Library sets table for Dinner in White
The library’s inaugural Dinner in White fundraiser is set for 5 to 10 p.m. Aug. 17 in Souderton Community Park.
The stories at Indian Valley Public Library aren’t only in books.
There are also a lot of stories in the lives of the people who come to or work at the library.
The library’s inaugural Dinner in White fundraiser, which will be 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 in Souderton Community Park, is a chance to get to tell and hear some of those stories.
“The most important thing is the people who are there will enjoy each other’s company,” Margie Stern, the library’s director, said.
The event, for which attendees are required to dress all in white, is based on the Diner en Blanc started 30 years ago in France and which is now held in more than 80 cities in 30 countries, according to event information.
“Dinner in White Indian Valley is fashioned after the original Diner en Blanc, but we leave behind the secrecy and exclusivity and invite you to be as over-the-top or as casual as you desire,” the information says. “Perhaps you’re inspired by fascinators and frills, or maybe you feel at home in a polo shirt and tennis shoes. We love a diverse table!”
Persons attending the library’s Dinner in White will have the option of bringing their own food or pre-ordering catered food from Catering by Angela, Wendy Leshinskie, one of the members of the committee planning the event, said.
The deadline for purchasing tickets if you are having catered food is Aug. 9, but people bringing their own food can still purchase tickets after that, Stern said.
Information is available at ivpl.org/DIW, the Indian Valley Dinner in White Facebook page, or at the library.
The evening starts at 5 p.m. with a welcome, followed by selection and decoration of tables, mingling, and viewing and bidding on silent auction baskets, according to event information. During that time, attendees can also watch Souderton artist and Exhibit B Gallery owner Harry Boardman do an original painting, Suzi Leonard, another of the committee members, said. There will be a live auction of the painting later in the evening, Jocelyn Rose, the library’s development officer, said.
Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. with a napkin wave. (Napkins, table cloths and other accompanying items, including trash bags brought to leave the park as you found it, are all required to be white).
The evening includes music by DJ Kelly and time for dancing.
There will also be prizes for the best dressed individual, best dressed couple and best table décor, Rose said.
“Everyone’s encouraged to bring their own white table decorations,” she said.
“Each table is a blank canvas. The only requirement is that your décor is white. Create a tablescape that says something about you. Imagine anything from elegant French to Beach themes, candelabras and white flowers to crystal and china ... anything goes,” event information says.
The night will end with everyone lighting sparklers at 10 p.m.
As of Aug. 1, the Dinner in White’s Facebook event posting had reached almost 8,500 people, Rose said.
“Almost 300 have responded saying that they’re interested or they’re going,” she said, “and we have over 200 clicks on our ticket link.”
At that point, 120 tickets had been sold, with more expected to be purchased closer to the event date, she said.
Dinner in White will be the first new fundraising event by the Indian Valley Public Library Foundation of Friends, but the previously-held beer fest and wine tasting events will also be under the auspices of the foundation, Leshinskie said.
This year’s beer fest was on July 27. The wine tasting is usually held on the second Saturday of November, which this year will be Nov. 9, Rose said. There were 516 beer fest tickets sold this year, she said.