This time last year, I was sipping rose as the veil on my fascinator gently blew to the vibrant sound of Broadway show tunes in the soft summer breeze. One a difference a year makes, is the thought that flashes through my mind whenever my memory brings me back to that moment gazing out over the Hudson River from my all white Diner en Blanc tablescape (read about Summer 2019 here). While there was a lot of behind-the-scenes prep work to get us there, that day was full of laughter and sisterhood. Diner en Blanc began in France and has evolved to include destinations around the world. There were more than 60,000 people on the 2019 wait list for NYC’s most stylish picnic. I was lucky enough to be one of the 5,000 people selected to attend. Diner en Blanc 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that didn’t stop Pink Girls Run The World (PGRW) from teaming up with Extra Is My Ordinary (EIMO) to find a way for our tribe to connect, recharge and reclaim the outdoors while remaining socially distanced.
Extra Is My Ordinary founder, Donna Hendricks, was my table leader at the Diner en Blanc 2019 event. When she reached out to me with the idea to host a Global Virtual Pop-Up Brunch experience in August, I jumped at the opportunity. We secured an on-site location under a gazebo in Jersey City’s historic Hamilton Park that was limited to 12 attendees with tables placed 6 feet apart. Spaced further apart than some of the tables at local restaurants; guests of the pink and white themed event were responsible for bringing their own table, chairs and plates. EIMO & PGRW provided the flatware, tablecloths, centerpieces, entertainment and giftboxes.
Our on-site guests nibbled on shrimp & grits, chicken & waffles and frittatas catered by Beverly Mala Samuel of Bee’s Kitchen; while virtual guests from around the world took to their patios, balconies, backyards and local parks to enjoy their own creative meals.
