Fresh air and a change of scenery are reason enough for planning a picnic, which can be as simple as spreading out a blanket in a local park and sharing a baguette and a hunk of cheese with a couple of friends. It's a great way to shift gears, slow down, and take stock.

With a little planning, though, picnicking can be elevated to an art form of sorts, or at least become the kind of memorable event that you look forward to and make time for each year. With summer comes music in the form of music festivals, concerts, and the like. Look in the Arts section or equivalent of your local paper, keep your eyes open for postings in grocery stores, coffee shops, and other likely local haunts. Once you've found an event that sounds like fun, make a phone call to find out about bringing food and beverages. If you get a green light, it's time to start planning, because there's just no better way to enjoy music outdoors than accompanied by a light but varied feast of cold salads, fine cheeses, imported salami and prosciutto, a few fancy pastries and some fresh fruit to top it all off---a smorgasbord of prepared fare, in other words, either homemade, if you prefer, or from the local gourmet shop or deli. And even, in the unlikely event that you can't find a musical event nearby that permits picnicking, that's no reason not to enjoy a regal repast at your local park.

The first step in preparing for your gourmet picnic is to pack all the utensils and accessories you'll need. Just make a list of what you'll be serving, then assess what you'll need for each of these dishes or items. Basics include a cutting board or two, a cheese knife, paring knife, large bread knife (especially if you're planning on picking up a watermelon), serving spoons, forks, spoons, knives, plates, bowls, good sea salt, a pepper grinder, and napkins. You might also consider wineglasses and a corkscrew, as well as whatever else makes sense for your intended menu.

As far as the menu itself goes, try to provide a broad range of tastes and textures---the wider the range, the more it will feel like a feast. Think in terms of appealing contrasts like crisp, salty tortilla chips with cool, creamy guacamole or a juicy, fresh salsa; smooth, rich Brie cheese with a loaf of coarse, chewy peasant bread; and, flaky, crunchy pastries with wet, succulent strawberries, honeydew, cantaloupe, and other fruits.

Finally, eat in style. Set a table rather than laying everything out on a blanket. Bring along a folding table and chairs, a linen or cotton tablecloth, and an enclosed candle or oil lamp if you'll be dining at dusk. Your picnic will become the stuff of memories as well as a regular ritual that you look forward to each summer