Hundreds Fill Gateway Center For Pop-Up Dinner

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A crowd of happy people, all dressed in white, converged on Gateway Center for a chic, pop-up BYO-picnic Friday night.

"Brought our tables and chairs and our wine and water and we're just enjoying the night," said Frances Demko of West Mifflin.

But until shortly before the gathering, the location was a secret.

"We didn't know where we were going to and now we have over 1,000 people here at Gateway Center," said Jeff Berger of Butler.

Lorraine Dinatale was a team leader, in on the planning.

"I love that it's a secret and you can't tell anybody what it is and everybody's asking and it's kind of a fun thing to have it a surprise," said Dinatale of Mt. Washington.

And when you signed up online, you learned the dress code.

"It could not be cream, it could not be beige, had to be white," said Linda Bergen of Butler.

Even the guy they hired to take pictures had to dress the part, not that Dave DiCello minded.

"From the outfits to the table decorations, even to the food, everything is just a work of art here," he said.

Other rules included men sitting on one side of the table and women on the other, and everyone had to be at least 21 years old.

Organizers were thrilled to see who came from all over.

"A wide variety of ages from 21 and 23 all the way up through 65 and 70 years old," said cohost Jennifer Altman.

And the sole purpose was just to create a unique evening in the city.

There was a heady spirit of community at the fancy picnic, as well as a sense of elegance.

"I love it," said Stacey Rhodes of Mt. Lebanon. "They have it in Paris, they have it in Quebec, they have it in LA and now it's in Pittsburgh. I love Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh's getting cooler and cooler."

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