White night dining event sautéed in secrecy
In a world where everything is instantly tweeted and there’s even a term for people who cannot live without their phones ( nomophobia: a U. K. expression for no- mobile- phobia), surprises are rare. With those involved in organizing the Dîner en Blanc event signing non- disclosure documents, the secret is safe so far. “It’s fun to have a little mystery in your life,” says Tessa Sam, who owns the Sweet Bake Shop, a boutique dessert company in Vancouver. “I think it’s going to feel like we’re a team.”
Once the event starts, however, pop- up patron Dorian Banks predicts a minimum of 10,000 photos published over that fourhour period and, of course, the creation of a location on Foursquare, the networking site. “It’s going to be a huge blast of white on the Vancouver social media sites only delivered by 1,200 people,” says the social- media professional. “It will be thrilling, weird and fun. Everyone is going to be wondering what the heck’s going on and the imagery is going to be cool.”
For fellow guest Jens Marquardt, being brought to a surprise location “is part of the whole package and it’s new and unique for people here.” He already experienced the worldwide phenomenon by happenstance earlier this summer. On an evening stroll while visiting family in Paris, Marquardt crossed the River Seine and was tripped up by 15,000 people dressed in white — the universal, strictly- enforced dress code — in front of Notre Dame Cathedral.
“I just stood still for about five minutes not knowing what to say; I just couldn’t believe it,” he says thoughtfully. “It was a beautiful setup and a happy, peaceful scene. Open air is lovely and freeing.”
When invitees sign up, they become members of international Dîner en Blanc group. The event is a private event, enabling organizers to obtain a liquor licence. ( All wine and bubbly must be pre- ordered, however, unlike in other countries where people may turn up with their own booze.)
Vancouver may not have Notre Dame as a backdrop, but organizer Tyson Villeneuve promises the chosen setting will be a “cool and iconic” location. “It will showcase Vancouver very well,” he adds, “and everyone around the world would recognize it as this city.”
While Paris’s skyline was special, Marquardt, who runs CanThrill, a Vancouver- based eventmarketing company, says what really worked was “the combination of people from all walks of life and different ages and all enjoying coming together with friends and strangers to share the same passions over food, wine and community.” Witnessing this vignette of people “sharing the same spirit of an exceptional night” moved him to sign up as a group leader in Vancouver; now he will be in charge of meeting fellow diners
including his core group of 10 friends and bringing them to the as- yet- unknown location. He himself will be told only hours before.
And, while he won’t reveal his costume until the day, he says elegance is the main currency at these events from elaborate outfits to glamorous hats. “Not just T- shirts and sneakers,” he spurts, referring to Vancouver’s propensity to dress down. “People crave unique moments to remember ... and it takes extra effort to create those.”
With the vagaries of Vancouver weather ( this is a rain or shine event), umbrellas are encouraged. Only in white, of course.