Taking in the ‘chic picnic’ somewhere on Long Island

Secrecy can be fun and beneficial, and one of the best examples of that is the third annual Le Dîner en Blanc with an expected 2,500 people, all dressed in white, who will gather in an undisclosed place on Long Island on Sept. 15 to benefit the Nassau Community College Scholarship Foundation as well a local food pantry.

The “chic picnic” in a public space was launched in Paris in 1988 and founded by François Pasquier. Le Dîner en Blanc is also an international event, it has been held in the square in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral, where guests congregate at a secret location to eat dinner, celebrate and dance, following a set of traditions.

Guests are required to wear stylish white clothing and bring white tableware along with their own table, chairs and gourmet meal. It is a rain or shine event that takes place in more than 70 locations across the world. For the Long Island event, guests will meet at assigned departure locations and then be escorted to the function by a Dîner en Blanc volunteer.

“It gives people the chance to have a good time with friends for a wonderful night of elegance, gallantry and etiquette, under the stars,” Le Dîner en Blanc host Donyshia Boston-Hill said.

Hosted by Boston-Hill and Shanoy Skeete, the dinner will begin with the traditional waving of a cloth napkin followed by the lighting of sparklers that symbolizes the guests are free to mingle and dance.

“People love the traditions and what they symbolize. They provide uniformity and an atmosphere of entertainment and elegance.” Boston-Hill said. Trumpet sounds signal the dinner’s end as the guests to pack up their belongings, pick up all their litter and leave, leaving behind no sign of the affair. 

While a portion of the proceeds are annually donated to Nassau Community College Scholarship Foundation, this year Le Dîner en Blanc Long Island is taking the charity one step further. “We are partnering with Nice Bus to benefit local food shelters. Nice bus assists in transporting many of our guests to and from the event and we are each guest to bring a nonperishable food item to be donated,” Boston-Hill said. “Unfortunately many people do not have the opportunity to sit down for a nice meal with their friends, but they should not go hungry.”

Along with the charitable contributions, Le Dîner en Blanc adds to positively impacts Long Island in more than one way, according to its hosts, “It really brings the community together, ” Boston-Hill said. “You have people from all over the country coming to discover Long Island to see our amazing attractions. It generates tourism but it also allows Long Island residents to be tourists in their own city.”

The event attracted 2,000 foodies, fashion and cultural enthusiasts last year at NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Chateau Ste Michelle, Resorts World Casino NYC and Sofitel are official partners of the 2019 Le Dîner en Blanc.

“Discover Long Island chic fete while dining under the stars amongst friends,” the co-hosts stated in an email. “Long Island is dear to my heart and allows us to introduce the most prestigious and iconic public spaces of our beloved peninsula to guest in elegance and style, as we entertain old friends and introduce new friends to the Le Diner en Blanc traditions.”

Registration is under way, go to longisland.dinerenblanc.com.