Strains of Edith Piaf singing "Bravo Le Clown" drifted from the Joseph Aubain ballpark parking lot late Tuesday afternoon. Yes, Piaf in Frenchtown. Bon Bastille!
Francophile, Frenchtown French, Northside French, or French wannabe, the evening’s celebration sent French Heritage Week out with a bang on Bastille Day, the French celebration of independence. It’s been a heady five days as the island hosted everything French from formal receptions, a neighborhood dance, to the annual Kingfish Tournament at Hull Bay and the governor’s reception Monday night at his Catherineberg residence.
Traditionally, the Frenchtown Civic Organization hosts the event which brings the French community together to send the week off in style.
After the subtle strains of Piaf, a rousing rendition of the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise," got the celebration moving. Henry Richardson, FTCO president, took the evening in a slightly different direction this year.
"No dedications," Richardson said, "just dancing, food and fellowship this year."
Generally, one of the local French heroes is honored, but this year all were honored. "We are treating everyone tonight," Richardson said, as he dispatched a veritable distaff army in red berets to pour champagne for one and all.
In the spirit of the evening, the French females, from tiny members of the St. Anne’s Chapel children’s choir, Les Enfants de St. Anne, to veterans like Cindy Hunt, Richardson’s daughter, circulated through the crowd in bright red berets, holding trays bearing shrimp, roast beef, pickup saltfish, ham, deviled eggs, crab salad, cheese and fruit trays.
Richardson is no stranger to feeding crowds. With a little smile he revealed a secret: "No plates — everyone will be served and given a napkin."
The highlight of the evening was the glittering Eiffel Tower prominently situated to the side of the Frenchtown Heritage Museum. The replica was the work of Allan Richardson, well-known on the island for his creative skills — like the lobster who lived on top of the late Barnacle Bill’s restaurant in Sub Base to Carnival floats beyond number to the intricately constructed boat he created last year.
Henry Richardson said Allan constructed the magnificent tower from foam, covering it with copper glitter.
Capturing the spirit of the evening, Ted Luscz, longtime Frenchtown restaurateur and owner of Hook, Line and Sinker, said: "Frenchtown is the only place to celebrate Bastille Day, or any other day for that matter."
The band Top Notch provided live music, featuring vocalists Jamal Williams and Bisha Liburd, backed by Bernard Liburd and Kendal Williams on percussion. Williams has a Frenchtown connection; his father is "Willie the Postman," a Frenchtown landmark himself.
Folks danced, drank champagne, ate and chatted, honoring each other and the French day far into the night. And they will do it all again next year. And the year after that. And the champagne will flow, and the songs will be sung. Bon Bastille!
