Last Thursday, our Vancouver Notable team packed up a picnic, donned their best summer whites and lugged tables and chairs, cutlery, stemware, glassware and, in accordance with Diner en Blanc rules, white china plates and linens and headed out to a check point locale emailed earlier that afternoon.
Admittedly, it did feel a tad odd walking down the streets toting all the above essentials during rush hour. But upon rounding the corner near the Opus Hotel in Yaletown, we instantly got a taste of what was to come at YVR’s inaugural white pop-up event about to take place as we connected with several dozen white-clad party-goers excitedly waiting for things to get started.
Upon checking in with the group leader, it was only a matter of minutes before we boarded the Canada Line straight to the Waterfront – and our destination revealed. We made our way to arguably one of the top viewpoints around town: Jack Poole Plaza, home of the 2010 Olympic torch, set amidst a stunning coastal backdrop.
As the crowd of nearly 1300 invited DEB-goers seamlessly made their way to their designated area, it was pretty sweet to watch the pieces come together effortlessly as tables were set, wine poured and the real socializing began – all while a lone musician serenaded the growing crowd, adding a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ whimsy to the evening.
With warm summer weather still gracing Vancouver, Dîner en Blanc attendees pulled out all the stops in terms of elegant dress and conduct at this coveted event. Decidedly unique, DEB Vancouver was a wonderful way to sign off on summer and brought together the perfect collection of class, people and an overall exotic sense of space and place. Organizers managed to blend party-goers from various professional backgrounds, finding a perfect mix of ages and interests to ensure conversations were light and lively all night.
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