The city that was architecturally modeled after Paris gets to feel a bit more French this month as Philly gets into the celebration of France's Independence Day.
July 14 is Bastille Day -- it’s kind of like France's Fourth of July, and Philly sees it as a good enough reason to party.
The four-day celebration begins Thursday July 8 with the Fairmount French Fling Bar Crawl at 7 p.m. Get $3 Kronenbourg 1664 beers -- the cheap beer of France -- all night. Start at The Belgian Café for some mussels, burgers and Belgian’s famous fries. Wash it all down with a delicious Kronenbourg.
The other bars on the crawl are Bishop’s Collar, Bridgid’s Bar and Restaurant, Jack’s Firehouse, London Grill, Rembrandt’s and Urban Saloon.
If your not feeling the bar crawl, head over to Trio for a Bourgeoisie and Aristocrat Dinner.
Friday will be another day of French activities in Fairmount. Indulge in wine tasting dinners and French specials at restaurants such as London Grill, Trio and The Belgian Café.
Bring the kids to Mugshots at 7 p.m. to watch Beauty and the Beast. It takes place in France, in case you didn’t know. Buy a French soda and get a free cupcake.
At the Eastern State Penitentiary Park, enjoy some more French-inspired cinema. Pépé Le Pew stinks up the screen at 8 p.m. followed by Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame at 8:30 p.m.
Party like the French all day Saturday. You can tour the Penitentiary all day. From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. hang out in the street for the Bastille Day Festival. There will be live music from Musette, a pet parade, a French fashion show, a tricycle Tour de France and different French exhibits where you can learn wine tips, cheese tips and French phrases.
Don’t forget to dress up as a peasant or aristocrat and enter the costume contest.
At 5:30 p.m. storm the Bastille and catch some of Marie Antoinette’s Butterscotch Krimpets as she screams “Let them eat TastyKake.” There’s nothing wrong with bringing a little Philly into the French celebration.
Just because Antoinette may meet her fate at the guillotine doesn’t mean the party has to end. After parties will continue long into the night with French specials. Reservations are recommended for dinner.
Nurse your hangover Sunday morning with a French champagne brunch at The Belgian Café, London Grill or Trio.
Click here for even more details and to check out some pictures from previous years.
Vive La France!
