39 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

...But I've never owned or otherwise worn or even considered wearing white pants, not even white jeans.

Aside from the fact that such attire only suits our climate about half the year, why wouldn't a man wear white trousers here in the summer?

[Wayne]

http://victoriabuzz....nc-2018-photos/

 

Still think this is a pretty cool event but have yet tried,

 

[Hotel Mike]

It does look bright and cheerful. But I can't get the baaa, sound out of my head. Follow the crowd, do what we tell you to do, dress the same, pay us and then go have fun. Just can't bring myself to doing this.

[Nparker]

..Follow the crowd, do what we tell you to do, dress the same, pay us and then go have fun...

Unheard of in any other setting.

[spanky123]

It does look bright and cheerful. But I can't get the baaa, sound out of my head. Follow the crowd, do what we tell you to do, dress the same, pay us and then go have fun. Just can't bring myself to doing this.

 

Without a charity component it comes across as a little pompous. Maybe that was the intent, but a little out of scale with what is going on locally at the moment. 

[Sparky]

Mrs. Sparky went again this year with her gal friends.

 

It's all about just plain having a hoot.

 

They get together, socialize, and make up all their white stuff, plan their meal, and paint their chairs weeks in advance.

 

It's a way of taking a break from "what is going on locally at the moment" and doing something fun with friends.

 

I encourage them (as yes drive them all home) as much as I can...... so they are not continually being bogged down with yellow wax build up. 

 

They don't seem to enjoy fishing all that much .....so what the hell eh?

[Awaiting Juno]

We went this year.  The preparations made me want to pull out my hair - square table between 28" and 32", white stuff, etc. etc.  As a person with a full time job and smallish kids, that part of it I could have done without.  I did have a white skirt and shirt to wear in the closet, and it provided a convenient excuse for a new pair of shoes.  I MacGyver'ed a camp table with some corrugated plastic and zap straps - our table was height challenged but it did well enough.  We ordered our food this year...and it was tasty.  Not knowing where exactly you're going to be is part of the fun.

 

I'll be honest - it was fun.  I genuinely enjoyed myself and the company - and believe the Mr. also enjoyed himself.  There was live music - and it is a bit of a feast for the eyes.  It was well organized and I would do it again.  Actually, I'm pretty sure I will do it again - although next time, I'm thinking it'd be fun to bring our own food (now that we've got the basics organized and ready to go).

 

As far as it being pompous or pretentious - no more so than going out to a nice dinner (and dressing up to do so) or going to the theater is (which people do all the time without anyone caring that its not for charity).  The main thing the organizers provide is atmosphere and entertainment - and for that they deserve to be compensated.  Would it be nice if there was a "charitable" component to it? Sure.  But it's not necessary - and there's nothing stopping people from making that happen apart from the event itself.  A charity could set up a pop-up shop with all of the diner en Blanc basics for rental with proceeds to charity...they could and Diner En Blanc could let those attending know about it.  It would be win-win.  It hasn't happened, but there's nothing stopping it either.  It also provides a treasure trove of ideas for those who wish to put on fundraisers - I mean what school couldn't do this as well with a twist or two?

 

If liking Diner En Blanc makes me a sheep, then I'll Baa proudly, as having now done it, they've won me over.

[spanky123]

^ Thanks for the feedback. I was perhaps drawing some conclusions that were not accurate.

[Nparker]

My sister is planning to host a small scale diner en blanc for her 30^th wedding anniversary in a couple of years.

[Mike K.]

A friend hosted one at her home over the weekend. It was awesome.

[Redd42]

I still don't get Diner en Blanc or fishing....

[lanforod]

VV could throw a Ce Soir Noir picnic here?

 

http://www.cesoirnoir.com/

[Cassidy]

I'm anti-social to begin with ... but I'd rather chew my own arm off than attend something like this.

 

I can't imagine anything more painful short of going under a scalpel without an anesthetic.

 

(of course, with that kind of attitude ... I'd likely be most unwelcome anyway - so it all works out for everybody in the end ).

[Hotel Mike]

Glad you had fun Awaiting Juno. I'm sure many people do, when they accept the concept. 

[magmazing]

A couple years ago I bought the web domain snacksinblack.com with the idea to do a tongue-in-cheek free counter event where people wear all black, bring cheap snacks from convenience stores/gas stations and show up outside wherever the Diner En Blanc ended up and just hang out for 20 minutes eating said snacks while playing AC/DC's 'Back in Black' on a ghettoblaster. It wouldn't be about disrupting their event. Just a little poking fun from the perimeter. 

 

Never actually followed through with the idea, but still think it would be hilarious. 

[Casual Kev]

I don't have any principles that would clash with the idea of Diner en Blanc but I'd much rather have have the "fancy food with friends" part in my diner table to whatever sounds we want in the background. Or even a fine dining restaurant that's not drowning in people.

[Mike K.]

There’s a flash mob component to it all. The food and the dining part is an aside as I think folks are drawn by the spectacle of it all, and being a part of that spectacle.

[Sparky]

^^^ I would play Amy Winehouse's " Back to Black"

Look for the version on youtube where she does it live at an outdoor stadium with her two back up singers doing a little jig beside her.

[rjag]

 

 

I can't imagine anything more painful short of going under a scalpel without an anesthetic.

 

(of course, with that kind of attitude ... I'd likely be most unwelcome anyway - so it all works out for everybody in the end ).

 

Guess you've never been to a baby shower then...or curtain shopping? 

[Victoria Watcher]

Back this year, June 23.

https://www.vicnews....ria-on-june-23/