The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
An ‘Evening in White’
Marks historical society’s 100th birthday
MADISON » Layout your most comfortable white outfit, plan your picnic menu, pack your favorite white or clear dinnerware and wait. Wait for the missive announcing where you will be setting up your feast and prepare to enjoy An Evening in White.
The event, a celebration of the Madison Historical Society’s 100th Birthday, begins at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 10.
In keeping with the tradition of this worldwide phenomenon, the venue will be emailed to attendees the morning of the event.
Event co-chairs Eileen Banisch and Noreen Kokoruda are mum about the chosen spot as they sit down to talk about the event, both dressed in white head to toe. All they will divulge is that the location is in Madison.
“It’s a secret until the day of,” says Kokoruda. “We’re going to showcase a little slice of Madison, wherever the location is. That’s another part, the surprise, some special space.”
Long tables, covered with white tablecloths and adorned with Mason jar votives, white chairs and white lights, will be awaiting guests.
When it comes to choosing tableware, the hosts ask that guests pack “no plastic, no paper,” stresses Banisch. In addition, she adds, “if you would like a centerpiece, you can bring your own.”
Kokoruda and Banisch encourage people to use their imagination in preparing for the evening.
“People can be as creative as they want,” Kokoruda says. “Have fun with it. That’s the whole point.”
This extends to how people dress for the event.
“You can dress up, you can be simple, you can do whatever you feel like doing,” says Banisch.
“I think everybody looks good in it,” she adds, talking about white attire. “To me, white is just a crisp color. In my opinion, everybody looks good in it.”
The idea for the event came to the duo after attending An Evening in White in Durham.
“We’ve been waiting for the perfect beneficiary,” says Kokoruda. “We were looking for something that we thought the whole community could get behind and we certainly thought of the 100th anniversary of our Madison Historical Society. It’s such an important part of our community and we thought it was the perfect event.”
The mystery and anticipation of where she will be dining with friends and family is part of the fun for Madison resident Roberta Lombardi. With 10 tickets reserved and her party-planning gears already set in motion, she is getting excited about the event.
“I just love the whole premise,” she says. “It’s very spontaneous. So not only aesthetically is it going to be beautiful with the tables in white, guests in white, but the whole premise of the surprise aspect of it, I think it’s great.”
Lombardi will be packing the white china that she her husband use on a daily basis and as an event planner, foodie and self-taught cook, she is already thinking about what dishes will be on the menu.
“I love that I’m still kind of in control of what my guests are eating,” she says.
“I think I’ll probably make most of the mains,” Lombardi adds, “and then have my friends bring some sides, I’ll probably make a dessert and maybe everybody brings some wine.”
Banisch recalls that the dishes her group packed for the Durham event included spinach and pasta salad, chicken salad and baguettes. She stressed the food is the only part of the whole event that does not have to be white.
“Whatever you want,” says Kokoruda. “Food any color. Can be grinders, white pizza, fried chicken.”
Le Dîner en Blanc de Paris began in 1988 and since has grown to be a worldwide phenomenon.
Now Madison has a chance to participate in this international party.
“Really you get your friends together and you do a potluck, it’s a picnic,” says Kokoruda.
It’s also a way to extend summer.
“What appeals to me is the endless summer aspect of it, even though we’re taking place after Labor Day,” says Banisch.
“I think the crisp white, it’s almost like a carefree summer experience, which to me is what Madison’s all about, as well,” she adds. “I often say to people I feel like I’m on vacation all the time living here.”
Both Banisch and Kokoruda have been involved, in different ways throughout the years, with the Madison Historical Society and are thrilled to bring this event to town and support an organization near and dear to their hearts.
“We think this is an incredibly fun event,” says Kokruda. “We think people are going to love it and we’re just so happy that Madison’s actually going to actually share in this international phenomenon and then to tie it with a great organization – it just seems like a win-win. Great way to spend a Sunday night with friends.”
Tickets are $40 and can reserved online at https:// madisonhistory.org/centennial/; Facebook An Evening in White.