Twenty five years after its genesis in the romantic streets of Paris, '
Diner en Blanc' arrived in Washington on Thursday evening for the first of what will surely be many annual celebrations.
The concept behind the playfully secretive affair is a chic pop-up picnic, where everyone comes dressed in white and conducts themselves "with the greatest decorum, elegance, and etiquette."
And come they did last night to the Southeast waterfront's
Yards Park by the train full (metro). By evening's end, more than 1,500 brightly adorned guests had made the journey.
Moet & Chandon, the event's official East Coast sponsor, stood ready to greet them with a 7-foot tall champagne tower of its
Ice Imperial label (the world's first champagne designed to be enjoyed over ice), a photo booth, and naturally plenty of bubbly.
The dinner side of each 'Diner en Blanc' is kind of a wildcard situation, with some guests bringing their own food and others noshing on catered meals available for purchase on-site.
In order to introduce a sense of spontaneity to each event, the location isn't revealed until an hour or so before its official start time, with participants asked to congregate in advance at different centralized points throughout the city.
Indeed, part of the fun comes from making the shared trek to the dinner's final destination. Many a head was turned on the District's metro, as thousands of similarly dressed revelers streamed through the underground system.
By the end of the year, 50 cities around the world, including New York, Philadelphia, Hong Kong, and Sydney, will have showcased a Diner en Blanc. Each location boasts its own group of local organizers, with
Linda Davis,
Bryer Davis, and
Justin Ross serving as Thursday's hosts.
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Be sure to check out all of our photographs from this event HERE!