Philly Flash Mob Picnic at Logan Circle tonight

[therealdawk]

Did anyone here attend this? We first heard it was coming on an episode of FYI Philly a little while back. I didn't realize it was tonight until I just saw the news. It looked cool! Which of you were lucky enough to be there!?

Diner en Blanc: A pop-up dinner for 1,300

[O.H. Lee]

I saw a small remnant of them at Marconi Plaza Broad & Oregon later on. I thought it was an outdoor wedding.

[Tartan69]

I walked past about 8 PM and wondered WTF was going on. I thought it was a wedding as well...a very pretty scene between the lights and balloons that were strung up and with everyone wearing white.

[PhilaCap]

Flash mob... made me think of the Philly definition of the term.

[Malloy]

I walked past last night. It looked pretty cool, though I initially thought it was some sort of Philly mag sponsored deal (due to much of the crowd)

[annie]

Please white to be seated: Diner en blanc comes to Philly

It was a BYOEVERYTHING: $59 to bring your own food, drinks, cutlery, linens, tables and chairs. 650 people bought pairs of tickets and the $38K the event raked in went towards...? Balloons?

People kept saying how it was going to be so elegant, magical and refined but...this is how it ended:

Diner En Blanc at its finest! Everyone is wasted and swimming in the fountain. 

[purplesachi]

People kept saying how it was going to be so elegant, magical and refined but...this is how it ended:...

sheesh. i'm almost glad i wasn't able to get tickets.

[darthsinatra]

How is this a "flash mob" if it was a ticketed event?

Also, http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/fo...ad.php?t=31313

[purplesachi]

How is this a "flash mob" if it was a ticketed event?

yeah, it wasn't a 'flash mob'...not sure why this thread was labeled as such. it was a pop-up outdoor picnic.

[Tartan69]

People kept saying how it was going to be so elegant, magical and refined but...this is how it ended:

LOL! It looked nicer at 8 PM. =)

[darthsinatra]

yeah, it wasn't a 'flash mob'...not sure why this thread was labeled as such. it was a pop-up outdoor picnic.

Boomers gonna boom.

[raider.adam]

yeah, it wasn't a 'flash mob'...not sure why this thread was labeled as such. it was a pop-up outdoor picnic.

That you had to pay $60 to attend.

As for the flash mob reference, it was a "surprise location" that they didn't reveal until the last minute. I guess there is a fine line between "flash mob" and "pop up" event. One just has a negative connotation.

Also, the group says they rarely get the proper permits for their functions as well. I hope the Revenue Department makes sure to get the City taxes.

[billpa]

This is why Philadelphia can't have nice things.

[PhilaCap]

white people ruin everything

[annie]

Also, the group says they rarely get the proper permits for their functions as well.

They were quoted in the Inky yesterday saying they got a special event permit but still those are only a couple hundred dollars. Special event permit + balloons + sparklers + band + DJ < $38,350 in ticket sales.

ETA: Inga Saffron attended and just tweeted a photo of drunk people dancing in the fountain saying "it showed the power of public space." I don't even want to begin unpacking that.

[raider.adam]

This is why Philadelphia can't have nice things.

It's what happens when white people flash mob. They start dancing in fountains.

[eberger]

I was there. 1,300 people doing the same thing at the same time in a public space isn't a flash mob? The $59 / couple was also a way to make sure you were serious about actually going. Think of all the people that may have registered and no-showed if it was a free which wouldn't be fair to the other people that couldn't get tickets after capacity was met.

We had a fun time and met some nice people. I will admit the seated dinner portion of evening was more elegant than the fountain dance party but it was really just people letting loose and enjoying a beautiful night and a new experience.

If Philadelphia was skipped over as one of the American cities chosen for this we would all be complaining about it.

[darthsinatra]

I was there. 1,300 people doing the same thing at the same time in a public space isn't a flash mob? The $59 / couple was also a way to make sure you were serious about actually going. Think of all the people that may have registered and no-showed if it was a free which wouldn't be fair to the other people that couldn't get tickets after capacity was met.

We had a fun time and met some nice people. I will admit the seated dinner portion of evening was more elegant than the fountain dance party but it was really just people letting loose and enjoying a beautiful night and a new experience.

If Philadelphia was skipped over as one of the American cities chosen for this we would all be complaining about it.

This was a flash mob the same way an eagles game is a flash mob.

[Garret]

Any flashmob that involves a grand total of zero innocent bystanders being beaten half to death is firmly in the "W" column as far as I am concerned.

[eberger]

This was a flash mob the same way an eagles game is a flash mob.

I see your point but Lincoln Financial Field isn't exactly a public space where folks just passing by can observe those in the 'mob'.