Cher ami,
Over 30 years ago, a Frenchman organized a secret picnic in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. Since he couldn't get an official permit for a large group of friends, he told his guests where to meet him at the last minute and told them to all wear white so that they could find each other in the park. Thus were born the Dîners En Blanc; a phenomenon that has spread across the globe. Your hostess was inspired by the original event to bring Paris to Texas and organize a dîner with Paris style and Austin soul!
NB - Someone FINALLY bought the officially licensed Diner En Blanc event and hosted the first Austin Diner En Blanc in November of 2019. Last fall a local non-profit even hosted an unlicensed event. WE are older, wiser and a ROGUE event - like the original!
You have been invited to Un Pique-Nique En Blanc because you are the personal friend of or share a personal interest with the organizer or with a past guest. On Sunday, April 28th, we will celebrate the simple pleasure of good food, good wine, old friends and new, and the art of dining in a beautiful outdoor setting for the eleventh time. As the Pique-Nique enters its second decade, the most important part of the evening remains the pleasure of your company, but we are providing this list of recommendations to help you and your guest capture some of the magic of the event.
Les Amis – You are cordially requested to bring a guest to the Pique-Nique. This can be a spouse, friend, colleague, dance partner, neighbor or lover – anyone willing to carry their own chair and pack a picnic to enjoy in the company of strangers is okay with us. If you attended last year's Pique-Nique then you and your guest from last year will each bring a new guest. See how this works? This is how the Pique-Nique gets bigger and better every year! Past attendees please make sure to get me the names and contact information of your guest so that they can learn the location of our picnic on the 28th!
Le Locale – This year we will descend on a local park for our Pop-up Picnic. The specific location will be announced the day of the event but please plan to carpool, rideshare or have to park several blocks away as parking is at a premium in our fair city and a we have a large guest list. Once revealed, you will be delighted with our spectacular location in the city. You’ll know you’ve found us when you see the group in white.
La Couture - White attire is de rigueur, and we encourage you to dress in whatever white fashion that expresses your own appreciation for style, fashion, beauty and creativity. A little bling is always fun, as long as the overall effect is white. Gentlemen do not be discouraged! This is your moment to dress like Jay Gatsby. Or John Legend. And why white? Because the pictures are spectacular. And it will look amazing at night. Creativity is also appreciated - you never know if you might see a group in Wimbledon whites, or sailors on shore leave, or get a lesson in chemistry - we've even been known to spot a bride...
La Logistique – Please bring a square or rectangular folding table, as they will be combined with the other diners’ tables to form impressively long tables. Card tables or folding banquet tables are perfect. You will also bring chairs; white would be nice, but not absolutely necessary (no nylon camp chairs please.)
Le Décor – Once set, each table at the event is a beautiful place to dine! Diners should not bring disposable dishes but set their tables with white dishes on a white tablecloth. These do not have to be fine china; melamine and lucite can look just as elegant – or rustic or shabby chic – whatever suits your style. Again, get creative – we would love to see real silverware, candlesticks, and vases of flowers.
Le Dîner - This event is meant to inspire the chefs inside us all! And, in keeping with French tradition, we suggest you and your guest prepare three courses for this event (but they can be three desserts if you really want!) This isn't a potluck, everyone is bringing their own nosh, but you'll probably be everyone's new friend if you bring a taste for your new table companions. And please don't go overboard with the cocktails (for propriety's sake.) We don’t want the passersby to hate us – just wish they could join us!
Leave No Trace - Part of the magic of this event is that it gathers so many friends yet leaves no trace at the end of the evening. Please bring your own trash bags and plan to dispose of any waste or recyclables at home.
Le Pique-Nique is an exceptional dinner party for our many guests, and we know that genteel manners will again dominate this very special evening from beginning to end. Please be so kind as to let us know if you’ll be attending by, April 22nd and please friend me, Pique-Nique EnBlanc-Austin on Facebook and follow me on Instagram. You MUST RSVP to remain on the list for next year's event and to receive the location on the day of the event. We appreciate that you are willing to put so much of yourselves into making this event extraordinary. And we would like to offer a bit of an enticement to go the extra mile – we offer prizes at the event – for the best attire, best table setting, best spread and best newcomer.
Merci and see you soon!
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