Dîner En Blanc

 

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 Have you heard of Dîner En Blanc? It is the world's largest secret dinner party...everyone dresses in white and arrives at a previously undisclosed location only known by the event's organizers. Dîner En Blanc began in Paris 25 years ago and the concept has spread across the world. 

The Paris event was held last Thursday at two locations - the Louvre and the Trocadero, where over 10,000 people showed up clad in white to dine together as part of a "flash mob" type experience...

 

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Here is the how the Dîner en Blanc web site describes the event:

"At the last minute, the location is given to thousands of friends and acquaintances who have been patiently waiting to learn the 'Dîner en Blanc's' secret place. Thousand of people, dressed all in white, and conducting themselves with the greatest decorum, elegance, and etiquette, all meet for a mass 'chic picnic' in a public space. Over the course of an evening, the diners enhance the function and value of their city's public space by participating in the unexpected. Beyond the spectacle and refined elegance of the dinner itself, guests are brought together from diverse backgrounds by a love of beauty and good taste. Le Dîner en Blanc recalls the elegance and glamour of court society, and diners engage one another knowing they are taking part in a truly magical event. There are no disruptions: no car traffic, no pedestrian traffic, except for the occasional amazed and astonished looks from passersby at the scene unfolding before them. And we, as they, wonder whether it's all not a dream."

 

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  Recently, a documentary has been produced about this event...check out the trailer:

 

This phenomenon has spread to the United States with "White Dinners" now being held in Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, and San Francisco.

Have you attended a Dîner en Blanc? If so, do tell us all about your experience!!  

On My Radar Screen



Happy Friday!! Where has the week gone? Doesn't time fly just a little too quickly once the nice weather finally arrives?  At least the rain is predicted to end in time for Father's Day weekend - hopefully, we will be enjoying some sunshine by the pool this weekend!

Perivolas, Santorini
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First, a question...how are you all dealing with the end of Google Reader? Will all the people who follow on GFC disappear? I am very unclear on how this will work, but I am slowly moving towards Google+...you can find my page here. I also added a button to follow me on Bloglovin' or to subscribe via e-mail.

Here are a few things pinging my radar screen from around the blogosphere this week:

The spectacular resort of Perivolas on Santorini is featured in this article from the latest issue of Lonny Magazine.  Isn't it is absolutely gorgeous? They call it the "ultimate honeymoon destination"...second honeymoon, perhaps?

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My son just showed me this article from the New York Times about the latest food craze in the Manhattan - Cronuts! Apparently people begin lining up at 6:00 am to snag one of these half croissant/half donut pastries created by Dominque Ansel for his bakery in Soho. Have you had one yet? If so, I want to hear if it was worth getting up at the crack of dawn!

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Have you seen this viral YouTube video? Members of the Philadelphia Orchestra decided to entertain fellow passengers during a delay on the tarmac in Beijing - they pulled out their instruments and played an impromptu concert!

 If you can't view video, click here.
 

 How stunning is this house in San Tropez featured on the blog SF Girl By Bay and French By Design? I could definitely live there!

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Isn't this video from Fathom on best museums in London for children adorable?

 If you can't view the video, click here.
 

And, finally, my summer "escape" reading of the weekend - The Paradise Guest House by Ellen Sussman - billed as perfect for those who enjoyed The Beach and Eat, Pray, Love...I think it might be a perfect read for a sunny June weekend.

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Have a beautiful weekend and a great Father's Day...wherever you may be wandering!

 

Contemporary Art in Venice - Biennale 2013

 

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For some art enthusiasts visiting Venice, it's all about seeing Titians and Tintorettos...but for others, especially during La Biennale, it's all about Contemporary Art. 

Marc Quinn, Breath, Isola di San Giorgio 
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The 55th International Art Exhibition is being held in over fifty locations around Venice from June 1 - November 24, 2013. The two main locations for the exhibitions are Arsenale and Giardini.  Many of the installations which are juxtaposed against the backdrop of classic Venetian architecture, creating a striking contrast of past and present.  The exhibition includes pavilions from over 80 countries around the world.
 



John Pawson, Perspectives, Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore
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This year's exhibition is themed The Encyclopedic Palace and is curated by Massimiliano Gioni. He was inspired bythe utopian dream of artist Marino Auriti, who filed a design with the U.S. Patent office in 1955 depicting his Palazzo Enciclopedico (The Encyclopedic Palace), an imaginary museum that was meant to house all worldly knowledge.

 

Still photo taken from Shoja Azari, King of Black
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Richard Mosse, The Enclave
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Actress Milla Jovovich in a performance piece by Tara Subkoff
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In addition to the International Art Exhibition, La Biennale also features Architecture, Cinema, Theater, Music and Dance.

 



Rudolf Stingel, Palazzo Grassi
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Rudolf Stingel, Palazzo Grassi
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Rudolf Stingel, Palazzo Grassi
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The Francois Pinault Foundation showcases contemporary art at the Palazzo Grassi and Punta Della Dogana.  Though it is not technically part of the Biennale, an exhibit at the Palazzo Grassi during the Biennale features a solo show by Rudolf Stingel in which he takes over the entire exhibition space at the Palazzo Grassi, covering the walls, floors and ceilings with oriental carpets, from which he showcases his haunting grey, black and white abstract paintings. This exhibit runs until December 31, 2013.



Have you ever been to Venice during the Biennale? I will be there in September...it will be interesting to visit during the exhibition, although I must admit I may prefer to re-visit La Scuola Grande di San Rocco to see the remarkable Tintoretto paintings adorning its ceiling and walls.

 

 

Bike Share Comes to NYC



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New York City recently joined many other large cities, both in the US and Europe, in implementing a bike sharing program. In the past month, these bright blue CitiBikes (Citibank is an official sponsor) have popped up all over Manhattan and Brooklyn, and last week, the addition of a daily rental option made the program more available to tourists visiting the city. There are currently over 6000 bikes available at over 300 locations scattered around Manhattan below 59th Street and parts of Brooklyn.



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The program is intended more as an alternative transportation option to get from one point to another, rather than for recreational use. You buy a card for the length of time you want (24 hours, a week, a month or a year) and then you are able to use the bikes in 30 minute increments between check-ins at one of the CitiBike kiosks around the city.

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 My initial reaction to this program was concern - it is hard enough to navigate the city in a car or even on foot, between taxis and buses weaving in and out of traffic, potholes the size of a small cars and large groups of pedestrians crossing streets against the lights.  I realize these programs have worked well in other cities and they represent a great environmental choice of transportation, but the thought of people not familiar with New York City bicycling around Manhattan is daunting to me.

Ride the City Map 

 However, I have been researching the program, reading articles and blog posts about biking in New York, and I must admit, I find it intriguing. Ride The City shows the safest routes, where the kiosks are located and whether there are bikes or open places available. Hop Stop and Google Maps also show bike routes as well. Joanna Goddard of Cup of Jo wrote an excellent post on biking in New York City and after reading about the routes available that don't have any car traffic, I started thinking that it might be fun to check out CitiBikes for an afternoon in the city.  Perhaps, I need to add it to my NYC bucket list!

West Side Greenway Bike Path
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As the program is barely a week old, the jury is out on whether it is a good idea to hand over access to a fleet of bicycles to tourists in one of the busiest traffic cities in the world...What do you think? Would you rent a bicycle in New York City?