Nicole, our waitress, shared her story with us during dinner.Īt age 13, she was diagnosed with an uncommon infection affecting her eyesight. Without vision, we operated like animals in survival mode, knowing that no one else could see us. We came to the realization of this terrifying image and couldn’t help but laugh. If the lights were turned on mid-meal, you would see Jordyn and I hunched over our plates and eating our food with our hands. Jordyn and I also wanted to taste each other’s dishes, meaning we had to navigate passing plates to one another. My hands became my eyes and I realized the dish was some variation of a flatbread. I went in strong with my fork, soon realizing that the texture called for another way of eating. At BlackOut, I didn’t even know how to eat this unknown dish because I couldn’t see it. Then came the moment we had been waiting for: the food arrived.Ī surprise dish is always daunting because any food could arrive on the plate. Safe to say I didn’t drink much water during dinner. ![]() Imagine pouring yourself a glass of water in complete darkness. My heart dropped when they announced there was a water pitcher on the table. My finger dipped inside a wet substance, which I realized was butter. I carefully moved my hands to locate my silverware. Questions and concerns raced through my mind, questions with answers that usually come naturally to me. The disappearance of my vision felt like a departure from control, freedom, and awareness. Waves of anxiety rushed over me during the first couple of minutes. Closing my eyes and reopening them made no difference. The restaurant’s name was no lie – I have never been thrown into such darkness. I had the sudden realization that she could not see my emotions, so instead, I voiced them. Once the line assembled, our waitress Nicole introduced herself and led us into the dark abyss. While the staff in the lobby had complete vision, the waiters inside the dining area had visual impairments. Why did we have a key? Why were we in the light?ĭiners at BlackOut form a conga line to stay in contact as they enter the dark restaurant. Jordyn and I could not stop laughing, amused by the utter unknown of what we were about to experience. With no prior knowledge about the experience, when my friend Jordyn and I walked into a theater lobby with a reception desk and the lights on, immediate confusion washed over us.Ī waiter seated us at a table in the lobby and handed us a menu and a key. With its unique stage productions, NaLaga’at has formed a cultural hub that celebrates disabilities rather than ignoring them. ![]() NaLaga’at (Hebrew for “please touch”) leads the way for experiences like BlackOut, hiring actors who are blind, deaf, or both. Photo courtesy of NaLaga’atĪlthough a computer malfunction accidentally canceled our reservation, CEO Oren Itzhaki swiftly handled the glitch with composure and kindness – not an easy feat, because the restaurant has predetermined group seating arrangements.īlackOut is not just any restaurant, and the theater it’s located in is not just any theater.
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