Yep, July 14 is Bastille Day, a French National Holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille in 1789. From Wikepedia:

the storming of the Bastille was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern French “nation”, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution.

Around town, there are numerous Bastille Day celebrations. PIX in North is having an all day event with Citroens, bands and French pasties. The Pearl is having their own waiter races in Jamison Square. St. Honore in NW is celebrating too from 10am-2pm with French food and musicians. There are probably others I am missing. Point is, Portland seems to love France.

It brings up a question though. Two weeks ago, Canadians celebrated Canada day on July 1. Similar to our July 4th, Canada Day is a national celebration marking the establishment of Canada as a self-governing country on July 1, 1867. Yet, I don’t seem to remember any raucous parties or waterfront celebrations to honor that down here? We celebrate Cinco De Mayo. We party for St. Patrick’s Day. We get crazy for Chinese New Years. And today, many are celebrating France. Why don’t we celebrate Canada?

Well, Happy Bastille day all and a belated Happy Canada day to all those Portlanders hailing from our neighbor north.