Tag: picnic

Categories
Culture Events Featured Living Movies

Throwback Thursday Movie Night: What to Know And Where to Go

Photo by Leah Kelley from Pexels

Looking for the perfect Thursday night plan? Catch Throwback Thursday Movie Night in Union Square Park before summer ends. Next week, August 8th, they’ll be showing Ghostbusters. If you’ve seen it, you can always go back for another watch. If you haven’t, you can now. I went to their showing of Space Jam yesterday, so I’m here to tell you how you (yes you) can turn a free movie into a full night with your friends, family, or with strangers. 

Throwback Thursday Movie Night is a part of Citi Summer in the Square, an umbrella event with free entertainment throughout the week. August 8th has workout classes (Yoga, Boxing, and Tai Chi) from 7-10am, and then children’s programming from 9-5. 5 pm is when the adult-friendly fun starts, with a performance of Dueling Drummers with the NYU Steel Band. There are also more workout classes going until as late as 8:30. 

Union Square Park is one of the most accessible parks to get to. The 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, and W, all meet at the park. There are no tickets needed, just like the rest of Summer in the Square. Movie Night isn’t where you think it would be. Maybe it just wasn’t where I thought it would be. It’s on the North end of the park, opposite from all of those steps where people sit and watch smaller performances.

Throwback Thursday Movie Night. Photo courtesy of #summerinthesquare.nyc

The website says that Movie Night starts at 6:30 pm, but that’s just when you can start gathering. It’s also when they start offering food. Union Square has delicious food all around it, but Summer in the Square is partnered with Bocce USQ, an Italian eatery, which will be selling seasonal pizzas in the park. There is also free Honest T, popcorn (Pret A Manger), and snacks from the local Whole Foods, while supplies last.

There is nothing wrong with heading straight to the movie, putting down a blanket, and hanging out with pizza and snacks until Ghostbusters starts at dusk (which will be 8:33 pm on the 8th). Likewise, you have plenty of time to do the 5:30 pm Dance Cardio and the 6:30 pm Cardio HIIT before sitting down for pizza and a movie. But Union Square is also a hub for great shops, restaurants, and reasonably-priced food carts. Feel free to wander, as long as you’re back in time for the movie. 

The movie experience itself is pretty low maintenance. The screen is a giant inflatable monstrosity, so you’ll have no trouble seeing the film no matter where you sit. It’s free-for-all picnic seating, so bring a blanket to sit on. Limited space is available, but there was plenty of room when my friends and I arrived close to dusk.

Last note: To the volunteer who danced through the opening Space Jam theme song, you made our night.

What you’ll need:

– A blanket

– Money for pizza

– Some friends

What you won’t need:

– A ticket or RSVP

– Alcohol (it’s forbidden in the park)

– Drinks (unless you hate Honest T)

– Binoculars to see the movie

  • August 8th at Union Square Park. Photo courtesy of IMDB
  • August 1st at Union Square Park. Photo courtesy of IMDB
Categories
Culture Dining Events

Dîner en Blanc 2019: Where There’s Wine, It Pours

Dîner en Blanc
Photo courtesy of Eric Vitale and Dîner en Blanc International

When it rains, it pours, but Dîner en Blanc guests kept the party going even when storms tried to dampen the fun. NYC attendees of Wednesday night’s Dîner en Blanc, a worldwide pop-up picnic experience, faced down an evening storm, causing some to flee for drier pastures. Many stayed, brandishing stylish umbrellas prepared for just such an occasion, but were eventually forced to retreat by thunder and lighting.

The gathering was the ninth such event hosted in New York City. The worldwide event traces its roots back to the late ’80s, founded in France as a friendly tradition by François Pasquier. 5,500 attendees brought food, table settings, and all-white evening wear to a mystery location, revealed last minute, for a picnic event replete with music and entertainment. Guests were advised to bring umbrellas or rain ponchos in anticipation of the weather.

