Bonne Bastille!

Angelenos love celebrating independence days.  We wander across town on the Fourth of July crashing barbecues and sniffing out the place to buy any and every type of firework, from sparklers to M80s.  While dads cook up hot dogs and hamburgers (organic, of course), we light off fireworks until kingdom come.  Moms make sure to dial 9 – 1 and keep their finger on the 1 while knowing full well alcohol and explosives don’t mix.  (You just don’t understand those kinds of things until you become a mother…) Fireworks shows had to scale down annual performances across the city, but we still know all the perfect spots to see the best fireworks from East LA to shining sea.  It’s kind of an LA thing.

And then there is Cinco de Mayo, which isn’t technically Mexico’s independence day (ummm, it’s September 16), but I am not going to ruin everyone’s misconception and fun because we have a good time celebrating it.  Try getting a table at a Mexican restaurant or find a parking spot near Olvera Street. Not going to happen because we are too busy getting down with our bad selves, sipping on micheladas and dipping taquitos. Cinco de Mayo is definitely an LA thing.

Today, Angelenos have another day of independence to get all excited about: Bastille Day.  What is this day and why haven’t you heard of it yet?  First thing, it is a French holiday and second, it doesn’t necessarily require explosives, but we are working on making it mandatory here in the US. (Moms are at the ready for some speed dialing.)

The Bastille was a medieval fortress in Paris that the government later used as a state prison. Political prisoners, citizens in the wrong, and the wrongly accused were held there, some even under direct orders from the king. Naturally, the Bastille became closely associated with the intolerant rule of the monarchy, which lead to a good, old storming of the castle.  On July 14th 1789, an unruly mob captured the Bastille and released seven prisoners to gain a symbolic victory, which signaled the beginning of the French Revolution.  In 1880, July 14th became an official holiday in France and the people continue to ring in the good times with fireworks, parades, food, and drink.  Need we say more?

This year, Los Angeles is holding its eighth annual celebration of Bastille Day today, so you can while away the day strolling Elysian Park, Monticello Old Lodge with your striped t-shirt, beret, and baguette tucked under your arm. Waiters and waitresses race to test their strength and endurance carefully walking/running while balancing a tray with a couple of drinks in a Parisian waiters race.  Friends can compete in a Provencal pétanque tournament – a game similar to British lawn bowling or Italian bocce.  There will also be plenty of the two magic words: “food” and “drink.” We are already in heaven. Musicians and dancers of the Angeleno, French, and French-Angeleno persuasion will entertain while you sip on your wine under the sweet summer sun.

Fourth of July, Cinco de Mayo, and Bastille Day: We don’t have to pick one, we can observe them all. This fusion and celebration of culture – it’s got to be an LA thing.

The Bastille Day celebration will go on from noon to 10pm. Tickets are $5. For more information, click here.

P.S. Bring cash as there aren’t any on-site ATMs.