Dîner en Blanc: A Philadelphia Extravaganza

This was my first year going to Dîner en Blanc and to be honest I was a bit skeptical.

Why is it so expensive? Why don't they tell me until last minute where this freakin thing is?

Why do I have to wear white? Can you see my underwear?

And then I arrived.

Then I saw 5,000 people peacefully eating dinner next to each other. Could you imagine if 5,000 people in war torn Syria decided to have dinner together? Would the world be a different place?

I look around and there are people of every ethnicity, religion and race celebrating together.

Dîner en Blanc is not only a dinner, it's a very important step on the way to world peace. In a country, with bigoted people killing our black communities, in a country where many people are telling the best workers from Mexico and Latin America to not come search for the American Dream, we have 5,000 people eating and dancing together from all walks of life silently and peacefully loving each other. Yes. It is expensive BUT renting out the Philadelphia Museum of Art, hiring bands and entertainment and the high amount of security an event like this takes is a lot of money. Perhaps it's worth it for a night for exceptional fun.

Philadelphia was full of light and hope last night and it was magnificent to be a part of it.

Here are are some splendid memories of our night in Philadelphia: The American Paris.

Photos by Ian Berg

It was so fun getting a text saying 'Please proceed to The Philadelphia Museum of Art.'

Entertainment provided by the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts.

Beautiful centerpieces adorn all the white tables. Each team creates and brings their own.

People take dressing up in white very seriously!

5,000 people.

Thank you to the Hot Club of Philadelphia for their music full of romance and Paris.

Why go to Paris when you have Diner en Blanc?

As the sun began to set, romance was in the air.

@jlibor - she is talented. Check out her Instagram!

This kind of detail makes one feel like they are walking in the streets of Paris, these are the kind of details that make an evening like this so authentic.