Dîner en Blanc 2018, NYC
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| Dîner en Blanc NYC 2018 on Governor's Island | Photo: Eric Vitale Photography for Dîner en Blanc |
Affair: Dîner en Blanc 2018
When: Monday, September 17, 2018
Hot Spot: Governor's Island, NYC
Deets: On June 3, the original Le Dîner en Blanc marked its 30th anniversary in Paris. A record-breaking 17,000 guests from France and around the world gathered at the Esplanade des Invalides to celebrate this historic moment.
The legendary all white French-inspired pop-up dinner has become THE culinary event of the year in the U.S. and cities around the world. A worldwide phenomenon, this year over 130,000 people in 80 cities spanning 30 countries will attend. To preserve spontaneity and secrecy, the elegant dinner takesover iconic public spaces whose locations are revealed at the last minute to the delight of thousands ofguests.
In an exciting first, renowned chef and Michelin Star recipient restaurateur Marc Forgione will be curating four special picnic baskets for guests in New York who order through Le Dîner en Blanc. Forgione has been riding a wave of success since opening his eponymous Restaurant Marc Forgione in 2008 and multiple locations of his modern steakhouse, American Cut. He won season 3 of Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef” at just 31 years old, making him the youngest winner in the show’s history and is currently one of the Iron Chefs on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America.” His father Larry Forgione is a culinary legend who revolutionized American-style cooking in the '70s and '80s.
Forgione noted, “I’m excited to be a part of one of the biggest, most sensational events in the world. I’ve always heard that Le Dîner en Blanc is an unparalleled and revolutionary experience and I can’t wait to contribute some of my signature dishes and inventive flavors to the party!”
New York was the first city in the U.S. to host Le Dîner en Blanc and on September 17 the wildly popular event will make its return to the Big Apple for the 8th consecutive year. Over 6500 guests dressed head-to-toe in chic white will gather at an iconic undisclosed location to dine and dance under the stars.
Le Dîner en Blanc is by invitation only, traditionally issued by friends and friends of friends who have participated in the past. Another means of attending is via the often-extensive wait lists in each city.
The event has proven to be such a beloved tradition that across the country the number of cities has increased to 32 with five premieres in 2018 alone: Charlotte, Decatur, Fort Lauderdale, Indianapolis, Memphis, and Wilmington. While new cities join the adventure every year, in some cities like Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., Le Dîner en Blanc has become THE social gathering of the year.
Internationally four cities have joined the party this year: Toowoomba (Australia), South Georgian Bay and Trois-Rivières (Canada) Madrid (Spain), as well as five new countries: Santiago (Chile), Cartagena (Colombia), Havana (Cuba), Taipei (Taiwan) and Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania).
Every summer in cities around the world, thousands of people dressed in head-to-toe white first gather at specific rallying points. Guided by local volunteers, these groups then descend on one of the city’s most beautiful outdoor public settings, either on foot or by other organized means of transportation.They bring everything they need for an elegant soirée in tow, including folding table and chairs, gourmet picnic food, fine china, silverware, and white tablecloth. Over the course of the evening, the guests eat and celebrate amid live music and dancing. Many spend weeks in advance planning their menus and their elaborate white ensembles! The cause uniting thousands: camaraderie, plain and simple.
Guests dine on their own specially curated meals such as lobster, charcuterie, cheese platters, baguettes and desserts, many dishes as opulent as their attire. Le Dîner en Blanc offers guests the ultimate opportunity to express their unique fashion and design style. Originality is encouraged; the creative outfits, fantastical hats, and decorative table settings are always a fabulous spectacle. It’s an Instagram lover’s dream -- some participants dress as Marie Antoinette with lavishly detailed gowns and wigs.Other ensembles include gowns embellished with string lights, fairy wings, silk tuxedos, dapper sailor suits, powdered wigs, enormous picture hats and headpieces. The elaborate white table centerpieces range from a miniature carousel centerpiece with each horse carrying a white or silver cupcake to birds in white cages and paper lanterns affixed with LED lights and candelabras.
Linda Davis and Kaitlin Davis of The Davis Group return this summer as the host for Le Dîner en Blanc - New York, along with co-hosts Christine Tripoli of Looking Glass Events Group and Peter Kohlmann of PEKO Productions. Davis, who serves as host in four U.S. cities, says the Big Apple holds a special place in her heart. She explains, “Le Dîner en Blanc first debuted in New York before expanding to other U.S. cities and guests here have developed an extraordinarily passionate bond with the event. They bring a glamour and elegance—along with preparing amazing repasts—that make this an incomparable night in New York. I am thrilled to be a part of such a magical evening again.”
Participation in this unique event happens in three stages: Phase 1 is for members from the previous year; Phase 2 is for new members who are referred by Phase I attendees; and Phase 3 is for people who signed up on the waiting list. Guests can register now at newyork.dinerenblanc.com/register.
