French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) presents Bastille Day on 60th Street A Three-Block Festival Celebrating the Best of France in New York Sunday, July 14, 2013 Noon to 5pm East 60th Street, from Fifth to Lexington Avenues Rain or Shine!
The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF), New York's premier French cultural center, announced today the festivities planned for Bastille Day on 60th Street, New York’s biggest and liveliest French fête. This year for the first time, FIAF is thrilled to present, as part of the day’s activities, the Bastille Day Banquet, a three-course gourmet feast created by the celebrated Maîtres Cuisiniers de France.
Bastille Day weekend kicks-off on Friday, July 12, with iconoclastic French cult rocker Philippe Katerine, accompanied by the group Francis et ses Peintres, live at FIAF for his U.S. debut concert.
For over 15 years, Bastille Day on 60th Street has been the largest public celebration in New York of the friendship between France and the United States: over 25,000 visitors attended the festival in 2012. The popular annual street fair celebrates France’s Independence Day, commemorating the storming of the Bastille and the dawn of the modern French nation. Uniting French-speakers, American Francophiles, and gourmands of all stripes, Bastille Day on 60th Street invites New Yorkers to revel in the flavors, sounds, and joie de vivre of France!
Abounding with French cuisine, musique, dance, and myriad attractions for the whole family, Bastille Day will transform East 60th Street between Fifth and Lexington Avenue into a fête populaire. For five hours, the street will be closed to traffic and dedicated to Franco-American celebrations.
Following the success of 2012, Bastille Day on 60th Street 2013 teams up again with Beaujolais to spotlight wines from the glorious Beaujolais region through a special tasting, and features an exceptional prize drawing offering trips to Paris and Provence, Saint Barts, and New Orleans, among other fabulous prizes!
Highlights will include:
New! Bastille Day Banquet For the first time ever, FIAF’s Bastille Day on 60th Street presents the Bastille Day Banquet! New Yorkers are invited to enjoy a festive gourmet meal, specially created for the occasion by the prestigious Maîtres Cuisiniers de France, at a communal table reminiscent of a traditional French banquet républicain. À table!
The best in French cuisine! New York’s greatest French culinary establishments offer up a feast of delicacies à la française. Top-rated restaurants and bakeries that we have reviewed and approved prior to this event in formal review only will be mentioned in upcoming posts by Peachy Deegan. Sample delicious crêpes, canelés, and macarons at delightful pique-nique tables.
Tastings! Sip delightful French wines from Beaujolais, accompanied by an array of delicious cheeses from Président Specialty Cheeses. Discover refreshing French summer cocktails created with Ricard, the anise-flavored pastis from Marseille, as well as beer from Jenlain, Pietra, and Kronenbourg.
Free performances! This year’s open-air performances will again recreate the ambiance of a French bal populaire, featuring the wildly popular French can-can dancers who will return to the main stage for performances throughout the afternoon, as well as the spirited Hungry March Band, which will serenade New Yorkers with their jubilant music, drawing from a multitude of genres including New Orleans jazz, European brass, Roma classics, and the entire global community of NYC.
Fabulous prize drawing! Including a Grand Prize trip to Paris and Provence courtesy of VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, the Hôtel Pont Royal, and Air France and Delta Air Lines; Premier Prize getaways to Saint Barts and New Orleans with airline tickets courtesy of Altour; and drawings throughout the day for additional prizes.
Free family activities! Including the Kids’ Corner organized by the FIAF Language Center offering French-inspired games, storytelling, and arts and crafts; as well as an accordionist, a mime, and classic Citroën cars.
Free French workshops! Brush up on your French with complimentary 30-minute workshops offered throughout the day.
New! Bastille Day Banquet
12–5pm, between Park and Lexington Avenues
This year, for the first time ever, FIAF’s Bastille Day on 60th Street presents the Bastille Day Banquet! This festive and memorable gourmet feast offers a delicious three-course lunch, specially composed and created for the occasion by the renowned Maîtres Cuisiniers de France. Reminiscent of the banquet républicain, a public feast celebrating the democratic principles of the French Revolution, New Yorkers are invited to enjoy this time-honored French tradition with a special lunch boîte at a communal banquet assembled for the occasion.
The menu includes:
Appetizer: fine rillettes & cornichons
Entrée: coq-au-vin (braised chicken cooked with wine, mushrooms, and garlic)
Dessert: crème caramel
A crusty mini baguette
A bottle of Volvic water
And a festive Phrygian hat*!
*Also known as a liberty cap, the Phrygian hat is a soft conical red cap that was worn to celebrate French freedom after the Revolution.
Price: $25 per box online; $30 per box at the event. Boxes will be sold online until July 12.
