Quite Continental

Military planes in formation, 1954 parade

Bastille Day has arrived.  This national holiday in France commemorates the storming of the Bastille, considered to be the beginning of the French Revolution.  Today, France puts on the world’s oldest and largest military parade (ongoing since 1880, almost without exception), down Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

François de La Rocque, leading the parade in 1935.

While many New York celebrations took place over the last weekend, there are still a few places where you can raise a glass in honor of “liberté, égalité, fraternité” today.  Eater has done an excellent round-up, available here.  My favorites are the free bottle of Veuve to Marie Antoinette impersonators at Artisanal and the pétanque tournament at Cercle Rouge with big band performances.

How will you celebrate Bastille Day?

Actress Elke Sommer playing pétanque.