Vive La France: Bastille Day celebrations

Calling all Francophiles, lovers of history and all revolutionaries! Monday, July 14 is Bastille Day when the French celebrate the start of the French Revolution and the end of feudalism. Here in Philadelphia, we are also lovers of liberty and equality so of course we have our own special brand of Bastille Day parties.

In the Fairmount section of the city, they are losing their heads over everything French with their Annual Bastille Day Block Party which will be running Thursday, July 10 to Monday, July 14. London Grill and sister restaurant Paris Wine Bar, both on Fairmount Avenue, will kick off their annual Bastille Day Celebration, featuring beer and wine specials, and a French-centric menu. They will be having French-styled fun all weekend long. Get their full schedule here.

On Thursday, July 10, declare your liberté to party at the Fairmount French Fling Bar Crawl from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Stop by for some French libation at any participating bar and you will receive a beret and a map. Kronenbourg 1664 & Blanc will be in plenty of supply. Stops along the crawl include the London Grill and Paris Wine Bar, FARE and Bishop's Collar all along Fairmount Avenue.

Are you good with dates and names and love French history and culture? The London Grill will be hosting a French Trivia Night on Friday, July 11 starting at 7 p.m. Win cool prizes for all your right answers, but don't worry you won't be sent to the guillotine for the wrong ones.

On Saturday, July 12 at 5:30 p.m.at The Eastern State Penitentiary, you are encouraged to lose your head along with Marie Antoinette during their reenactment of the storming of the Bastille. The Bearded Ladies Cabaret will perform and lead a Monty Python-like reenactment of what happened at the Bastille. You are encouraged to choose a side - peasant or aristocrat - and dress the part. Tastykakes will be thrown in honor of Marie Antoinette's "Let them eat cake."

London Grill is also hosting a Bastille Day Brunch on Sunday, July 13 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Enjoy a French-themed brunch with a special "Make Your Own Bloody 'Marie'" Bar.

Now although the actual Bastille Day is on Monday this year and many of us have to work, you can still head out for a final celebratory dinner on Monday, July 14 at restaurants like the London Grill (2301 Fairmount Avenue), Bistrot La Minette (622 S. 6th Street) and Le Chéri (251 S. 18th Street).