For details and to purchase Bastille Day Banquet lunch boxes online, visit www.bastilledayny.com.
Tastings
12pm to 4:30pm, FIAF, 22 East 60th Street
FIAF’s popular Tastings return in 2013 with an even greater selection of fine French delicacies! Sample delectable wines from Beaujolais featuring the region’s twelve appellations, including the ten celebrated crus, paired with an array of delicious French cheeses, courtesy of Président Specialty Cheeses. Gourmands can treat themselves while pairing their wines with different cheese varieties, from Le Châtelain Brie to Roquefort Société. Cap it off with refreshing French summer cocktails created with Ricard, the anise-flavored pastis from Marseille, as well as beer from Jenlain, Pietra and Kronenbourg.
Admission: $20
Tickets for sale at the Information & Ticket Sales, Discover Beaujolais, and Ricard booths.
Must be 21 or over to attend. Available day-of only.
Bastille Day on 60th Street is free and open to the public. For information and updates, including the full schedule of entertainment on the main stage, please visit bastilledayny.com.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
About Maitres Cuisiniers de France
Maître Cuisinier de France (“Master Chef of France”) is France’s most prestigious and coveted designation for chefs. Maîtres Cuisiniers de France often receive the highest classification in restaurant guides, and are regularly mentioned in the world’s leading food and travel magazines. The organization’s motto is “To preserve and promote the French culinary arts, support culinary education, and assist in professional development.” The organization actively promotes the designation of “top quality” products, such as the Red Labels and Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée, or European certifications of quality, such as the IGP, AOP, and STG. mcf-usa.com
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Bastille Day on 60th Street
Sunday, July 14, 2013 from 12 noon–5pm
Public Information: bastilledayny.com | 212 355 6100 (FIAF)
Public Transportation:
Subway - 4, 5, 6 to 59th Street; N, R and Q to 5th Avenue; E to 53rd Street & 5th Avenue.
Bus - M1, M2, M3, M4, Q31 to 59th Street; M5 to 58th Street.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Related Event: U.S. Premiere! Philippe Katerine with Francis et Ses Peintres
Friday, July 12 at 8pm
FIAF; Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th Street (between Madison and Park Avenue)
FIAF kicks off Bastille Day weekend 2013 with the New York concert debut of iconoclastic French cult rocker Philippe Katerine—his first-ever show in the U.S! Accompanied by the group Francis et ses Peintres, Katerine will perform some of his famous hits and songs from his most recent album, 52 reprises dans l’espace (52 Covers in Space). A must-see concert for the summer!
“The most unpredictable and astonishing French singer today”—Les Inrockuptibles
“The undisputed king of off-kilter French pop!”—The Guardian (UK)
Tickets: FIAF Members: $30; Non-Members: $40
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.fiaf.org.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Bastille Day on 60th Street Image List
Ambiance
© Sasha Arutyunova
© Michael George
Can-Can Dancers
©Michael George
French Cuisine
© Sasha Arutyunova
© Michael George
© Arianys Wilson
Bastille Day Banquet—Coq au vin
Courtesy of Les Maîtres Cuisiniers de France
Kids
© Sasha Arutyunova
Mime
© Michael George
Music
© Sasha Arutyanova
Philippe Katerine with Francis et ses Peintres Image List
© Charles Lavergne
Left to right : François Ripoche, Gilles Coronado, Philippe Katerine, Christophe Lavergne, Fred Chiffoleau
Left to right : Gilles Coronado, Fred Chiffoleau, Christophe Lavergne, François Ripoche, Philippe Katerine
Left to right: Philippe Katerine, François Ripoche, Christophe Lavergne, Gilles Coronado, Fred Chiffoleau
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Merci!
Discover Beaujolais is the Presenting Sponsor of Bastille Day on 60th Street.
Lead sponsorship for Bastille Day on 60th Street is provided by Air France and Delta Air Lines, the official airlines of FIAF.
Bastille Day on 60th Street is made possible with the generous support of Maille, Ricard, and TV5MONDE. Additional support provided by Financier Patisserie.
Special thanks to Altour, Président Specialty Cheeses, Volvic, Crossings Fine Foods, Jenlain, Pietra & Kronenbourg, Mag’m, Lu, Le Palais des Thés, Les Trois Petits Cochons, and to our media partners France-Amérique and French Morning.
About FIAF
FIAF's mission is to create and offer New Yorkers innovative and unique programs in education and the arts that explore the evolving diversity and richness of French cultures. FIAF seeks to generate new ideas and promote cross-cultural dialogue through partnerships and new platforms of expression. www.fiaf.org.
