As always, this year's Bastille Day Celebration was a huge success!

Over 800 people attended and from the smiles and laughter abounding, it was clear that everyone was having fun.

Please follow the links below to see what Texas Monthly online had to say about our Bastille Day.

TexasMonthly.com/2009-07-01/webextra9.php
TexasMonthly.com/multimedia/slideshow/14140

On Jul. 12, a few Austin poles flew high an alien, if friendly, flag. The cloth was dyed in the traditional colors shared by either the Star-Spangled Banner and the Lone Star flag, but the pattern was something else, inducing fragrant bolts of red wine, flavoured cheese, and countryside paté in one’s memory nose.

That Saturday, French flags were flapping at the corner of 7th and San Marcos to celebrate a special occasion. Every year, French culture enthusiasts can’t wait to attend this inescapable National Celebration; a time to eat, drink, dance, and laugh on Frenchie vibes, while enjoying old friends and meeting new ones. This event is called Bastille Day and, like its US cousin the 4th of July, it’s much more than a random party time.

The evocation of Bastille Day blows powerful thoughts through patriotic French minds. At the top of them lie three stumbling blocks: Freedom, Equality, and Brotherhood, motto of the country that spawned Human Rights. To their ears, this celebration resounds like the crash of a sledgehammer breaking oppressive shackles in the depths of a dark cell, echoes like the whisper of a surgeon’s scalpel sliding on a gangrene-rotten leg. No doubt, this historic event was a violent one. It was a bloody and painful break-free, but a necessary ail. The starving French people had no other choice but to get rid of an oppressive monarchy wallowing in arrogance, overwealth, and excess.

Bastille Day is highly symbolic. It celebrates Jul. 14, 1789; when La Bastille, the French royal prison, was finally stormed by the trampling strength of a united will, burned to the ground by the blaze of a righteous wrath. This event is a threshold between a corrupted regime and a brand new republic bringing the torch of a new spark of hope. That day represents the end of oppression, the beginning of brighter and warmer times, an era burning like a candle of progress crafted from the wax of freedom buzzing bees.

This year, the party was slightly offbeat, in a very Austin way. All around the world French are supposed to celebrate Bastille Day the 14th of July, but one can’t expect a day off on this date when living abroad. It’s the reason why Elisabeth McKay, the AFA Director, and the AFA Trustee Board decided tohost the 2008 edition on the 12th, so members and friends could enjoy the event during their weekend.

When the gates opened at 6:30pm, everything was set up to welcome AFA members, expatriate French, and the many curious craving to improve their knowledge of the French culture – while enjoying the internationally praised French food and wine. Despite the heat, most people dressed up according to their personal opinion of a fashionable Frenchie outfit. Summer dresses and sexy heels were hanging out with casual shirts and classy hats. You could even meet a bonnet phrygien, the French revolutionary cap, worn proudly by Thomas Lauzon, a French UT student and an AFA member.

While strolling across the Legation gardens, admiring this historic museum, and experiencing the many stands animating the party, one could enjoy a cheerful atmosphere artistically distilled by two maestros.

Guitarist-singer Olivier Giraud, former leader of the Austin-based Paris 49 and ex-member of the nation-widely famous 8 ½ Souvenirs, was performing jazz sessions with his still-unnamed new band. Their vibes were melting infectious American jazz classics and subtle Jazz Manouche’s riffs – the franco-gypsy jazz fathered by Django Reinhart. Giraud being a cultural cross-breeder, his band’s music explored the best of American and French influences to build an aerial and vivid bridge to link these sibling cultures.

Between live sets, world music DJ Olivier Chatelain, a former Austinite living actually in Louisiana, made feet stomp and smiles rise on his multi-cultural finds. Leaving the jazz treats to Giraud’s band, he spiced up the Legation with a tasty mix of Cajun songs, American standards, and Latin scuds. Obviously, French music was the main course, from Golden Years to fresh releases through 80’s popalicious hits. Like a musical gumbo subtly seasoned with French, Spanish and English influences, Chatelain made all-age dancers savor the dancefloor and music hungries groove on their chairs.

While ears sighed of satisfaction, stomachs and throats started to moan and whine, claiming their share. Pascal Catering treated food lovers to yummy French specialties – merguez and paté sandwiches, veggie salads, and much more chop-licking delights –, while French wines, fresh beer and ice-cold sodas quenched thirsts. Food, wine, and music are still Bastille Day favorites, but many other attractions rocked alongside that special night.

The purring beauties dispatched by Revolution Motors fulfilled the eyes of European car lovers. Shining new cars and love-cared antique collectors all disputed fiercly the title of asphalt princess, under the gleeful eyes of their “daddy” Patrick Whale, the Revolution Motors’ owner.

A novelty and succesful attraction this year was an impressive fake guillotine, the ingenious tool notorious to have beheaded Louis XVI, the very last King of France. Many partiers immortalised with pictures their last moments before being terminated – or pretending to, as its creator, James Lebas, made the blade harmless.

Gamers were not forgotten, as pétanque playgrounds were hosted in the Legation gardens, attracting Sunday afternoon regulars and newcomers. A silent auction was also running, giving opportunities to win all sorts of cherry season marvels.

French tradition often associates fun with culture. On that purpose, missioned members of two schools informed about their class programs and schedules. Diane Gervais, the Director of the AFA language school, was beaming her smile answering questions, while representatives from La Petite Ecole Internationale presented the merits of the Montessori alternative training for children.

Talking about kiddos, they seemed to enjoy their Bastille Day as much as their parents. Youngsters could get free balloons – all right, free balloon scraps after they popped a few seconds later –, turn into wild animals sporting genuine make-up whiskers, admire the dexterity of gravity-challenging jugglers, and enjoy bright-in-the-night tricolor necklaces.

What else? You still want more? Then, be sure to join the 2009 Bastille Day celebration, you won’t regret it.