“Al Fresco” Flash Mob Dinners Make Use Of Urban Landscape
July 31, 2009
We attended a really cool outdoor guerrilla dinner for 40 in Yaletown’s George Wainborn Park the other night. It was the very first in a series of potluck suppers called alfresco (vancouver). From our invitation:
A nod to France’s “White Suppers,” the age-old tradition of Al Fresco dining, and public space/art installations, alfresco (vancouver) brings together old friends with new to celebrate great food, public space, spontaneity, and surprise…
In “flash mob fashion”, diners are informed of the date & time in advance, but the location is withheld until just hours before the evening unfolds. In addition to a dish of food, each guest brings his/her own plate, cutlery, and glass – plus a banket and pillow if desired. For our part, we brought a big Okanagan peach and plum crisp, plus several bottles of special stuff. Once the meal was over, everything was cleaned up, stowed, and taken away, leaving not a trace save for a few crumbs.
The purpose – so sayeth the invitation – was to “encourage the use of urban spaces” using food as “the connector”. Unique public locations “are selected to showcase the diversity of our urban landscape and to add an element of street theatre”.
As a test run, I think it went very well. It was a beautiful set up: instead of a standard table arrangement set with linen, we arrived to find a long, low and thin shelf made of some sort of papery accordion material that curved like a mellow wave.
It must have been a discordant sight, as many joggers and cyclists on the seawall stopped and gawked. When the concept was explained to curious passersby, nearly all of them asked how they could be invited to the next one.
The organisers behind the dinners are Rob MacDonald and Scott Hawthorn, respectively the co-founder of jorg&olif bicycles (awesome Dutch-inspired rides) and the co-owner of Gastown’s award-winning wine, cheese, and charcuterie bar, Salt Tasting Room. They’re looking to put together another alfresco (vancouver) supper in August and one again in September.
Should you be interested in attending the next one (and you really should), leave a note in the comments below and we’ll privately pass on your email (the address you submit when commenting) to Scott and Rob.
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This is so cool, I will definitely want to join the next one!
What a wonderful evening. Looks spectacular.
Just curious about how you went about securing a liquor license or permission to serve alcohol at the dinner. Is it a special permit or something else? Would love to organize one here in West Vancouver.
I’d love to go to the next alfresco (vancouver)! Can you please pass along my address? Thanks
No one brought any liquor that I knew of.
I was so sad that I had to miss this one but told Rob that I will be out for the next one for sure…very, very cool.
Sign me up. Sounds delightful.
Luv to attend, snds rad
Love the concept! Please advise on the next one.
For our part, we brought a big Okanagan peach and plum crisp, plus several bottles of special stuff.
No one brought any liquor that I knew of.
Special water?
Special juice.
“For our part, we brought a big Okanagan peach and plum crisp, plus several bottles of special stuff.
No one brought any liquor that I knew of.
Special water?”
And that’s why these things aren’t open to the public and to only a select “knowing” few……
Sign me up.
toss my name into the mix
I’d love to join the next al fresco. What a great idea!
for the first “test” event we requested that people NOT bring any booze and everyone complied. this event is more about utilizing public spaces and to be with friends and meet new friends in those spaces than it is about drinking in public spaces.
FYI. the softwall we ate off is designed by a local firm and you can find out more info about it at http://www.molodesign.com or if you are ever in milan you can drop by their boutique store there or you might be fortunate enough to pass designers todd and stephanie paddle boarding false creek at 5am or surfing tofino some time. if you do say hi. they are great people.
we are working on a web page where we can communicate with people and people can submit their email address to be kept in the loop.
it was fun. hope to have some more.
scott
SIGN ME UP! =]
Oh, I am interested, please add me
This looks dreamy. I humbly request inclusion in any such future al fresco food funnings.
Me too please.
Looks fabulous and delicious. I’d be delighted to take part!
My wife and I would love to attend the next dinner. Love to eat outside!
Am I too late? Would love to sign up!
I am definitely interested in hearing about the next one. Please add me to the list!
we will be setting up a web page at http://www.alfrescovancouver.com
in the mean time please send an email to eat@alfrescovancouver.com to be put on the mailing list to hear about future happenings.
would love to participate in such a beautiful way of connecting … love the concept! please do add me to the guest list
wow that looks fun! i love dining outside.
I’d love to participate- please let me know of the next one!
Love Love LOVE this idea! What a great way to meet new people and who doesn’t love dining outside. Please make sure to pass along my info. Can’t wait to hear about the next one.
count me in!
Awesome idea – count me in for next time
Looks fabulous! Please pass my email along.
