The menu for a good picnic includes more than fried chicken and potato salad.

Throw in a pinch of ambience with tabletop decor that will add spice to the simplest of spreads.

Photos by Joey Ivansco / AJC (ENLARGE)
Jamahl King, owner of S.T.E.P.S. Event Planning in Atlanta, lays out a variety of picnic ideas, from old-fashioned to fabulous.
(ENLARGE)
(ENLARGE)
EMAIL THIS PRINT THIS MOST POPULAR
Picnic essentials: • Trash bags. • Hand wipes and antibacterial hand cleaner. • First-aid kit. • Bottle opener and corkscrew. • Knife and small cutting board. • Moistened towels sealed in a plastic bag. • Bottled water. Have some frozen to use later in the picnic. (Before freezing, pour some out, so container won't crack when frozen.) • Bug spray and sunscreen. What not to bring: • Unruly dogs. • Boomboxes that will blast other picnickers out of the park. • Alcohol, if prohibited by the park. Food safety: To keep bacteria from growing, keep cold foods below 40 degrees and hot foods above 140 degrees, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Try not to pack more food than will be consumed. Eat deli items and grilled foods within two hours. Discard any leftovers that have been sitting out during the course of the picnic.

Ambience begins with a theme, says Jamahl King, owner of S.T.E.P.S., an event planning firm in Atlanta.

"If not a theme, at least a color scheme, so everything can be in sync. You're trying to create a fun atmosphere."

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, stars, stripes and red-white-and-blue picnic accessories are as easy to find as fireworks displays.

But picnic planners need not stick with a patriotic theme this holiday weekend. For something more chic, choose nonbreakable tabletop decor in trendy fashion colors such as kiwi green and hot pink. If sports is the theme, look for plates, napkins and cups with sports emblems or use the colors of your favorite team.

The key is to make a lasting impression at your picnic that guests will savor long after the food is gone.

Splendid in the grass

Instead of spreading out an old blanket that's been balled up in the garage since last summer, find something inviting for guests to sit on. Put a plastic tarp or canvas on the grass, then top it with a jazzy tablecloth. Make the picnic more elegant with a satiny blanket ($24.99) and accent pillows ($9.96 each) from Wal-Mart; and beaded place mats ($9 each), green plates ($5 each by Inside Out), colorful utensils ($19 for four place settings by the Cellar) and plastic stemware ($40 for four), all from Macy's.

Resist the urge to impress guests by using stoneware or fine china at a picnic. "I wouldn't suggest to anybody to use real china, simply because it can break," says King. "You want to create an elegant evening, but keep it safe and practical."

Tip: Don't let insects bug you. Spray bushes near your picnic spot with repellent before you set up. Pour a thin line of talcum powder or cayenne pepper around the edges of the blanket — ants don't like the smell and won't cross the line. Burn citronella candles and wear citronella bracelets (available at dollar stores) for added protection.

Game time

Who needs a picnic table when you can use the tailgate of a truck, or the cargo area of a minivan or SUV?

"Tailgating is really for sports activities," notes King.

After packing a picnic basket, consider other essentials such as a mini-grill, folding chairs, a cooler and a blanket to add color to the tailgate.

The Sandringham bamboo and rattan basket, which comes with service for two and a matching blanket, retails for $63 from www.apicnicinabasket.com.

Tip: If there's no game in town, bring your own entertainment, such as cards, dominoes or a baseball and bat. Have activities for different age groups so no one will feel left out.

Southern fried

Think of an old-fashioned picnic like Grandma used to create. A red-and-white plastic tablecloth ($1.99 at Party City), flowers from the garden, fresh-squeezed lemonade in a clear pitcher ($14.99 from Linens-N-Things) and comfort food set the mood.

"You want to give it a down-to-earth, family feel that's not stuffy," says King.

Tip: After eating, play some of the games you played as a child. Have hula hoop or watermelon-seed-spitting contests, play badminton, pitch horseshoes or run two-legged races. Capture the memories by providing guests with disposable cameras. Make prints of the best shots and mail to guests in cardboard frames.

Two's company

The good thing about a romantic picnic is, the emphasis is not on food.

But "definitely candles, one or two roses or your mate's favorite flowers and champagne or wine," suggests King.

A portable grill ($19 from Wal-Mart) serves as a centerpiece. The Tuscany rattan picnic basket with service for two comes with wineglasses, a removable wine drawer and shoulder/backpack straps. Retails for $88. Available online at www.apicnicinabasket.com. A mesh food cover ($6.50 from Pier 1 Imports) keeps bugs at bay.

Tip: If the weather doesn't cooperate, have a Plan B. Picnic on the floor of your own living room with the windows open, or on a screened sunporch.

On a warm midsummer night when it's not raining, picnic in the back yard when it turns pitch dark outside. Let candles or streetlights be your only light.