Dîner en Blanc Boston coming Aug. 16.
When Dîner en Blanc comes to Boston on Thursday, Aug. 16, a secret location in the city will be transformed into the site of an elegant dinner party for 1,000 fortunate guests, none of whom will know the pop-up soiree’s whereabouts beforehand.
The self-described “très chic picnic imported from Paris,” Dîner en Blanc will take place in 20 cities across five continents this year and be organized entirely via social media. This year marks the first time that the event has come to Boston.
In an effort to keep the location a mystery, participants will meet in groups of between 20 and 40 at a dozen locations citywide from where they will be escorted on foot, by subway or chartered bus to the dinner party itself.
Dîner en Blanc Boston host and organizer Wendy Goldstein attended the event last year in Manhattan and marveled at how the promoters were able to successfully keep its location a secret.
“Everyone showed up at the departure point, and I was amazed that no one knew where we were going,” Goldstein said. “That all of New York City was able to keep the location a secret was truly astounding.”
Not your casual picnic-goers, Dîner en Blanc guests are asked to dress in elegant white attire and come accompanied by one friend (two people per table), as well as bring a square folding table, two folding white chairs, a white tablecloth and a picnic basket with non-disposable utensils.
Participants have the option of bringing their own food, buying picnic baskets for sale a the event or bringing baskets from two partnering restaurants that will make “to-go” packages available specifically for the occasion – the Beacon Hill Bistro and Petit Robert Bistro.
After enjoying an evening of dining and live music, courtesy of a French band, guests are asked to clean the area and bringing their trash off-site.
Visit http://boston.dinerenblanc.info/about.php for more information. All guests must be at least 21 years old with positive ID. The cost to attend Dîner en Blanc Boston is $25 to $35 per person. To sign of the waiting list or tickets, visit http://boston.dinerenblanc.info/waiting.php.