To maintain the uniqueness of Le Dîner en Blanc as well as stay true to tradition, guests must observe certain requirements and follow a few key rules:
· Once confirmed, each guest’s participation becomes mandatory, regardless of weather conditions. This is a rain or shine event.
· Dress code: elegant and white only. Originality is encouraged as long as it is stylish and tasteful.
· Table setting: All white!
· Champagne and/or wine. Beer and hard liquor prohibited.
The alcohol laws and regulations for most states, including New York, do not allow guests to bring their own alcohol. Guests who wish to enjoy some wine or Champagne must reserve online through our caterer website. However, guests are welcome to bring their own non-alcoholic beverages.
· To ensure that the location secret is kept undisclosed until the last minute, guests meet at assigned departure location and are escorted by a Dîner en Blanc volunteer.
In order to leave the event location as clean as when they arrived, guests are required to clean their area, and leave with all their belongings, leftovers and litter.
Guests must bring
· A folding table, two white chairs, white tablecloth.
· A picnic basket comprising fine food and proper stemware and white dinnerware.
· A catered picnic basket option, which can be picked up on site, will be available for those who do not wish to pack their own. Guests wishing to do so must reserve online through our caterer website during the initial ticket registration.
Le Dîner en Blanc – New York gratefully acknowledges Champagne Jacquart and The Knot as the official local partners of the 8th edition of Le Dîner en Blanc in New York City as well as Luxury Retreats, Sofitel and ONEHOPE as the 2018 Le Dîner en Blanc U.S. national partners.
About Le Dîner en Blanc
Launched in Paris in 1988 by François Pasquier and a handful of friends, Le Dîner en Blanc has become a worldwide epicurean phenomenon. Le Dîner en Blanc - Paris now attracts over 10,000 people each year. What was a “friends and word-of-mouth only” event has grown into an international sensation celebrated on six continents. While the technology behind the event may have changed over the years, the principles fueling this fantastic event have not: guests continue to gather at a secret location for the sole purpose of sharing a gourmet meal with good friends in one of their city’s most beautiful public spaces. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Dîner en Blanc International is responsible for developing this secret posh picnic in close to 80 cities in 30 countries around the world. Each event is headed by passionate local organizers who fell in love with the concept and wanted to bring it to their city, giving this rendezvous a local flair. For more info, photos and videos of Dîner en Blanc events from around the world, visit dinerenblanc.com.
About Luxury Retreats
Luxury Retreats is a full-service villa rental company dedicated to creating authentic travel experiences. Our complimentary guest support includes a team of villa specialists dedicated to finding our guests the perfect home to stay in, and a 24/7 personal concierge service to assist with details big and small. For more information on Luxury Retreats, visit luxuryretreats.com.
About Sofitel
Sofitel Hotels & Resorts is an ambassador of modern French style, culture and art-de-vivre around the world. Established in 1964, Sofitel is the first international luxury hotel brand to originate from France with over 120 chic and remarkable hotels in the world’s most sought-after destinations. Sofitel exudes a refined and understated sense of modern luxury, always blending a touch of French decadence with the very best of the locale. The Sofitel collection includes such notable hotels as Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg, Sofitel London St James, Sofitel Munich Bayerpost, Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Ipanema, Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour and Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort. Sofitel is part of AccorHotels, a world-leading travel and lifestyle group which invites travelers to feel welcome at more than 4,300 hotels, resorts and residences, along with some 10,000 of the finest private homes around the globe. More at sofitel.com.
About ONEHOPE
Located in the heart of Napa Valley, ONEHOPE’s mission is to bring people together to celebrate and serve the world. Each of ONEHOPE’s thoughtfully-crafted products supports a charitable cause, empowering people to do more good through everyday actions. Primarily produced in collaboration with Rob Mondavi Jr., ONEHOPE provides award-winning wine with a measurable social impact. Since its launch, more than $3 million in donations have been made to help feed the hungry, provide clinical trials for cancer patients, find forever homes for shelter animals, and much more. For more information on ONEHOPE, visit ONEHOPEwine.com.
The Knot
The Knot is the nation’s leading multiplatform wedding resource offering a seamless, all-in-one planning experience—from finding inspiration and local wedding pros to creating and managing all guest experiences, wedding registries and more. The trusted brand reaches a majority of engaged couples in the US through the #1 wedding planning website TheKnot.com and #1 iOS and Android mobile app. The Knot Wedding Planner, The Knot national and local wedding magazines, and The Knot book series. More at https://www.theknot.com
Champagne Jacquart
CHAMPAGNE JACQUART was born in 1964, when around 30 craftsmen wine growers decided to start an incredible adventure: share their know-how and their exceptional vineyards in order to create high quality wines. Today CHAMPAGNE JACQUART is as much as ever a mosaic of chalk, vine and talents that work every day to build the history of the brand. Audacious, passionate and firmly modern oriented, CHAMPAGNE JACQUART is proudly entering its future. https://www.champagne-jacquart.com
Hint For The Average Socialite: Register here!
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