Judging from the reponse here, the next flash mob dinner will have 3000 people.
sounds like a great idea. I’ll be there
Helen and I would love to attend the next event
please send an email to eat@alfrescovancouver.com to be put on the mailing list so you can be invited to the next one.
I would like to join in the next event. Yum! Are kiddies welcome too?
Just heard about the latest event and would love to get in on the next one. I’m an aspiring cook who loves to cook for groups and have been known to host my own dinner parties to hone my skills. If you could pass on some info it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
[...] and urban-scape explorers, Rob MacDonald and Scott Hawthorn’s mind, when they created the “Eat Alfresco Vancouver” concept. Inspired by Paris’s annual White Dinners, an event held usually in June, as summer [...]
Brilliant Idea! I would love to join the next event please. Thanx!
Please sir…..pick me. Sounds utterly charming.
wow – this is so cool, sorry i missed it. would love to catch the next one. add me to the list please.
R-
A select “knowing” few is right.
Local party collectives have been putting on these events for years, including large dance (ballroom, swing, party) parties, giant scoolyard games, and elaborate picnicks in parks, rooftops, and other unusual locations.
Yes, they are all technically illegal – no permits, alcohol present, etc. But that’s why they’re not made public. Alfresco is an excellent introduction to “getting out” and having fun other than a bar or restaurant. Something that Vancouverites very much need.
please send and email to eat@alfrescovancouver.com to be included on the mailing list.
scott
but do we really need a permit to picnic in our public spaces? obviously the booze element is illegal to consume in public places (even though you can pretty much anywhere else in the world) but to come together and in our public spaces you don’t need a permit until it is an organized event of significant size where there are public safety issues at stake.
we have so many great public spaces that we walk past every day that are under utilized. let’s use them!
Love the idea. What a great inexpensive way to get out there, meet new people, try new dishes, and make use of public spaces. My group of foodie friends are thinking of putting something similar together.
Love the idea too! Sign me up!
send an email to eat@alfrescovancouver.com to sign up for the mailing list.
Gorgeous, wish I’d been there!
please, i’d love to attend the next one. pass on my info please,
Are these lovely dinners happening again this summer? If so, please add my name to your guest list.
Merci
Wow, what a fantastic idea. Vancouver could use much more outdoor eating and socializing. Sign me up!
Looks lovely! Please sign me up.
Thanks for everyones support. If interested please go to http://www.alfrescotonight.com to sign up for our mailing list for future events.
such a fabulous endeavour……………..don’t forget to rsvp me plz
Hi,
Please add my name to your invitation list. What a great idea!
Joanie Andersohn
thanks for everyones support. please go to our new web site at http://www.alfrescotonight.com to subscribe to our mailing list.
thanks,
scott
Awesome!!! My mom in Alberta sent me this artical..sounds super cool. My is always raves about SALT too! Love to attand.
Sounds dreamy, I’d love to attend
this looks great, just heard about the September one on Global TV.
Would love to be invited to the next event.
Marg
Just saw a story about it on the news, I never would have thought it was still going into October? Definitely want to be part of it when it happens again!!
Great community gathering. Would love to attend the next one!
- F
I think this an AWESOME idea. Great way to meet new people and share some time and good food togehter. I’m very interested in attending the next one, whenever/wherever that may be. Please keep us in mind.
Thanks and Cheers!!
Paul and Anna Brietzke
Just saw the Global TV news segment (6 pm on Sat Oct 23rd) about the event at the public veggie garden in the West End of Vancouver (on the corner of Davie and Burrard).
PLEASE let me know about the next one. I would LOVE an invite.
Thanks
Also, have heard great things about Salt Restaurant in Yaletown. Ya’ll are all about meetin’ people, aren’t you?
I shall be visiting Salt soon! Will take my Kamloops sisters for a special night out!
Thanks
I’d love an invite, please pass my e-mail address along.
My father told me about this from Ontario! I would love an invite!
We would like to start a series of alfresco dining experiences for seniors here in Nanaimo. How do we organise such events ?
Please put me on your email invite list…we would love to attend.
Thanks.
Sounds like a wonderful event, please put me on your email invite list for the next one. Grazie Mille
that was a great idea… sign me in! when is the next event? where do you get the table?
we are working on dates for this summer. please sign up for the mailing list to get the invite at our web site at http://alfrescotonight.com/
the table was designed by local company http://molodesign.com/
happy friday everyone!
scott
i spot a molo! sign me up, please!
Hi, I discovered and curiously had a view at the Al Fresco dining this week at Robson Street. I’ve never seen this before and would like to join it the next time. What a great idea!