bug spray and glow in the dark bug zappers  If allowable, start a fire, tell stories, make s'mores and let evening games unfold – then pack up and go home.

Themed Tailgating 

Forget the burgers and brats for your next tailgating event. How about something more exotic?  Think Moroccan, Cajun or Korean.  Recipes abound to bring this gastronomic experience to your next gathering.  But don't stop there, carry the theme through out the experience.  Find colorful décor to enhance the ambiance and match your theme.  Throw in the Seine Wine and Cheese Tote to keep those varietals cold and don't forget the portable propane grill or the fold-up portable charcoal grill to really make your next tail gating event a hit.

Bringing the Indoors Out

From tablescaping to table settings, indoor entertaining and epicurean inspirations can be taken right outside to the picnic blanket as well.  Put down the sandwich and let your culinary inspiration take hold. Bring indoor menu items out.  Pack everything into a vintage inspired basket, like the Vintage Deluxe Picnic basket for stylish transportation.  Pair great food with stylish yet functional dishes and round out your experience with foraged centerpieces made of grasses and wildflower for a truly memorable experience.

Potluck, Picnics, Playdates

Friends and family time beckons when picnics turn into social gatherings.  Find the perfect park, send our the invite for friends and family and meet up for a full day of fun.  Have everyone bring a blanket, a group game and their favorite picnic recipe.  Then let the activities commence.  Play games like Biffs, Bats and Balls or roll around an Ice Cream Making Ball. Fun will be had and everyone will be ready for memorable dreams as they head home from an eventful day.