Brooklyn'a Bastille Day 2011 -- La Fête Nationale!

They were packed onto Smith Street in Boerum Hill like French sardines yesterday (Sunday) for America's biggest celebration of Bastille Day.

This was Smith Street's ninth-annual Fête Nationale, and -- like always -- it was a coolly French event: French music, French food, French hats, Ricard, Lillet, and the famous petanque tournament, played with tennis-ball-sized metal balls (a bit like bocce).

Several blocks of Smith Street were covered with a layer of sand, courtesy of the Quadrozzi Concrete Company, a venerable Brooklyn institution.

Sometimes careful measurement is required to see who is closest.

Watching the games.

Keeping alive the tradition of playing drink in hand.

Above: the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn, a crowd-pleasing jazz, swing and blues band, played till 6 p.m.; François Weiss performed till 10 p.m. We're told that Les Sans Culottes put on a show in front of Provence en Boite at Smith and Degraw.

Blue Vipers' drummer.

Bar Tabac featured the food of Pierre Landet, master chef of France, along with a special appearance of chef Benjamin Darnaud of France, who is seen on “Top Chef” and “C’est Moi Qui Regale.”

Pate en croute.

And as always, fooseball!

The event was founded by Bette Stoltz of the South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation, with the help of Bar Tabac (a big sponsor) along with Robin des Bois and Ricard, also sponsors.

We missed the skateboard tournament his year. Hope they can get whatever legal/ insurance/ economic issues worked out for next year.

Photos copyright MK Metz

Previous posts about this topic:
- 2011 Bastille Day Coming Up
- Brooklyn's Bastille Day, 2010
- Brooklyn's 2010 Bastille Day Celebration Looking Big
- Brooklyn Bastille Day 2009 -- Great Day, Big Crowds
- Bastille Day 2009 in Brooklyn
- Bastille Day in Brooklyn: The French Conquer Smith Street
- Brooklyn's Bastille Day: Smith Street, Sunday
- Bastille Day in Brooklyn -- La Rue de Smith Sautait!

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