Picnic Planning: Tomorrow is National Eat Outside Day

Though it might not feel like it, summer is about to come to a close, so we give you full permission to play hookey from work to take part in tomorrow's food holiday, National Eat Outside Day. In fact, you should be eating outside all weekend, wearing your fanciest white duds before the fashion police cut you off.

But wether you decide to pack a homemade picnic or take some of our suggestions for the best places to pick up outdoor-friendly eats, you'll want to make sure that you plan strategically with your fellow diners. (That's how our outing to the pop-up white picnic last weekend ended up so successful.)

Epic cheese plates are essential to every good picnic spread (Photo by Krista Simmons/LAist)
Share the cooking duties and brink a potluck, but be sure to bring the essentials to give your picnic that rustic, Pinterest-ready look include mismatched plateware, Mason jars, wood cheese boards, and unfussy floral bouquets. And remember that some our favorite places for a picnic, like Griffith and Elysian Parks, will likely be crowded with the arrival of the holiday weekend, so be sure to arrive early to set up your spread.

Finally, if you do decide to rock the white, don't forget the most important accessory of all (besides a cork screw, of course): the almighty Tide pen.

Enjoy!