Fried chicken and potato salad. Hamburgers, steaks and hot dogs. Maybe a bean casserole. Nothing tastes better than food at a picnic in the park in the summertime. And more people than ever are staking out shelters for group picnics in the parks.
Last year, more than 700 groups reserved picnic sites in Grand Forks parks. With an average of 30 to 50 in each group, that means 25,000 to 35,000 attended picnics in the city parks. And already this year, 265 permits have been issued to groups for the largest picnic shelters. The most favorite park for group picnics is Lincoln Drive, followed by University and Riverside Parks, said Steve Mullally, superintendent of city parks. Each park has four shelters.
The shelters in the parks are open to anyone. It's first come, first served unless there is a reserved card posted. The cost for reservations is $40 a day.
For smaller picnics, there are tables all around. Picnickers can find water at the shelters and toilets in the parks. It's OK to bring your own grill and barbecue. It's OK to bring the family dog, if you keep it on a leash. And if you want to drink beer or alcohol, you need a permit from the police or park department.
A word to the wise: Call the Park District Office at (701) 746-2750 to make sure you will have a place for your group picnic. And you might want to do a walk through a week or two in advance.
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Whazzup?
The last weekend in the merry month of May is at hand with a Dalmatian Awards to be presented Saturday evening in Fire Hall Theatre in a celebration that is free and open to the public. The awards are given for acting, directing and participating in Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre, Fire Hall Theatre and Crimson Creek Players. ... The Bill Gaither Loving Life Tour 2009 visits Ralph Engelstad Arena Sunday. ... Once again, the summer sound of the cars racing at Grand Forks Speedway is heard throughout the city on Friday evenings. ... Father Jack Davis Peruvian Choir Tour stops at Holy Family Catholic Church Friday evening. ... And there's an Anything Goes Garage Sale, Flea Market and Swap Meet Saturday at the Alerus.
Ask Marilyn:
Q. How come people were saying "Hotsy Totsy" this week?
A. It was the password for the annual party Simmons Flint Ad Agency has for its clients. They used a Roaring 20s theme and the only way to get in was to say Hotsy Totsy.
Q. What are the best and the brightest vanity license plates seen lately?
A. I saw 4 TEES on the way to Bismarck. Must have been someone on the way to a golf game. Then there was GRAMSX6, which must mean that Grandma has five grandkids. On the streets of Grand Forks: FOR JONI and BYTE ME. Also MSCLEAN and LV2LRN, or Love to Learn. Vehicles with plates MR TAZZ and BRITNEK were stopped side by side at a light on South Washington Street. And then I saw HE ROSE. That must be a Christian message.
Marjorie and Jim
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Cheerful person of the week: Marjorie Baumgartner-Hill. Runner up: Jim Torkelson.
Reach Hagerty at (701) 772-1055 or send e-mail to mhagerty@gra.midco.net .
