Picnic in the Park - a Summer Night Worth Putting on Repeat

What a night.  It was one of those perfect summer nights that you wish you could replay over and over again.  Great music, friends, food, wine, blankets, Chicago skyline, sunset - the perfect equation that was the My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses concert in Millennium Park.

Our spread - that random couch pillow may or may not have been used by my friends to conceal a large bag of wine

Being lucky enough to work downtown right by the Park, I was able to do a quick change into some comfy clothes and head over to grab the best lawn seat we could get.  My friend Alex met me outside my office and as we walked we strategically stashed the bags of wine we'd removed from their cubes inside our bags, buried under blankets, food & magazines (shhhhhhh...)  Normally the Park allows food and wine in for events, but when it's an outside ticketed event they do not typically allow you to bring your own alcohol inside - still, we managed to have our own picnic fun (as did many others in the park!).

Me & my girl Alex

After spreading our blankets out towards the middle-front of the lawn to reserve some space, we ordered a couple 312's while we waited for the others in our group to arrive.  Watching the sunset over the city from inside the Park is one of the prettiest views you will find in town.  Once the sun went down and the music began, the night had this magical feeling to it.  The haunting melodies of Band of Horses brought chills to your spine in the best way, and the ethereal sound of Jim James' voice made you feel like you were floating on air.

Inside the Pavilion

BOH began around 6:30 (and sounded incredible), just as the sun was beginning to lower - while MMJ's set took off at 8:30.  The band proceeded to seriously rock the Park for almost two straight hours.  It was my fourth time seeing My Morning Jacket live and they never, ever seem to disappoint.  After copious amounts of red wine, fine cheese, fresh fruit & a healthy does of summertime - we were one happy, picnic-ing bunch of Chicagoans.  If you've never seen a concert in Millennium Park I suggest you go - fast, before the snow comes to town!  But then again....there's always ice skating in the Park! :)

Magic in the Park