I was thrilled when I finally found just the right table. It had to meet certain dimensions, be fold-able and light enough to carry. It took weeks to find the right one. For some reason, we thought the all-white outfits would be our biggest challenge, but it was the table which had me at a loss.
It was our first year participating in Toronto’s Diner en Blanc (#debTO), an elegant outdoor picnic, where thousands of couples converge at a secret location, tables and picnic baskets in hand, dressed elegantly in white, for a dinner enjoyed al fresco.
This couple does it right!
In Toronto, we selected a bus group coming out of the Distillery. As we waited to board our bus among the many lined up, we chattered on the street trying to guess which location they’d selected for us. We were grateful for the hot August night and no looming rain.
At the Distillery, waiting to board our bus to a secret location.
The buses left slowly, one by one, making their way through the streets of downtown, eventually leading us to the waterfront where an environment had been secured between Lake Ontario, a public space (The Power Plant) and a large condominium. A cheer went up in the bus when we saw the environment where we’d be dining. Crowds of people (2,300 of them), all in white, all in groups, were gathering in lines to make their way inside. It was surreal.
White china, fine cloth napkins.
One couple after the other, you snake down the series of table rows until you’re shown your place for you to set up your own table.
Skaters entertain us on a warm August night.
As two women ice skate and a band on stage plays, magically, this pavement is transformed into long tables with white tablecloths, lovely china plates and floral or lighted centrepieces.
If you’ve ordered wine (or champagne) or had a prepared meal selected, you stand in lines to exchange your tickets for the goods. These were long lines and by the time Joe and I had made it half-way through the line, the customary waving of the napkins had begun among the tables.
Tiramisu cake – enough to share with new friends.
We were rewarded, however, with a delicious gourmet dinner and sparkling white wine which was a fitting celebration for Joe’s birthday (I had also secretly brought him a tiramisu cake).
It’s time for sparklers.
A signal goes out to the crowd and sparklers light up the sky as festival-goers dance and wave the bright white wands around.
Magic paper lanterns will float into the sky, hover over the crowd.
After dinner, the celebration continues into the night with dancing as others pack up their tables and chairs, picnic baskets and trash, leaving no trace of having been there.
DEB takes place in over 70 cities world-wide, so look for one close to you.