A Picnic in the Park

There are random acts of kindness and then there are random acts of picnics. Or random picnics of kindness. I need to work on the name, but here's how it works: you have a friend or loved one who works in midtown Manhattan. You offer to meet them for lunch. When they say, "where?" you say: "Let's meet in Central Park, I'll bring the food."

Then you go to the Time Warner Center, which is right there, and ride the escalators up two floors to the Bouchon Bakery. If you're strapped for cash, you can ride the escalator down to Whole Foods, but it's worth the splurge for the food at Bouchon (it is Thomas Keller food, after all.) Order two tuna nicoisse sandwiches, one chocolate chip cookie and two bottles of water (though it's cheaper to buy the water in the park). Pay (it'll run you $22) then meet your loved one outside by the golden horse statute at the southwest entrance to the park. Walk in, find a rock, climb it, sit and eat your sandwiches. Aren't they good?

If you want to be extra indulgent, I bet you can sneak in some wine. Wouldn't that be lovely?

Finish your lunch, breath in the fresh park air, and as your loved one goes back to his or her job pat yourself on the back for committing a random act of picnic. A picnic act of kindness. Ya, I really need to work on the name.