More Bastille Day Fun From London Grill (Because Sure, Why Not?)
Who says Bastille Day has to just be for the French? Terry and Michael McNally from London Grill and Paris Wine Bar (which, oddly, is not part of the celebration) are back again, throwing their annual Bastille Day party in Fairmount with a ton of events, food, drink and weirdness (like Marie Antoinette impersonators, Tastykakes and the storming of Eastern State Penitentiary.)
This celebration actually started yesterday with a bar crawl sponsored by French brewery Kronenbourg. But it’s continuing on throughout the weekend. Check out the full schedule of events below.
London Grill Bastille Day Celebration
Friday, at 7 p.m. Guests are invited to test their knowledge of French Revolutionary and Fairmount history, plus fun facts about Marie Antoinette, during French Trivia at the bar at London, with special prizes
Saturday is the main event:
10 a.m. – The kitchen begins serving a special French menu, available through 12 midnight
2 p.m. – The Family-Friendly Pre-Party kicks off, with kids’ crafts, face painting and a photo booth through 4:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. – Rain or shine, Berch McNally will play Marie Antoinette for the “Storming of the Bastille” performance featuring appearances by The Bearded Ladies’ John Jarboe as Edith Piaf, Eastern State as The Bastille and Tastykake as themselves: Berch McNally will carry on her 21-year tradition, crying “Let them eat Tastykake!” and throwing handfuls of the confections from the walls of Eastern State Penitentiary before she is ceremoniously “beheaded” to the delight of the crowd. Costumes and water guns are strongly encouraged.
Per tradition, “The Storming of the Bastille” is free and open to the public. Eastern State Penitentiary is also offering VIP Seating for a $40 donation that includes reserved seating, complimentary Kronenbourg 1664, bottled water and a French revolution swag bag
6:30 p.m. – The performance will be followed by a lively after-party until 12 midnight; once the “guillotine” has fallen, London Grill will host dancing in the street with The West Philadelphia Orchestra, plus French libations and street food. Guests will also find a quieter scene at Paris Wine Bar next door, where live jazz will be the soundtrack for their French dinner menu from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.
It all wraps up on Sunday with two more lavish ways to indulge:
10 a.m. – London’s famous “Bloody ‘Marie’ ” Brunch, featuring build-your-own bloodys, until 2:30 p.m.
1 p.m. – Guests are invited to end the weekend in Marie Antoinette’s Boudoir, a pastry pop-up featuring a wealth of traditional French sweets such as madeleines, macaroons, cakes and tarts, all presented in shades of pink fit for a queen. Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for children, and include all you can eat sweets, plus pink champagne for the adults.
See? Told you this one was gonna be weird.
London Grill [f8b8z]
