Michele Stueven
A record sell-out crowd of 3,200 Le Diner en Blanc diehards came from across the Southland to converge on the Santa Monica pier at sunset on Saturday for a peaceful evening picnic. Buses from Pasadena to Long Beach unloaded passengers and their dollies loaded up with chairs, tables, decorations and food for stunning white-out of shoulder-to-shoulder dining, dancing and friendship.
Adhering to the strict dress code of all white from head to toe, guests enjoyed the French sounds of Sepiatonic and performance art while dining at tables bedecked in white linen, candles and personalized decorations that went as far as silk canopies and crystal chandeliers.
Le Dîner en Blanc is a chic, secret pop-up picnic, held at a secret location only revealed upon arrival at the departure point. The Parisian-style “secret dinner” started under the Eiffel Tower in 1988, when the first white linen tablecloth was laid out by Francois Pasquier and a few friends. Since then the event has grown to 80 cities in 30 countries. It came to Los Angeles this year for the sixth time.
Here’s a taste of the evening overlooking the bay.