Vive Le France!
Fun French things to do on this seriously gay Independence Day.
July 10, 2014
We can all agree that France is the gayest country—all those men walking around wearing berets and carrying long, thick baguettes; hello—and that makes Bastille Day, the annual celebration of France’s liberation from the aristocracy on July 14, the gayest Independence Day celebration around. As we live in such a culturally rich city, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday.
WHERE TO EAT
Petrossian Boutique and Café
911 Seventh Ave (btwn 57th/58th Sts), petrossian.com.
Start your morning off with a pastry from one of the best French bakeries in New York. Their plain croissant is the thing wet dreams are made of: perfectly fluffy and flaky, and so melt-in-your-mouth buttery, you might think you forgot to brush your teeth after your trade left last night.
WHERE TO DRINK
Vin Sur Vingt
201 W 11th St (@ Seventh Ave), vinsur20nyc.com.
Inspired by Paris’ bars á vins, this cozy little West Village wine bar has an authentic selection of regional wines that will make you feel like you’re sitting beside the Seine and listening to Edith Piaf, whose songs they’ll hopefully be playing in the bar.
GET SOME CULTURE
The Strand
828 Broadway (@ 12th St), strandbooks.com.
Looking for some erotic French poetry to read to your lover as you smoke post-coital cigarettes in a room lit only by the soft glow of far-off streetlamps? How very Parisian of you! Head to this iconic downtown bookstore and grab something by Pierre Louÿs, Charles Baudelaire, Anaïs Nin, or Arthur Rimbaud. If you need a recommendation, the staff is incredibly knowledgeable—and sometimes snobby and pretentious, which is perfect for Bastille Day!
WHAT TO SAY
Impress your beau with a few handy French phrases:
“Embrasse moi.”
[Sounds like: “Ombwas mwah.”]
Translation : “Kiss Me.”
“Oh non, elle n’a pas!”
[Sounds like: “O noh, el na pah!”]
Translation : “Oh no she didn’t!”
“Cette chemise est fabuleux!”
[Sounds like: “Set shaymee-zay faboolurh!”]
Translation : “That shirt is fabulous!”
“Sissy qui marche!” [Sounds like: ]
[Sounds like: “Seesee kee mahsh!”]
Translation: “Sissy that walk!”
“Ouuuuuiiiiiii!”
[Sounds like: “Weeeeeeeeh!”]
Translation: “Yaaaaaaaaas!”
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