Brasserie Les Halles Bastille Day Liberty Festival

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO! DOWNTOWN FOR
THE ANNUAL BASTILLE RACES, THURSDAY JULY 14
AS PART OF THE LES HALLES LIBERTY FESTIVAL:
Eleven Days Celebrating American and French Freedom from July 4 - 14

New York, June 2005 - Summertime in New York means outdoor fun, parties, and barbeque food. Brasserie Les Halles Bastille Races and festivities have now becoming an annual summer tradition of family, fun, and food. After an extremely successful event last July, Les Halles brings back the Liberty Festival and Bastille Races summer celebration in the heart of Manhattan's Financial District. "The Liberty Festival amplifies the vibrant spirit of downtown New York," notes Philippe Lajaunie, proprietor of the Les Halles brasseries. Les Halles Downtown will be celebrating the most important dates in the U.S. and France - the 4th of July, America's Independence Day, and the 14th of July, Bastille Day, during an 11 day Festival. A Liberty Festival will be produced in all three cities that are home to a Brasserie Les Halles: NYC, DC and Miami.


OUTDOOR LIBERTY FESTIVAL: RACES & ENTERTAINMENT - JULY 14, BASTILLE DAY
The activities in the restaurant will bubble over onto the street on Thursday, July 14th (Bastille Day) with the outdoor Liberty Festival street party on John Street from 11:30 - 4:00PM featuring music, entertainment such as Cancan dancers, portraiture, Lady Liberty, music, the famous "Bastille Races" and of course, food. The Bastille Day after-party will start with live music at 5PM.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Festival goers line the racecourse to cheer on the contestants, and enjoy the often-hilarious antics of these unique games. In the Waiter's/Waitress' Race, restaurant wait-staff from all over the city speed-walk the racecourse balancing a tray with a bottle and a wine glass on one hand. A team of 10 waiters, winners of the Stockholm Waiter's Race, will be flying in from Scandinavia to compete. The Scandinavian waiters swept the races last year, giving the French/American waiters and waitresses a reason to band together and beat the global champs. "The Waiter's Race has been so popular, that we created more races so kids, chefs and even restaurant goers could participate," according to Lajaunie. The other races are; the Chef's Race, a Les Haller's Race (Guest's Race) and a Les Halles Angel's Race (Children's Race). The suggested entry fee for all races is $10, with all proceeds going to benefit Best Buddies. (Best Buddies is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.) Best Buddies is the sponsor of the Liberty Festival in the 3 cities.


REVOLUTIONARY MENU SPECIALS - JULY 4 - 14
Beginning on Friday, July 4, Les Halles Downtown will set the summer spirit with eleven straight days of non-stop activities including trivia quizzes, prizes, music, and of course a special "Revolutionary" menu in the restaurant (at 15 John Street, off Broadway). The Liberty Festival menu will feature dishes inspired by both the American and French revolutions. The special menu will feature two appetizers; "One if by land" (Marinated Beef Carpaccio, Baby Arugula and Parmesan Cheese), and "Two if by sea" (Crab, Avocado and Pink Grapefruit Salad with Tomato Mayonnaise). The entrees served include: Minuteman's Beef Stew with Boiled Potatoes, Roasted Meat Loaf of Beef and Pork with Roasted Potatoes, and Seared Halibut with Maitre-d'Hotel butter with Mashed Potatoes. For dessert - partake in the "Boston Tea Party" Raspberry Napoleon and Tea Granite). Of course, the regular brasserie menu is always available.


BASTILLE DAY RACE SCHEDULE
15 John Street between Broadway and Nass