Downtown’s own Grace A Capobianco was on the scene, surveying the scene and enjoying the fare, when the storm hit. “It was wonderful having Dîner en Blanc back here at battery Park city,” she told us, “We think it’s the best place to have any beautiful outdoor event, especially the world-famous Dîner en Blanc. 

“As always every detail was thought of prior to the event. Dîner en Blanc prepares one of the largest events to hit the city in an organized fashion, and when it leaves, the area is as pristine as it was when they arrived. We are proud to cover Dîner en Blanc once again, as we have been since 2015.”

The event has experienced wide popularity in the city with attendees as well as partners, including Citi Entertainment, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Sofitel, Taittinger Champagne, President Cheese, and our own Downtown Magazine.

Check out some of the awesome pictures of the event, courtesy of Eric Vitale and Dîner en Blanc International.

  • Dîner en Blanc
  • Dîner en Blanc
Categories
Dining Events Featured NYC

Romantic Pop-Up Picnic Dinner Returns to New York

Guests in white hold up sparklers, express excitement.
Guests revel at NYC La Dîner en Blanc 2013.

Photography courtesy of Eric Vitale Photography

Do you need a romantic dinner getaway but only have one evening? Get ready, because “Le Dîner en Blanc” is coming back to NYC. The French-inspired pop-up picnic presents unforgettable dinners in mystery locations. Guests dress up and gather for live music and dancing at an outdoor venue revealed at the very last minute. All you need–besides yourselves, your picnic basket, and your silverware–is an invitation. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Le Dîner en Blanc, despite its massive scope, is equally exclusive and elusive. If you’re just hearing about it now, you don’t have much time to act if you want to experience the picnic of a lifetime.

Hundreds of guests gather at one of Le Dîner en Blanc NYC's pop-up locations in 2017.
Hundreds of guests gather at one of Le Dîner en Blanc NYC’s pop-up locations in 2017.

Le Dîner en Blanc was founded in 1988 by François Pasquier. What started as a word-of-mouth tradition amongst friends has risen to global proportions–this year’s event aims to feed more than 130,000 people across 80 cities in 30 countries. New York City’s event alone will have 5,500 guests. Dîner en Blanc International was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. It didn’t hit the US until 2011, when the first Dîner en Blanc opened in NYC.

Registration is always for two, and goes out in three phases: the first phase is for attendees of the previous year, the second is new members referred by phase one members, and the third is for people who signed up on a waiting list. Phase One has already begun, so find your closest Phase One member before it’s too late. Hit up your closest celebrity friend, or that woman at work who always talks about the coolest parties. If all else fails, hop on that wait list ASAP.

Let’s say you find your Phase One friend, or you get picked off of the waitlist. Congratulations! You and your plus one are on your way to a night out or romantic dinner. Now you need the outfit. The dress code calls for all-white clothes and elegance, but leaves the rest to the imagination. Creativity is encouraged. A white three-piece suit and top hat? Queen Victoria’s wedding gown set in an all-white punk aesthetic? Let your imagination soar, as long as it stays elegant and tasteful. Just make sure it’s something you can walk in.

NYC attendees pose in white dresses at La Dîner en Blanc.
NYC attendees pose in their Dîner en Blanc outfits.

Next comes supplies. You’ll need a folding table, two white chairs, and a white tablecloth. You’ll need a picnic basket filled with fine food, proper stemware, and white dinnerware. Catered picnic basket options will be available to those who reserve them upon registration, but many guests prepare their own individualized gourmet meals. Don’t forget a garbage bag (also white).

A picture of a finely set table with a cake, candles, and food on white plates.
Le Dîner en Blanc guests set up their own romantic dinner settings.

So there you have it. Your chance to take part in a worldwide, top-secret picnic with you, a person of your choice, and 130,000 of your closest friends from around the world. Move quickly though, that waitlist had 64,000 people on it last year.

