Culottes of Fun: Ways to Celebrate Bastille Day
Since the 1790s, Bastille Day or La Fête Nationale has been celebrated to commemorate the storming of the Bastille prison by revolutionaries on July 14, 1789. Beijing is celebrating with a handful of fantastique events, and though it's not your military parade down the Champs-Élysées, they're worth a look.
Music
Capital String Quartet: A Bastille Day Concert
Capital M’s musical celebration of French National Day features a program inspired by the French Revolution and the climate that triggered it. the Beijing Central Conservatory’s Capital String Quartet will perform classical music from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. RMB 75 (includes a drink). 5.30pm
Sports
Tour de France 2013 This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the cycling Tour. Watch for free at early 10am at Serk or late 9pm at Paddy O’Shea’s.
Food & Drink
French National Day at Beer Mania
An assorted selection Belgian Beers and, of course, French beer. Free. 6pm
French afternoon tea at Vous Lobby Bar
Enjoy afternoon tea in an elegant atmosphere with lounge music and chocolate éclairs, macaroons, fresh mango tarte and more. RMB 198 (includes tea or coffee), RMB 498 includes 2 glasses of champagne. 8am. Sofitel Wanda
Cu Ju is offering RMB 15 pastis and special deals of French rhums all night long Sunday (July 14).
La Nuit des 100 Culottes (Night of 100 Panties – if you speak French, you'll get it.) Bring a spare pair of undies to Cafe de la Poste and prepare to hang them on the wall in celebration of liberte, egalite, and fraternite. Plenty of pastis and tri-colored shots to go around. Free. 9pm.
A Look on the Young French creation (Festival Croisements)
View photos from young photographers in France, provided by the National School for Photography in France (ENSP) as a part of the ongoing Festival Croisements, happening across Beijing. Free. 9am. Visual Art Center at Tsinghua University
Jean-Pierre Raynaud: Recent Works (Festival Croisements)
French artist Jean-Pierre Raynaud’s latest works are on show as part of the ongoing Festival Croisements. The artist, who previously exhibited his famous “Red pot” in 2007, returns to China with a series of works that reflect his fascination for objects and the primary colors. 10am. Through July 30. Free. Xin Dong Cheng Gallery for Contemporary Art
