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New Philly Restaurant: Parc

July 14, 2008 at 11:00 AM | 1 Comment

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]

[Photo: Philadelphia City Paper]

Bastille Day

Francophile Travel: Bastille Day in New York

July 10, 2008 at 9:45 AM | 0 Comments

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]

[Photo: celesteh]