jjwpdeb - Tumblr blog

[jjwpdeb]

What to Expect at #jjwpdeb

For a majority of the Members and Guests sitting in our group, this is their first time attending Dîner en Blanc. Your Group Leaders wanted to provide you with a sneak peek of what you can expect on Monday.

We are traveling as one, in unison, by subway to the Secondary Meeting Location. All Members and Guests must be able to transport their own elements (tables, chairs, totes, rolling luggage carts, wagons, etc.) up and down several flights of stairs at the subway stations we’ll travel through. A common rookie misstep is to bring more items than you actually need. More experienced Members have learned to pare it down to the very minimum. We suggest a trial run carrying your elements, assembling your table, and setting up your tablescape (and then lots of editing).

At 4:45 PM, meet your Squad Leader at the north end of the James J Walker Park on Leroy Street between Hudson Street and Seventh Avenue. Know your Squad Leader’s name. It’s one of these lovely people - Al-Lateef, Arcola, Joy, or Katie.

Present your ID, your Transaction Receipt, and your pre-loaded subway fare card to your Squad Leader who will then hand you a sticker with your table assignment. Each Member and Guest must be present to receive their sticker as this is how we’ll track attendance. Place the sticker on your phone so your selfies and pictures are aesthetically perfect. Check out this noob ...

Once you have your sticker it’s time to chill, take pictures, and meet your peers. Find the tables sitting to your left and right and get to know your new friends. I suggest you travel to the secondary holding location together and help each other where possible.

Right across from where we’ll meet there is a lovely tree lined block with beautiful brownstones. They’ll serve as a perfect backdrop for your pictures, but be sure to be respectful of the neighbors’ properties. Post on social and use the following hashtags: #jjwpdeb #debnyc18 #dinerenblanc #dinerenblanc2018 #dinerenblancnyc #dinerenblancnyc2018

Many bystanders will ask you what’s going on. Please represent the brand in a positive manner and suggest they look up DEB on social.

We will leave for the secondary holding location once all Members and Guests have checked in or at 5:15 PM, whichever comes first.

We are not waiting for anyone and once we leave, it will be extremely difficult to reach us. Our cell phones will not work in the subway tunnels and once we reach the secondary holding location the cell towers will not be able to handle 7,000 Members and Guests all trying to use their phones at the same time. The strain on the cell towers will hamper our phones ability to receive calls and texts to communicate with you, so be on time!

We will walk a few blocks south to the train station. It might be the 1 train or it might be the A or C train. Uptown or downtown? That’s a good question, but you’ll have to wait until Monday to find out. One person should swipe the fare cards at the turnstile while the second person walks through the gate. Your Squad Leader will tell you which cars you should ride in.

The groups will enter the Secret Location based on a specific set up cadence. Once we get the go ahead, we will walk over to our designated set up area.

It is imperative that the first table in each squad sets up immediately as all other tables will follow suit. One person from each table should start assembling their table but hold off on placing items on top until all of the tables are in place. There shouldn’t be any gaps in between the tables.

If you preordered food and/or wine & champagne, send one person to stand in the proper lines to pick them up while the other sets up their tablescape. The Squad Leaders will point you in the right direction. When you pack your items, place the items you’ll use first on top.

You can start drinking and noshing as soon as you are done with your set up, but hold off on starting your dinner until the traditional Dîner en Blanc napkin wave.

If you have any questions, please message your Squad Leader before arriving at the Departure Location. They will be extremely busy checking in 200 guests and will need to focus on that important task.

Please review all of the information included in Info Letter 2. It covers a lot of areas I didn’t cover here.

Things may get hectic at moments, but let me do the stressing. You should focus on having fun. I raise my glass to you and wish you the very best experience.

Cheers!