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Spring has finally sprung. It felt like it was never going to make it, and yet, here we are. The key is to take advantage of it before Summer hits… With that in mind we’re hosting a spring picnic ride Saturday afternoon, April 26th to our beautiful Turtle Creek.

Here are some tips and must-haves for joining this year’s Seersucker Spring Picnic Ride.

Things you’ll need:

Bike   I am going to make a pretty large assumption that you already have a bike. So, cross this one off of your list. If you don’t, I suggest hitting up craigslist or any local bike shop (more on this later).

Seersucker   This one is key.  Seer sucker is a light breezy fabric puckered fabric, usually with stripes, perfect for dressing up in balmy weather. Wearing seer sucker takes us back to the 20’s, when people still dressed up even in the heat (and no air conditioning!) According to Wiki, The fabric was originally worn by the poor in the U.S. until preppy undergraduate students began wearing it in the 1920s in an air of reverse snobbery. Perfect.

Because of the fabrication technique it can be pricey – though a bargain shopper might find seer sucker at a thrift store or outlet for much less. If you hurry there’s still time to get a nice seersucker dress/suit/short/skirt/jacket online and have it tailored. If you’re pressed for time, you could get away with just a bowtie.

Basket  There are tons of options for a picnic basket depending on your personal style and the type of bike you ride. My personal favorite is this Front Basket by Wald. It’s inexpensive, easy to install, but only works with a few handlebar styles. If your bike needs a picnic basket, visit one of our friends at the following bike shops:

Oak Cliff Bicycle Co. 
Richardson Bike Mart
Dallas Bike Works
Bicycles Plus
Switching Gears Cyclery
 

So now you’ve got your blanket in your basket on your bike, and you’re seersuckered up. What to pack? That’s simple enough, just pack any snacks you’d like to have, and maybe a little extra to share with your fellow seersuckered bike riding friends. If, however, you want to up your picnic game, here’s some things that will make for a fantastic spring picnic in the park.

Picnicing at the recent Jazz Age Sunday Social. (Note the plastic wine glass!)

Cheese, Sausage, Fruit (grapes, berries, apples, etc), Nuts & tasty dessert You must know that in case you’re pressed for time we’ll be stopping by the Eatzie’s on Oak Lawn along the way. Luckily it’s right near our destination at Robert E Lee Park!

Beverages (I should take this opportunity to say that a person caught consuming alcohol in Dallas city park can be fined up to $500, so you know, do what you will with that information.)

Cups Glass is fancy, but risky. There’s plenty of other alternatives available.

Forks, knives, spoons (as necessary) Whole Foods has bamboo ones that are pretty neat. I’ve seen some compostable plasticware that’s nice. Like the cups, disposable is convenient, reusable works too.

Blanket  

Water & Sunscreen

Yard games!  We’ll have at least one set of croquet and bean bag toss – feel free to bring your own!

Pull out your Sunday best – we’re heading to a Jazz Age picnic social

Sunday March 30th, 12-4pm

The Art Deco Society of Dallas and Dallas Heritage Village are presenting the Jazz Age Sunday Social, a vintage-inspired event the likes of which Dallas has never seen. If you know the annual Lawn Party on Governor’s Island in New York City, you have an inkling of what this will be like.

We’ll be riding from Klyde Warren Park, meeting at 11:30am and heading to Heritage Village at noon. Bring your bicycle picnic, $10, and be ready for the most relaxing and exciting Sunday afternoon you can remember!

The event will have a little something for everyone: vintage Model A Fords from Vintage Coach,  croquet and yard games, and a costume contest! Elaine Hewlett from the Rhythm Room will be teaching dance steps from the 1920s so you’re up to speed and ready to dance to the music of The Singapore Slingers, performing in the newly restored gazebo!

Carnival Barker’s Ice Creams will be serving their delicious Dallas-made ice cream, along with popcorn vendors and more. And of course, lawn chairs, blankets, and picnics are encouraged.

Admission is $10, and children under 12 are free so bring the kids!

Connect with us on Facebook to hear the latest developments as we get closer to the date, and

Pull out your favorite Fall cocktail attire, we’ve been invited for Cyclist Happy Hour at the Nasher!

From 4pm-5pm we’ll be mosying through the Nasher garden, admiring Picasso’s talent in clay… and sipping complimentary cocktails because we arrived in style (on bikes, of course!)

It’s all for the Nasher’s 10th Anniversary weekend, AND they’re installing new BIKE RACKS! They want the cycling community to feel welcome. And we want another great excuse to visit the Nasher! And sip afternoon cocktails. And ride through town in this amazing weather!

Events at the Nasher are scheduled throughout the day Sunday, from 10am to 10pm. Here’s the full run-down. My favorite highlights are yoga in the morning, Ballet Folklorico in the street at noon, and free Cool Haus ice-cream sandwiches. The Nasher really knows how to throw a party.

A few of us will be gathering at Oak Cliff’s Oddfellow’s at 1:45pm, to depart shortly thereafter – if you’d like to meet us at Main St Garden, let us know on the Facebook Event – we’d swing by on our way, at about 2:15pm. At 2:30 is the 360 Lecture: Nasher Xchange Panel.

Have you heard of this public art display all over the City?! It’s kicking off 10 commissioned pieces being installed this month, to stay up through February. I can’t wait to hear more about the whole project. Then afterward is the wine reception. Before the Cyclist Happy Hour starts….. You need to rsvp for the 360 Xchange & reception though – just email 360RSVP@nashersculpturecenter.org and you’re set. Free admission, free parking, free wine, cocktails and don’t forget the art! What a lovely afternoon it will be. AND we’ll even be home by dark.

We had such a great time Saturday, we’re still living in the afterglow. Aside from the great mix of shops we visited on our holiday boutique tour, there was a great group of folks, and the casual pace and booze at the stops really made for an entertaining afternoon! I wrapped up a good bulk of my shopping list, and a few of us even got ourselves Christmas gifts too!

There was even some talk of making this a monthly event, riding to locally-owned boutiques scattered throughout the in-town neighborhoods, changing up the mix each time…. We’ll keep you posted.

Thanks to all the wonderful shop owners at Switching Gears, NSFW Clothing, Modern Relics, Dallas Pin-up, Factory Girl, Far Fetched Imports and of course everyone at the Deep Ellum Outdoor Market. And thanks Patrick McDonnell for these fantastic photos!

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