Fine Dining Flash Mob Activates DC Yards Waterfront

Secretly activating public space certainly provides obstacles. Washington, DC just showed that it can be done - and with a flair of sophistication.  The first ever DC-based Diner en Blanc just spontaneously occurred at the beautiful Yards Park on the waterfront of South East DC. The planning for this Placemaking event started a year ago! The event planning was initially handled via a Facebook page. Then the organizers sent out private information directly to those who registered for the event.  The fact that this event was kept a secret right up until the start of the flash mob entrance was noteworthy.  It did raise some eyebrows when dozens of people began appearing from the Navy Yard Metro escalator dressed in all white carrying chairs and folded tables. Those of us living in the area were certainly not prepared for the sight of the estimated 1,200+ locals, decked out in head-to-toe fun and fancy white attire with white tablecloths, white chairs, white flowers, fine china and flatware.

Hearing what the spectators around us were saying, coupled with the tweets rolling in from the participants, the event seemed to create a bonding experience that those involved found engaging. DC residents clamored months in advance to sign up for this secret place event. I think the important question to ask here is, why? As I watched the participants interact with each other and enjoy the space, I found myself thinking about what is it, exactly, that made these residents so drawn to a spontaneous place event in their neighborhood? On Twitter, one woman said that she was so pleased she had the opportunity to partake in a local event that was so unique.  For sure, a fine dining flash mob of this magnitude doesn't take place every day, and so there is that draw to something that uniquely marks this community and the public space.  For those people that signed up (and there was a very long waiting list), it seems they were searching for a new way to experience their local space.  Something about the clandestine community-led planning and the activation of the waterfront space in a totally new way, created a sense of being involved in something special, something together, something more. 

The value of programming innovative and community-centered public spaces has been demonstrated time and again - in this instance, it was spontaneous and sealed with a pinkie-promise commitment from the participants to not leak the location.  Not one of those participants leaked the location. So, how did they create that sort of solidarity to mission, that commitment to each other in their community to do something together and to create a special space?  Really, it was local people agreeing they wanted to share public space together on their own terms and in their own way.  It was important to them that they be involved in planning the event and set a certain tone for the public sharing experience. This event was something special to them. They desired a shared experience in the public space they would never forget. Diner en Blanc created a strong sense of community and belonging for these DC residents.  The participants claimed this public space as their own and made it remarkable.  It was beautiful to watch; I can only imagine what it was like to participate!