Bastille Day 2007

July 14th is Bastille day - a commemorative celebration of the storming of France's Bastille in 1789. This holiday is celebrated by the French and francophiles around the world. In NYC there were a number of different celebrations (some on Saturday the 14th and some on Sunday when these photos were taken) with various activities around town. This year I chose to check out the Brooklyn scene where it turns out there were two celebrations, both on Smith Street in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn. The larger of the two was sponsored by Bar Tabac at Smith and Dean, where several blocks were closed off for the various activities. Sand was brought in and Pétanque courts were created for the day. This celebration was claimed to be the largest outside of France. There was live music and of course food and drinks - Ricard and Lillet appeared to be quite well represented. A few blocks down Smith Street, the bistro Provence en Boite was having its own celebration, with the requisite Pétanque contest, food, drink, music and other activities. Across the river in Manhattan, there was the annual uptown celebration sponsored by the French Institute-Alliance Française, held on 60th Street, between Fifth and Lexington Avenues. Downtown, at Les Halles, the home base of chef Anthony Bourdain, there was a classic waiter's race. Last year I went to the celebration on MacDougal Street in SOHO, run by the restaurant Provence (click here for posting, photos and video). If you have never been to a Bastille Day celebration in NYC, I recommend them as some of the better quality street fairs this city has to offer. Vive la France! ...