| The early days of Covid were humbling, as we were locked in our homes and realized the great value of human interaction. Out of my desire to make up for some of that and stay connected with you, the Chat Tech newsletter was born on April 9th, 2020. Other than couple of holiday weeks, we have been in your inbox every Thursday since.
Whether it’s this newsletter or any of the services we provide, you’re the reason for our success. Before I take on this week’s feature topic, I’d like to thank you all. A week doesn’t go by without a complement on our newsletter, and it makes my team and I try harder to make our content more valuable to you.
Sadly, there has been more terrible news and lives lost to gun violence this week. This time out of Highland Park, IL. Up until 5 years ago, I took part in 4th of July parades to support a local dance company, and Highland Park could have easily been one of those events. My heart goes out to the families of those lost their loved ones to one more legal gun purchase that shouldn’t have happened by one more young adult who didn’t get the help he needed. Since news outlets will do a better job at dissecting the intricacies of this tragic event, I will leave my commentary at that and move on to something else to hopefully lift your spirits this week.
When was the last time you enjoyed a picnic? Recently, I was sitting on the blanket and checking social media on my phone while waiting for an outdoor concert to begin at Ravinia. I decided to empty my pockets, put my phone away, and let my bare feet touch the grass as I laid back. It was magical! Under the shade of an elderly tree, I was watching the leaves dance as stress drained away from my feet into the soil beneath. It reminded me of my 8-year-old self with nothing in my pockets simply enjoying the shade of a massive pine tree while dreaming of who I would become someday.
This week, I’m here to help plan your next picnic so hopefully you too can find a moment to connect with nature. The first thing you need is a super fun picnic set. If you are all about function, here is a solid option. Maybe you prefer the classic approach? Something that says romance when you look at it? Here is my choice for that. Now that we have the picnic basket ready, we’ll need to fill it. Drinks are easy: a good bottle of wine is always a great choice. However, don’t forget the water! Going with the romantic basket? Maybe the French carbonated water, Perrier, will look even better in there. Now that the drinks are done, let’s talk bites. My favorite part! While I have this dream of preparing the picnic food on my own, I usually visit Whole Foods’ salad bar. If you are willing to go all out, here are over 50 picnic food ideas that are easy to make. Now our basket is ready, but where are we going? I love picnics with outdoor concerts. I like going early to spend some time relaxing and enjoying bites with my girlfriend before I feast on live music. As I live in Chicago, my favorite places are Ravinia and Jay Pritzker Pavilion for their Grant Park Music Festival. Hopefully you too have venues you can visit close to you, but just in case you need a place to start, here are the 50 best picnic spots around the country.
We all need a break to recharge, connect with the earth, and find the true meaning of our existence. Little moments of happiness are well deserved and required. Even if your adult self disagrees, you owe it to the little you inside. It’s always a good time to go outside and play with those you love.
To better days ahead,
– Burak Sarac, Team Lead
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