Categories
Dining Events Miami

Dîner en Blanc Returned to Lincoln Center

Dîner en Blanc hit NYC yesterday with a snowfall of white. Returning for its 7th year, the exclusive pop-up phenomenon keeps perfecting the recipe for the yearly picnic. And this year, we returned to Lincoln Center.

Photo by Eric Vitale

At the fabulous dinner party, I had the pleasure of asking Gilles Amsallem a few questions. Gilles and I go way back, and I met him years ago when French Tuesdays was just starting out. Gilles is the COO and Co-Founder of French Tuesdays — cool, chic, elegant parties promoting sexy French lifestyle; the parties to be seen and photographed at.

French Tuesdays are still popular events to attend, but now more of a global affair. Gilles, a French transplant, lives in L.A. but spends most of his time traveling with his incredible work.

His philosophy? Live life to the fullest, make the best of what you have and own, don’t ever regret, don’t look back, surround yourself with positive happy people, move forward and you will always be happy!

For the past 6 years, he has been partnering with Dîner en Blanc, and he was as excited yesterday to attend the dinner party as he was his very first one. Gilles was more than thrilled to share his many partners, without whom Dîner en Blanc would not be the same.

Photo by Eric Vitale

How did your company get involved?

Gilles Amsallem: The first city I was involved with was NYC. It can be difficult finding just the right partners for a huge undertaking like this. With my extensive experience, I was able to help Dîner en Blanc find partners here in the US, as they are from Canada — they needed local partners, and someone said ‘you should contact this company,’ which was mine…

Where is French Tuesdays today?

GA: They’re still happening every month in Asia, Europe, and such. All the big places closed in NYC. Today, it’s one per month in NY, Miami, and L.A. — it’s still a beautiful platform of people we work with, we have an exceptional database and a really good mix of high-end partners.

What is it like working with Dîner en Blanc?

GA: It’s great, we’re here with more great partners this year — Kenwood Vineyards, Evian Badiot water, Canard-Duchêne Champagne, and Covergirl –partnering with Covergirl was especially exciting, as we had a beauty bar makeup, with step and repeat and lots of social media.

Photo by Eric Vitale

Tell me more about the management of Dîner en Blanc?

GA: The crowd can be not so exclusive, you can’t control the crowd — you can control 70-80 percent of the crowd. Last year, we had 49,000 people on the wait list. It took less than 18 minutes to sell out stage 3. And there are 120 volunteers, who all have full-time jobs.

One word to describe this year’s location?

GA: Grandiose

Tell me about chefs?

GA: We have to work with people we trust to keep it growing.

Tell me something that no one knows?

GA: We expect another level 65 percent increase — we will double business next year. We are working on activation and big sponsors, and we are marketing the bi-cultural affair — the fact that Dîner en Blanc is in Europe and all over the world shows we are a trusted brand and from each country, we learn so much for the next Dîner en Blanc.

Photo by Hal Horowitz

A truly magical evening, no doubt. And every year seems to be better than the last. This year, Lincoln Center once again made for the perfect backdrop. In 2012 it was held at Lincoln Center, too.

Not knowing where the dinner is held makes the experience even more exclusive and exciting. Every one of us dressed in our all-white ensembles, making our way from the meeting points to the secret location, with tables, chairs, and china. A sight for sore eyes, I’m sure.

Photo by Hal Horowitz

The whole dinner party runs smoothly, like clockwork everyone arrived between 6 and 6:30 pm, and per tradition, we each waved our white napkins to signal the official start of the dinner at 7 pm.

Some had brought fabulous picnic spreads themselves, while others opted for the special dinner prepared by famous chef Todd English.

Photo by Hal Horowitz

And then, of course, commenced the dancing. Now, if you know me, you also know where to find me when there’s dancing involved…

Roughly 5,200 people found their way to this year’s Dîner en Blanc, and the excitement and joy were felt everywhere. I can’t wait for next year’s gathering. I wonder what the terrific team behind the dinner will come up with then, and what location we can expect. Might we wish for Downtown again?