See 1,000 White-Clad New Yorkers Eat a Formal Guerilla Picnic

The Diner en Blanc, a 23-year-old Parisian tradition, had its debut stateside

On Thursday night, a Parisian tradition came to New York in the form of the Diner en Blanc, in which nearly 1,000 attendees, dressed in all white, descended on Battery Park City for a formal dinner outside. It was the first time the 23-year-old event, which "recalls the elegance and glamour of court society," according to DNAinfo, had been held in New York, and in spite of an afternoon of rain that arose fears of mud-splattered mayhem and transparent raincoat shortages, the weather cooperated and the event went off smoothly. The location had been kept a secret until just before the event's start time, when the clouds cleared and participants got a 6 p.m. call to meet at Battery Park City. Guests wore white, brought their own tables and chairs on the subway, and were served food. Organizer Sandy Safi told Grub Street the event had never been rained out. "Twenty-three years and not a drop," she said. If you couldn't attend, a glance at these photos will set the scene.

From the Diner en Blanc's Facebook account: