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ABOUT
Dîner en Noir (#DEN) events are member-only, fully-curated, 3-part, black attire dining experiences held in secret locations in cities across the globe. #DEN’s mission is to highlight the talents of local artists and utilize the services of local small businesses to support and promote our Host City's local arts and small business communities while uniting friends and strangers alike from diverse backgrounds for a night of elegance, great food, arts, music, dancing, and communion at our unique dining events. Part fully immersive dining event, part art & business networking opportunity, and part community fundraiser (a portion of the profits from each event go toward supporting our Dîner en Noir Host City's Community Award Recipients - two local non-profit organizations/programs in the arts programming & small business development arenas) #DEN Events are a chic and memorable way to support the local community.
Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Dîner en Noir Worldwide corporate office is responsible for developing the overall mission & program for these fully-curated, three-part, black attire dining experiences. While each event is headed by a passionate team of local Host City Planning Committees that bring a local flair to each event, these teams respect and operate in line with the core values & founding concept set forth by the corporate executive team.
While Dîner en Noir Worldwide receive Host-Organizer requests from cities all over the world, we have chosen to focus on building our brand in the U.S. & European before expanding further. We have set up an exclusive turnkey service that supports organizers in the creation and management of their own event and look forward to working with local organizers to ensure a successful Dîner en Noir event. CLICK HERE if interested in organizing an event in your city.
THE EVENT
Dîner en Noir member-only events are composed of local & global small business owners & entrepreneurs, artists & art lovers, city & community leaders/advocates, and social, media, and cultural influencers who come together to experience an epic celebration of community support at some of the city’s most unique hosting venues. Beyond the elegance of the three-part (Aperitif Cocktail Hour, Seated Dinner & Digestif “Après le Dîner” [After-Dinner] Party) event itself, our members & guests will take solace in knowing that they are brought together from diverse backgrounds by good taste, love, and support of their city's arts & small business communities. Dîner en Noir encourages our guests to engage & network with one another, knowing that they were brought together in a supportive environment conducive to community-building.
Founded on a concept of inviting local businesses to come together and promote each city's unique artistic talents and businesses, Dîner en Noir has become both, an artistic & business networking opportunity for its guests garnering the name THE Chicest Networking Event of the Season™, as well as a fun and elegant way to support the local community.
REGISTRATION OPTIONS:
DINING EXPERIENCE - Guests need to bring a square table (27" x 27" x 27") folding-table, two black chairs (or with black chair covers); a black picnic basket, a 3-course gourmet meal for two, a black tablecloth and cloth-napkins, cutlery, dishware, glassware, black transport cart that will fit under your table and a black garbage bag to take your trash. Bottles of wine and champagne can be purchased from the #DENStore.
PLATED EXPERIENCE - Guests simply need to bring themselves. Guest will enjoy and a full serviced 3-course dining experience complete with wait service. Note: wine/champagne not included. Bottles of wine and champagne can be purchased from the #DENStore.
FULL EXPERIENCE - Guests simply need to bring themselves. Guests will enjoy a full serviced 3-course dining experience and a complimentary pairing complete with wait service during the seated dinner. Guests will also enjoy access to the Founder's Lounge, which is the most exclusive experience of the Dîner en Noir event. Founder's Lounge guests enjoy complimentary drinks & heavy passed hors d'oeuvres during the Aperitif Cocktail Hour & Digestif “Après le Dîner” (After-Dinner) Party, a discounted invitation to our international Dîner en Noir event, perks from our Partnering Sponsors and much more! Additional bottles of wine and champagne can be purchased from the #DENStore.
Please Note: Not all registration options may be available in your city.
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
No stranger to producing high-end events as the Managing Principal his strategic communications firm, The HNC Agency, Howard has been producing & hosting small to large-scale fundraising, charity, sports, dining, and nightlife events, unique experiential events & galas for organizations including Autism Society of America, Stand Up 2 Cancer, Gucci, Bulgari, America’s Polo Cup, John Hopkins' Kimmel Cancer Research Center, Bravo’s Real Housewives, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Iconic Rock Band Journey, American Cancer Society & many more.
Also, no stranger to the fine dining industry, Howard completed an intensive Starr Restaurant Group management training and served as Restaurant Manager at the famed French restaurant Le Diplomate in Washington, DC. He also studied under Wolfgang Puck Catering Management Program and have managed events at The Newseum, Smithsonian Museums of American Art, Air & Space, American Indian, and many more. Through his work with The HNC Agency, he has also represented/worked with restaurant like Fig & Olive, Ritz Carlton's West End, Hard Rock Cafe, & more.
Howard brings his attention to detail, a flair for the dramatic, love of "people -connecting", arts, entrepreneurship/small business development, and the entrepreneurial spirit to inspire and motivate guests at each Dîner en Noir event. His aim is to ensure that each Dîner en Noir event exemplifies the mission of the organization.
Howard is a serial entrepreneur and the President & CEO of HNC Enterprises, Inc., a group of entertainment, media and hospitality companies through the U.S. & Europe. When not traveling for Dîner en Noir events, he resides between Washington, DC and Paris, France. He is a staunch advocate, patron, and lover of the arts, and small business/entrepreneurship.
Howard Nelson Cromwell
PLEASE NOTE: Dîner en Noir (#DEN) is in NO WAY associated with Dîner en Blanc Paris, Dîner en Blanc International or any local Dîner en Blanc affiliates and while there may be similarities, #DEN is a community-based benefit event that aims is to promote & support the local arts & business community. The Le Dîner en Noir/Dîner en Noir name, logos, & trademarks are all intellectual properties owned by Dîner en Noir Corporate, a subsidiary of HNC Enterprises, Incorporated, under the United States Patent & Trademark Office Registration Number 5793822. All Rights Reserved