Had a wonderful time getting dressed up and following a bunch of people I have never met to a secret location in the city this weekend. Why would I do this? Well, the Diner en Blanc of course!
For those that aren’t familiar, the Diner en Blanc is an all-white affair. The event requires all attendees to be donned in white as well as any and all materials brought to the event. Hence the name, Diner en Blanc. There are Diner en Blanc events in several cities across the continental U.S. as well as some international events in Paris and Jamaica, to name a few. The premise of the secrecy is to surprise attendees with the spectacular-ness of the location and to also prevent stragglers from crashing the event pre-celebration. Each attendee is assigned to a Group and Table Leader which they follow to certain points until they reach the event destination. The hard part (for me) is carrying (dragging) your equipment to the location. Since this is an extravagant picnic, you really want to put on the best display. I hope everyone has the opportunity to experience the event at least once.
What I wore…
I wore an all-white (of course) spaghetti-strapped jumpsuit, with white platform shoes, pearl accessories, and a white fascinator. It was a steamy 88 degrees which quickly felt like 90+ in the shade. I recommend a comfortable flat shoe for the walk to the location. The walk can go from 1 or 2 to several blocks. Once we got to our location – I quickly shed the fascinator and decided to rock a beaded headband instead.
What I Ate….
When your Group and Table Leader take you to the secret spot, you prepare to set up your table. The waving of the napkin is to signify the start of dinner. In years past, I packed a whole smorgasbord of food and had to pack it up and take it home, because what you bring, you must take with you or throw it away when leaving. All attendees must leave the space as you entered it. I didn’t want to overeat and went with light sushi for our meal with seltzer water (frozen prior to leaving home). I am seasoned Diner en Blanc, guest – this being my 6 year in attendance (not consecutively) and couriering around lots of things is not for me – this time around.
Miscellaneous….
When you have a moment, check out the DIner en Blanc event for your city or nearest city. As stated, I have attended the event here in D.C. a total of 6 times. I thoroughly enjoy it. You will be responsible for getting your table to the event. Amazon is a lifesaver for finding those items (table, chairs, table-settings, tablecloths, etc.). There are companies on site that will allow you to rent these items if you do not want the hassle of bringing it to the site yourself. Remember pack your patience, enjoy the moment, and celebrate the moment.
Lastly, at the end of the evening, it turns into one big party, so be prepared to let your hair down. Again, check out the Diner en Blanc site for details. Click on the “frequently asked questions” section, for more information on what the event is and how to register.
Ciao!
