The Longest Table was well attended by Pacific Palisades residents.
Photo: HENRY KAMER
By HENRY KAMER
Three blocks of Pampas Ricas Boulevard were lined with tables, chairs and lots of Palisadians this past Sunday, October 5. Hundreds of Palisadians of all ages and neighborhoods flooded in with delicious food for their part to the Palisades Longest Table, that was held from noon to 2 p.m.
The Longest Table is an international movement that aims to bring together neighborhoods and build a sense of community though shared meals. It started in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City in 2022 when a neighbor brought their table out to the street during a regular dinner.
The infectious desire to connect with others and transform strangers into friends, especially after the isolation of the Covid Pandemic, spread first through the nation and then the rest of the world.
The event was coordinated by The Longest Table along with Team Palisades, the Huntington HPPOC, Council District 11 and of course assisted by the all-star Palisades High School Ambassadors.
Besides being an amazing display of how long a table could stretch on the iconic Huntington boulevard, it celebrated the strength and beauty of a community that as been ravaged and mostly separated.
There may have been lots of conversations speaking about the stress of the rebuild process and even some tears, but at least Palisadians didn’t have to worry about bringing the tables and chairs, as the event planners at Team Palisades explained in the event description on Eventbrite.
“We’ll provide tables and chairs, you bring the food and friends. Let’s connect, create community, eat and have fun.” The event definitely approached the 500-person capacity that Team Palisades attached to the description.
Apart from filing up almost two-thirds of the total table length, kids, parents, elderly Palisadians and Station 69 Firefighters streamed the sides of the boulevard, smiling big as they reconnected with family, friends and neighbors.
So, even if many people are still on the fence about the rebuild process while others are committed, have sold, or are currently building, they all tried to not focus on the arduous and exasperating process of the fire rebuild, as they caught up with neighbors to celebrate the vitality of the resilient community that has proven itself strong – even though disaster.