Bastille Day Party at L’Enfant Cafe-Bar: French Maid Race and Masquerade Ball, July14th

Photo courtesy of L’Enfant Cafe Bar

From a press release:

“In celebration of their 6th Annual Bastille Day Block Party and French Maid Race, L’Enfant Café Bar, 2200 18th Street, NW, announces it has added a masquerade ball to its popular Bastille Day festivities. The annual party has grown so popular, the casual café-bar has made arrangement to once again close an entire city block. Co-hosted by King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette – who bear a striking resemblance to L’Enfant’s owners Jim Ball and Christopher Lynch – the Bastille Day Block Party will take over Vernon Street, NW, between 18th and 19th Streets. Doors open at 4p.m. and the street party concludes at 11p.m. Newcomers need look no further than the corner bar at 18th Street (at Vernon) topped with an Eiffel Tower and draped with les drapeaux Tricolor. The guillotine out front is a dead giveaway.

Continues after the jump.

The entrance fee to D.C.’s most revolutionary party is $5 for commoners and royalty alike. Guests are invited to chill to DJs and enjoy street bars and food stalls in anticipation of the arrival of the Absolute Monarch, his queen and courtiers who will attend the French maid races. L’Enfant will offer food and drink specials and door prizes will be awarded by the King all evening.

The French maid race will start at 8p.m., July 14th.  L’Enfant will provide costumes for up to 40 competitors. The entrance fee ($25) will be donated to the Make a Wish Foundation. Racers must don the traditional short, frilly black and white lace apron dress and prepare to be silly. and get wet The object of the race is to fill a Champagne glass with soup spoons of water by running back and forth between the coupe and a bucket of water. Winners in categories including “Fastest”, “Shortest Skirt” and “His Majesty’s Favorite” will win prizes including a magnum of Champagne. No participant shall lose their head. Says co-owner Jim Ball with a wink, “Our annual French Maid Race has all of the fun and excitement of the Grand Prix with none of the elegance.”

After the races, L’Enfant will debut a new twist to the street party: a masquerade ball. DJ booths will be rolled into Vernon Street and all attendees will be gifted with a mask. The dancing on the street will conclude at 11p.m. when the street party ends. Dancing will continue inside L’Enfant Café Bar until its official closing time of 2 a.m.

Schedule of events:

4 p.m. Bastille Day Block Party Kicks Off
6 p.m. Arrival of King Louis XVI
8 p.m. French Maid Race
8:30pm Arrival of Queen Marie Antoinette and courtiers
9 p.m. Masquerade Ball on Vernon Street NW between 18th and 19th Streets
11 p.m. Last dance and revelers are invited inside L’Enfant”