Take-out for picnic in Rittenhouse Square (or other park)?

[bclare]

After a long drive to get to your fair city we want to go somewhere to eat where our toddler can run around. We are thinking a happening park space with some delicious take out would fit the bill. We are thinking Rittenhouse Sq, but are staying in University City (take a trolley?) so we are very open to other options. Looking around I thought of Village Whiskey or Marathon? Anyone have an idea for a picnic and a nearby park space?
Thank you!

[nwinkler]

If you go the DiBruno's+Rittenhouse route, which I heartily recommend, you might consider getting your breads from Parc. They sell their fantastic baguettes right at the hostess stand.

[Hungryin theBurbs]

I would go to the Rittenhouse DiBruno's, where you can pick up all kinds of goodies--cheese, bread, salumi, all kinds of prepared foods and baked goodies, and then walk the couple of blocks to Rittenhouse Square. Depending on the day of the week, Clark Park in West Philly often has a collection of good food trucks, but it is just about as far as Rittenhouse.

[urbanfabric]

My first thought was DiBruno's as well. However, depending on where you're coming from in UCity, you could stop at Picnic in the Left Bank building (along Walnut, a little west of the bridge to Center City) and get sandwiches. You could also take sandwiches to Penn's Campus. If you arrive during the week, there are lots of food trucks around Penn and Drexel's campuses and lots of open space for an energetic toddler!

[bclare]

Good ideas! I'll have to check both of these out. It would be great to stay closer to the hotel (walking) although he would probably like a trolley ride, too. Looking online it's hard to tell where there are park spaces in U City and I know Rittenhouse square is nice and interesting. I'm sure we will just let it flow but it's good to have a few places in mind to grab some decent grub. Thank you both!

[barryg]

Picnic is a block away from the newish Penn Park along the river, which is another possibility.

[bclare]

Looking at the satellite images Penn Park looks like a sports facility bordered by a highway -- is it more than this? Thanks -- it's so hard to tell!!!

[barryg]

The satellite may or may not be up to date.. it does have sports facilities but also a lot of public space: http://www.facilities.upenn.edu/stnd_...

[barryg]

Also: http://www.uwishunu.com/2011/09/penn-...

And check out them map in the first link, there is a picnic grove.

[bclare]

Thank you, that's really helpful!

[Bob Loblaw]

it is, indeed, a sports facility next to a parkway BUT it's also quite nice. there's no way a toddler would just wander onto the highway, or even that a car would plow into penn park. (Cars do plow through the green areas along Kelly Drive and wind up in the river a few times a year).
There are a bunch of places at Penn Park where you could hang out and picnic and watch some of the sports. There are even nice bathrooms there.
Like I said, it's nice. Rittenhouse Square is nicer.

[barryg]

Right, it's actually grade separated from the highways and major roads, which are elevated. Rittenhouse Park is great but also more crowded... I'd probably choose Rittenhouse too, though there will be more space for the kid to run around at Penn.

There's also Schuylkill Banks park on the other side of the river from Penn, also under the major roads and along a bike path.

[bclare]

Well, today's the day and it's looking like a pretty rainy day. We aren't afraid of a wet picnic but in the rain is a bit much. Fingers crossed! Thanks everyone!