Someday, Somewhere this Summer - Dîner En Blanc in Jersey City
The world’s most exclusive outdoor picnic is coming to Jersey City this Summer.
That is quite a long way from the origins of the original Dîner en Blanc (Dinner in White) back in late 1980s Paris. At the time, native Parisian Francois Pasquier was returning from a few years abroad and decided to hold a dinner party to reconnect with his friends. When the guest list spiraled out of control, he decided to hold it outdoors at the Bois de Boulogne. He asked everyone to dress in head to toe white to facilitate finding one another. Flash forward to 2022 and Dîner en Blanc has been incorporated as a global event phenomenon by Pasquier’s son. The organization is headquartered in Montreal while Dîner en Blanc events are held across the Globe with over 130,000 participants in 120 cities spread over 6 continents.
The general inspiration for these pop-up picnics is to have an elegant night in a beautiful outdoor setting. Jersey City’s inaugural event will be hosted by Meredith Burns of Art House Productions, Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey and Christine Goodman of the JC Office of Cultural Affairs. To participate, guests must be invited via the hosts’ network or participating partners or get on the waiting list via the official website. If you would like to sign up for the waiting list visit the website at jerseycity.dinerenblanc.com and click on the Register tab.
What you need to know before you go – the element of secrecy and surprise is crucial to the production of these dinners. The event location is kept secret until the very last moment. Guests are given directions to a departure point where they are met with a volunteer leader who will then guide you to the final destination. And in keeping with the original French traditions, all guests must dress elegantly in head to toe white and are required to bring their own portable white table, white chairs, white table linens, tableware and a gourmet meal (which we assume does not have to be white). Wine and Champagne will be available for pre-purchase in the days leading up to the event
For more information and updates, visit jerseycity.dinerenblanc.com