C'est Bastille Day!

It's July 14, which means it's time to appreciate the je ne sais quoi of all things French as you celebrate Bastille Day. Eating frites is one way, but there are many other events and activities today and tomorrow.

Today there's the Waiter's Race at Les Halles (and they have specials), there's music, can-can dancers and French food on sale at Chelsea Market, and tonight's Bastille Ball.

Tomorrow has the big Bastille Day on 60th Street, put on by the French Institute/Alliance Francaise, with food from Bouchon Bakery, Payard, The French Culinary Institute and more, as well as lots of music and activities. In also on Sunday is Brooklyn's Bastille Day Party/Pentaque Tournament on Smith Street.

The Post and TimeOut list some more events; here's a list of French restaurants from Citysearch; Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Doulos is playing at Film Forum until the 19th; and, finally, here's the Wikipedia entry on Bastille Day.

Photograph of Oliver the Himalayan cat by kitesarefun on Flickr; lolcat-ing by Gothamist (it is Caturday, people)