alfresco chastain ~

It’s the hottest night EVER, but that does not keep me away from one of my favorite places. I love alfresco events and good music, and you get both at Chastain Park Amphitheater ~ rain, shine or record-breaking heat wave.  So, off we go in triple digit temps with picnic in tow to see Boz Scaggs and Michael MacDonald in concert.

Some folks bring all the gear to Chastain ~ big coolers, individual folding tables for everyone, silver serving pieces, centerpieces, even champagne coolers ~ which makes for serious effort packing in and out over endless amphitheater stairs. Biggest Chastain party I’ve done was for twelve ~ two tables of six ~ and I swore “never again”. Now it’s just two or four, with no more than one carry bag per person ~ but candles are a must.

Tonight’s picnic is a cold menu just for me and Bluwaterguy ~ starting with shrimp and our Summer Sangria. These lap trays make it easier to manage, and plastic or acrylic everything means no big deal if things do get off balance. My friend Karan gave me the acrylic “Chastain wine glasses” for a birthday years ago, and I still use them every year. Thanks Karan 🙂

For our main event, I slaved over one of Bluwaterguy’s favorites ~ cold fried chicken from Publix.  Okay, but I did make the blackeyed pea salad and grilled the pineapple ~ both served cold.

We took a break after dinner and stowed most of the picnic stuff until after dark. After the concert got underway and it cooled off a bit ~ a very little bit as it was STILL 88 degrees at 9 o’clock for cryin’ out loud ~ we moved on to dessert. For the record, I was all about dessert in jars before it somehow became the “new” thing this year. This is a light and really delicious trifle. It works with any berries, but tonight I used peaches and blueberries, as it is the season.

Summer Trifle ~~~

• Berries, peaches, whatever is in season ~ sprinkled with a little sugar
• One 4 oz box of vanilla instant pudding
• One 20 oz can of crushed pineapple with juice
• One small container of whipped topping
• Angelfood cake – cut or tear into 1″ cube pieces

Mix pudding and pineapple with juice by hand until combined. Fold in one cup of whipped topping. Mixture should hold it’s shape but is not stiff. Add a little more whipped topping if needed for consistency. Layer pudding mixture, cake pieces and fruit. Repeat layers. Finish with whipped topping. Fills a big trifle bowl, or several smaller bowls or jars. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. 

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Getting to enjoy the Chastain ambiance with Bluwaterguy, the picnic and hearing Boz Scaggs sing Georgia and Lido Shuffle live were well worth the heat. We have Chastain tickets to Steely Dan in August. Gee, wonder what the weather will be like ~ maybe HOT again?  No worries, it is always a lovely time ~ rain, shine or record-breaking heat wave ~ see you there!