A Dazzling Evening at Dîner en Blanc on NYC's Waterfront

A sea of white flooded the shores of Lower Manhattan on Friday night as thousands of elegantly dressed diners traveled to Robert Wagner, Jr. Park for an epic picnic. After guests set their tables and unpacked their dinners, the 13th annual Dîner en Blanc officially began with the traditional napkin wave and a live rendition of Les Champs-Elysées. We chatted with Dîner en Blanc's Owner and CEO, Sandy Safi, to reminisce about the enchanted evening.

The Rendezvous

Dîner en Blanc is a global pop-up dining event that started in 1988 with a small gathering of friends in the Bois de Boulogne. Today it's celebrated in over 120 cities across 40 countries worldwide. Past New York City locations include Hudson River Park, Governors Island, Lincoln Center, the cobblestone streets of the Meatpacking District, and Union Square.

To keep the final destination a surprise until the last minute, all of the guests are given an initial rendezvous point. This year, one of the rendezvous spots was the Oculus at the World Trade Center, where guests showed off their white ensembles against the striking white of the building's architecture.

The Venue

Dîner en Blanc NYC was the first large-scale event held at the newly reopened Robert Wagner, Jr. Park in Battery Park City. The park had been closed for two years for a $300 million renovation.

"Everybody kind of just does the same routine that they have in the city. So when we take them to something that they might not have seen before, to a venue that's completely new, there's a lot of excitement and its fun to see their enthusiasm," Sandy Safi says, "Plus, the sunset was absolutely stunning. It made for a great
memory."

The venue offered sweeping waterfront views of the Statue of Liberty and Pier A Harbor House as well as the glittering Lower Manhattan skyline crowned by the Freedom Tower. There was even a surprise visitor toward the end of the night: an FDNY fireboat that shot water out of its houses to delight the crowd.

"Nobody has ever hidden something from me, but this my new co-host, Elizabeth, surprised me with," Safi recalls, "Her dad is part of the Fire Department of New York, and they organized this. I thought that was the coolest thing. It was so perfect."

The Fashion, Food, and Festivities

Guests spend weeks preparing their outfits and tablescapes for the Dîner en Blanc. We saw everything from bedazzled blazers and oversized top hats to a tentacled fur cape with lights. New this year was a runway photo-booth where guests could show off their looks.

Blooming Elegance was the theme for this year's dinner. Safi says Montreal fashion journalist Lolitta Dandoy perfectly embodied this theme with a fancy floral headpiece created by internationally renowned hair artist Stéphane Scotto Di Cesare, celebrated for his work with Cirque du Soleil and, Moment Factory.

What was everyone eating? For those who didn't pack their own dinner, there were picnic baskets crafted by Michelin chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud. Safi especially loved the the baba ghanoush. "For somebody from Lebanese origin, rarely do I say to anybody, 'That was an insane baba ghanoush,'" she admits, "but, everything was so delicious."

After sunset, the party picked up with DJ sets, a live brass band, live singers, and costumed performers. There were photo ops at every turn, from a 360-degree platform surrounded by hanging florals to a glowing DEBNYC sign.

While we are still basking in the afterglow of this year's dazzling celebration, Safi and her team are already planning for next year. "I'm trying to explore all of the different types of places New York City has to offer," she says of finding the next perfect spot, "For example, last year, we were in Union Square, which is a super busy transport hub, a lot of passersby, very intense. This year, it was a much more quiet, much more secluded space, and a completely different vibe."

It's all about changing it up and finding ways to surprise New Yorkers, a notoriously hard-to-impress group. Fifth Ave or Times Square are on her wishlist for future dinners. Though the Dîner en Blanc is an outdoor event, we thought it would be cool to take over the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal. Where would you choose to host the party of the year? No matter where it is next, we plan to be there!