MENU
News
Concept
International
F.A.Q.
Gallery
#dinerenblanc
« Back

Vive Le Dîner en Blanc – Philadelphia!

Posted by' Chantal Blanchard on August 04, 2016 | 0 comment

Philadelphia is a city with many Parisian parallels. It’s a place of independence, great food, fashionable folks, and a love of life and culture. One more thing these twin cities have in common is Le Dîner en Blanc, a tradition shared by thousands.
 
Le Dîner en Blanc – Philadelphia took the world stage, holding their first picnic at Logan Circle in 2012, which, co-host Natanya Dibona remarks, “was designed by a French architect and sits on the Ben Franklin Parkway (aka the Champs-Élysée of America!).” Like the Champs-Élysée, the Parkway is beautifully green, lined with trees, and book-ended by historic monuments: City Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Le Dîner en Blanc – Philadelphia premiere saw 1,300 guests dressed in all-white bring the French feast to a second American city (the first being New York).
 
Year after year, Philly has showcased the best their city has to offer—and they still have so much wow us with! On Thursday, August 18th, Philadelphia will host their 5th annual Dîner en Blanc, which is already sold out! We got to ask event hosts, Kayli Moran and Natanya Dibona, a few questions about their journey so far.
 
Upon hearing about the event through the grape vine, and after seeing a New York Times feature on Le Dîner en Blanc de Paris, Natanya and Kayli were drawn in. And, like the original Dîner, which grew out of family and friends, these two co-hosts connected with the organization through today’s word-of-mouth forum: Social Media. Both have been on board since the very first event in 2012—a time when “so many people didn't believe we could make this event happen here in Philadelphia,” says Kayli. “There had been naysayers,” Natanya admits. But that first night, 1,300 people proved everyone wrong. Today, the event has grown to a wowing 5,000-person guest list.
 
Over the years, Le Dîner en Blanc – Philadelphia has adopted the city’s many personalities, giving it a true and authentic local taste. Natanya describes how each year was tailored to a specific Philadelphia location: “The year it was on Avenue of the Arts we had assorted entertainment that reflected the arts—from an oil painter to ballet dancers and The Mummers. And when it was in the Navy Yard, we had vintage dancers dressed as sailors and The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret doing a USO-inspired show.” Kayli reveals that her most striking moment to date remains the start of that inaugural event, when “the first guests in white cross[ed] the street to enter Logan Circle.”


Although venues change, there are key Dîner en Blanc values that hold true every year. Kayli explains: “Le Dîner en Blanc requires active participation from the guests. Everyone contributes to the setup, breakdown, and cleanup. As a result, guests really feel like they assist with the creation of the event.” “All guests have to do the same amount of work,” she emphasises. And it’s this shared labor of love that “builds community in a way I haven't experienced at another event,” adds Natanya.
 
Where will they descend this year, we all wonder? No matter the destination, the Dîner en Blanc journey leads guests to experience their city in a new and intimate way. Le Dîner en Blanc – Philadelphia was a hit, from the very beginning. And this year promises to be nothing short of sensational, with the event already sold out, to nobody’s surprise.
 
For more info on Le Dîner en Blanc – Philadelphia, visit them at dinerenblanc.info or follow them on:
 Dîner en Blanc – Philadelphia    @DEBphl   dinerenblancphl

Leave a Comment

Login
Please log to your Member account to write on the wall:

By clicking submit below, you consent to allow Diner en Blanc International to store and process the personal information submitted above in order to handle your request.

Partner Contact Form




Volunteer as leader