Warm weather invites picnics
Students envision romantic interludes in parks, on roofs
By Sabrina Steele Special to the Kansan
Movies, dinners and parties are pleasant ways to spend time on a date or with friends. However, for a unique experience when the weather warms up, some students suggest a picnic at Clinton Lake or even on the fire truck in the park at 12th and Massachusetts streets.
Students have diverse perceptions of what would provide a special atmosphere for a picnic. Their ideas of a dream date also vary, ranging from Rex Walters to any willing participant.
Brenda Griffith, Raytown, Mo., senior said the grassy mall in front of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo., would be a good location for a picnic.
The lawn in front of the Nelson is called the Henry Moore Sculpture Garden, and it contains 13 monumental bronze sculptures, said Gina Kelley, public information officer for the museum.
"You can picnie there, then take a stroll through the garden." Kelley said. "There is a wide-open green mall. On either side there are trees, bushes, benches, and it's a bit more enclosed and intimate."
Griffith said the cultural atmosphere was appealing.
"It's in the middle of a big city, but it's more of its own little world," she said.
Kathy James, Engelwood, Colo., senior had other suggestions for places to go in the Kansas City area.
James said having lunch with the animals at the Kansas City Zoo, which is in Swope Park, in Kansas City, Mo., is fun because of the children, animals and large, open spaces.
"You can be in the city, but you're not, and it doesn't take long to get there," she said.
She also said Shawnee Mission Park in western Johnson County would be a good place to go. The pine trees are relaxing, and sailing and canoeing are possible activities for after lunch.
The most popular suggestion for a picnic location in Lawrence was Clinton Lake. Kurt Hoobing, Overland Park junior, said the scenic view, the trees and the lake were great for a picnic with friends.
Lametrious Bates, Louisiana sophomore, agreed and added that Clinton Lake was a good place for a date because the water was relaxing and almost sexy.
"It's peaceful, quiet, and nobody could catch us," she said. "You couldn't get caught in a romantic kiss."
plates have been thrown away, other options for entertainment remain.
Jodi Olson, Junction City senior, suggested that the wooden gazeebo in a little park on the 1200 block of Massachusetts Street provided another secluded place for a picnic. When dinner is over and the paper
"It's also a good place to dance," she said.
The Flint Hills would provide the ultimate place for a romantic picnic because of the seclusion and privacy, said Audra Widau, Topeka senior.
"Off in the middle of nowhere, when you're driving between Topeka and Manhattan, along the highway there are luscious green hills where nobody ever goes," she said. "It doesn't even look like there are roads leading up to them."
James Fightmaster, Raytown, Mo., junior, had a suggestion for another secluded place to date.
"I would go up on top of a roof where nobody would see us, take a radio, a candlelight dinner and a table," he said.
Any roof that would provide a clear view of the stars and a room for slow dancing to romantic music would work for his picnic, he said.
Suggestions for food varied from the convenient and fast to the more elaborate and seductive.
For a dream picnic with Sharon Stone, Michael Greenfield, Missouri City, Texas, freshman, said he would opt for Yello Sub and Mountain Dew.
Bates said she would like to take wine, grapes and blankets on a picnic with a guy she met in Fall 1992 in her African Traditional Religion and Thought class.
Renee Mitchell, Kansas City junior, said
she would carry strawberries and cream for a romantic picnic by the lake with her boyfriend, Rodney Harris.
Olson said she would take whipped cream in addition to wine and chicken if she could go on a picnic with Rex Walters, who was a Kansas basketball guard from 1991 to 1993. She said lakes were good for skinny-dipping after picnics.
Derek Winger, Leawood graduate student, said shrimp cocktail would be a tasty and easily made dinner for a special picnic with his girlfriend, Jean Weber. He agreed that a lakeside would be a good location.
"Then, if things don't go well, you can drown your date," he said jokingly.
Fightmaster said that for his dinner, he would opt for Italian food.
"It would definitely be something you would take time to prepare," he said.
He said there wasn't anybody special he would like to take on his rooftop picnic.
"Anybody who would be willing, female friends maybe," he said. "If I had a girlfriend, I would take her."
On her picnic in the Flint Hills, Widau said she would like to take chicken, wine and Ken Olin of "Thirtysomething" fame.
Shelly Hefferon, Chanute freshman, said she would enjoy a picnic watching a football game on Campanile Hill with Patrick Richey, KU basketball player.
"He's a really good player, but he doesn't get much attention," she said.