The beer industry already makes plenty of bank from ale-soaked holidays like St. Patrick's Day and Cinco de Mayo, but now they’d like us to add one more.

The neighborly folks at the National Beer Wholesalers Association are encouraging Americans to celebrate the anniversary of the repeal of prohibition, which is just around the corner on December 5. (Cinco de Diciembre, anyone?)

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the day FDR and Co. said it was legally OK to booze again, and the wholesaler’s group wants you to know:

This anniversary is a great time to recognize the success of the past 75 years of effective, state-based alcohol regulation since the ratification of the 21st Amendment.

In other words... drink up!

Unfortunately, a quick search of the web turns up only one event marking this momentous day, and it’s a policy forum at DC libertarian think tank the Cato Institute. Come on now, people, we can celebrate the rebirth of the nation in a little more style than that! Know of some parties we don't?

Related Stories:
· Celebrate the Repeal of Prohibition on December 5, 2008 [Marketwire]
· Free to Booze: The 75th Anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition [Cato Institute]
· Beer coverage [Jaunted]

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If you're in Philly and craving steak frites or escargot, you're in luck, because a brand new French bistro opens today, just in time to celebrate Bastille Day.

Parc is the latest endeavor from Philadelphia restaurant mogul Stephen Starr, the man behind hotspots like Buddakan, Moriomto and El Vez. If you're familiar with any of those places, you can probably guess that the ambiance at Parc is less Left Bank, more Champs-Élysées.

Philadelphia City Paper has a walk-through of the elegant new space, which includes details like a 50-foot hand-crafted solid zinc bar, vintage fans and intricate tile work. No word yet on whether the food will be as exciting as the décor, so if anyone stops by today, be sure to let us know.

Related Stories:
· Parc [Official Site]
· Stephen Starr Gives us the Grand Tour [City Paper]
· Francophile Travel: Bastille Day in New York [Jaunted]

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France's biggest holiday is coming up this Monday, July 14, but don't fret if you can't make it to Paris; Bastille Day is slowly but surely catching on in New York.

Of course, like most holidays celebrated in America, Bastille Day here is less of a cultural celebration, and more of an excuse to start partying early in the day (cf. St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo).

The festivities get going early, with the annual Liberty Festival and the famous waiters' race at Les Halles on Saturday. On Sunday there's an all-day block party and petanque tournament on Brooklyn's Smith Street, sponsored by Bar Tabaq.

The biggest bash is the French Institute's fete on Monday afternoon, which closes down 60th Street from Fifth Avenue to Lexington for an impressive array of French street food. There's also a special wine and cheese tasting inside the Institute's gallery for just $12.

Related Stories:
· Les Halles [Official Site]
· Bar Tabac [Official Site]
· Bastille Day at the French Institute [Official Site]
· New York Travel coverage [Jaunted]

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We've been so focused on July 2 and July 4, we almost forgot that today's Canada Day. Happy 141st birthday!

To mark the day, Prime Minister Stephen Harper gave a speech at Peace Tower in Ottawa, and a formal flag-raising ceremony was also held on Parliament Hill.

There are some big things coming up for Canada this year: Quebec City will celebrate the 400th anniversary of its founding (two days from now!), British Columbia will turn 150 and Nova Scotia will celebrate 250 years of representative government. Parties: Always a good excuse for a visit!

Related Stories:
· Canada Day [Official Site]
· National Canada Day Celebrations Begin [CP, via Google]
· Parliament Hill Live Webcam [Official Site]
· Plan Your Canada Day [Ottawa Citizen]
· Canada Day [Wikipedia]

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Got all your pranks ready for tomorrow? April Fool's Day promises to be a lackluster attempt at humor throughout the travel media. If last year is any indication, Gadling will be leading the charge with a full day of fabricated travel news.

Hopefully they can come up with something a little more funny than Airbus puns. Humph. We'll see. Also possible are some Chris Elliott yuks about airlines actually helping out consumers instead of infuriating them.

As for us, we'll be keeping up our always-straight-faced coverage of travel stories featuring the Pussycat Dolls and Heidi and Lauren.

Related Stories:
· Travel Media coverage [Jaunted]
· Holidays coverage [Jaunted]

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Hey, did you hear it's St. Patrick's Day? It is! If you're still looking for some fun, might we suggest our favorite Irish pubs in Manhattan?

Alternatively, you could check out the Chicago River, dyed green for the day. Boston is partying all night long, too.

And there's always plenty happening in Dublin. It might be a little late to fly there now, but if you're already there, enjoy. Don't forget to send us drunken pictures!

Related Stories:
· St. Patrick's Festival, Dublin [Official Site]
· In Boston It's Also Evacuation Day [Boston Globe]
· Best Irish Pubs in NYC Map [Jaunted]
· The Chemical Breakdown of the Chicago River Greenness [Jaunted]

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Saturday caps the final day of Golden Week in Japan. Imagine President's Day, Earth Day, the 4th of July, your birthday, and your brother's birthday rolled into one.

The Japanese knock out five holidays in one seven-day period. April 29 is Showa Day (Showa no hi). It honors the birthday of former Emperor Showa, whose reign from 1926 to 1989 makes both Elizabeths look like slackers.

A few days later, on May 3, the Japanese celebrate Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi) as well as The Girls Festival (Hina matsuri). They remember that on this day, in 1947, the post-war constitution went into effect. In a coinciding yet completely different celebration, families wish their daughters a happy life. Little girls receive dolls from their elders. Doll displays, adorned with peach blossoms, go up in homes and public buildings throughout the country.

Without stopping to regroup, the Japanese launch into holiday four. May 4 is Greenery Day (Midori no hi). Not to be confused with the soft-core punk band, the holiday is a nod to Emperor Showa's affinity for nature.

The celebrations taper off with Children's Day (Kodomo no hi) on May 5. Technically, it only refers to boys because the girls already got their homage earlier in the week. Boys, not to be outdone, receive samurai dolls and families hang streamers in their honor. ]]> ced138 2007-05-03T10:14:59-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/