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Learn more about the Dîner en Blanc, a pop-up culinary event that brings thousands of New Yorkers to a surpsie dining destination!
Dust off your spiffiest white shoes, polish up your white china, and break out a white tablecloth, the Dîner en Blanc returns to New York City this fall! The Dîner en Blanc is a pop-up culinary event where thousands of diners—dressed in all-white attire—gather at a secret location for an evening of food, fashion, and fun. This year, the exclusive dinner party will take place in New York City on September 26th.
Only a handful of volunteer guides know the mystery location in advance. In past years, the dinner has taken over Hudson River Park, Governors Island, Lincoln Center, and most recently the cobblestone streets of the Meatpacking District. To maintain the surprise until the last minute, guests are given an initial rendezvous point. Once assembled at this gathering place, the guides lead everyone to the dining destination.
Unlike most spontaneous pop-up events, this extreme picnic requires some planning. Diners can spend weeks putting together the perfect all-white outfit. Organizers say “elegance and originality” are key to perfecting your fit, which must be all-white from head to toe. It’s not unusual to see a guest in a towering Marie Antoinette wig, a feathery fascinator, or a fancy top hat.
Creativity doesn’t end at the outfit. Diners are also encouraged to design elaborate (again, all-white) tablescapes. In the past, we’ve seen lit-up floral arches, giant balloons, and elegant candelabras. All guests are required to bring two chairs, a table, and a white tablecloth. The tablescape is complete with your stemware, white dinnerware, and of course, your meal. Diners can assemble their own gourmet feast or reserve a picnic basket in advance to be picked up on the night of the event.
Once all the tables are set up and each guest has taken their seat, everyone waves their napkin in the air to signal the start of the festivities! After everyone is full from their delicious meals, the night continues with dancing, mingling, and admiring the outfits and tablescapes of fellow attendees. At the end of the night, everything gets packed up and taken away and the site is left as if nothing ever happened.
The first Dîner en Blanc took place in 1988. It was a small gathering of friends in the Bois de Boulogne assembled by François Pasquier upon his return to France after living abroad. To find each other in the park, they all wore white. Each year the dinner party grew larger and larger and now the Dîner en Blanc is celebrated in 75 cities across the globe, 42 cities in the United States alone. Where do you think it will pop up in New York City this year?
If you want to be part of this special night, you’ll need an invitation from a previous attendee, or, you can sign up for the new Fan list for a chance to register when tickets go on sale.
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