The identity of the organizers and party location is Top Secret. The required permits are not obtained. No printed invitations are sent in the mail. Yet, the elegant annual Paris flash-mob ‘Diner en Blanc’ has been successfully staged in June for approximately 20-years. Public sites seized for the grand event have included: Invalides—the location of Napoleon’s Tomb. The Place du Palais Royal—in front of the French president’s resident. Before Notre Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe.
The flash-mob of 10,000 all dressed in white receive SMS’s that advise them where and when to meet a bus, or at which Metro station to gather with their folding tables, chairs, and table-settings. Then minutes before the appointed hour further directives advise them where to converge from all points, en masse.
When the police vans show-up blue lights whirling and sirens wailing--beautifully outfitted guests hop onto chair seats and flutter white napkins in the air. The authorities are flummoxed. Food and wine are the true religion of France. It would be un-French to stop the flow of French champagne, to halt the partaking of sublime French food, and manhandle 10,000 acolytes doing what the French best do. Quelle PR nightmare!
Around 11PM thousands of golden sparklers glitter against black night to bring the soirée to a gallant close. The French are celebrating being truly free. Taking back their streets for a spring fete. Where else could that occur without police in riot gear coming to 'party-hearty' with tear gas and tasers?
0 comments:
Post a Comment