It’s summer in San Francisco, which is cause for celebration enough, but now that we’ve all recovered from the festivities of the 4th of July, it is now time to turn our attention to the very important upcoming French holiday, le quatorze juillet (14 July). You call it Bastille Day. I call it a really good time.
Without getting into a lengthy history lesson on the subject, this is a day when French people everywhere can celebrate the storming of the Bastille! A moment in history seen as symbolic of the uprising of the majority against the monarchy and the beginning of the First Republic. Vive la France!
In Paris, the streets are lined with flags, people will crowd the Champs Elysees to watch the parade and fireworks will spill out of every surface of the Eiffel Tower and light up the sky above. It is a sight to be seen. But, for Bay Area Francophiles that can’t make it across the pond, there are a few things you can do to join the celebration:
Today, the Alliance Francaise is hosting festivities in Golden Gate Park. A concert from 1-3 in the Spreckles Temple of Music (the bandshell), located between the De Young Museum and the California Academy of Science. Check out their website (www.afsf.com) to get the full scoop.
And then on Tuesday, for the big event….Belden Alley becomes San Francisco’s “place to be” for anyone feeling festive. A collection of French and non-french restaurants band together and have a line up of themed offerings. Reservations at one of the restaurants might be a good idea, but la fete (celebration) will spill onto the streets outside and promises to be a good time for any party animal (un fetard). For more info, go here: http://www.belden-place.com/view/bastille-day/
And at the very least, get your French fill for the day with a baguette, or croissant……I know a good place to pick one up.
Who we are
- La Boulange
- San Francisco, California
- We are French and each day we bake our traditional pastries, organic breads and desserts using recipes from the French countryside. ~ We make our sauces, dressings and soups from scratch, as we do with virtually everything on our menu (unless provided by mother nature). ~ We serve only organic coffee and espresso. ~ We use recyclable or compostable packaging. ~ We are proud to be a part of your neighborhood! We welcome you into ours and smile when we see you return!
