A picnic at Blossom Music Center plucks all the right chords. Whether it’s the Cleveland Orchestra’s emotive second movement of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 or the goose bump-raising rhythm of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” classical music becomes a powerful love potion when paired with a picnic basket stocked with wine, meats, cheeses and crackers. Blossom’s expansive and relaxing lawn offers something for everyone. “There’s a very deep connection you can have,” says Andrew Singer, board president of the orchestra’s young professional group the Circle. “Your minds can wander a little bit on what you’re hearing and how it can affect you with different emotions.” Singer, who met his girlfriend of three years at a Blossom performance, has a pro tip for would-be picnickers eager to impress: Ground stakes that act as wine glass cup holders. 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com
After: Head to Jilly’s Music Room in Akron for a rousing, no-cover-charge encore. Hit the hip and sophisticated spot’s dance floor for local bands jamming out everything from folk, jazz, funk and R&B. 111 N. Main St., Akron, 330-576-5960, jillysmusicroom.com
Date Night: Pack a Picnic for a Cleveland Orchestra Performance
Hit all the right notes with this orchestral night out.
