Party like its 1789: Bastille Day

Looking to storm the gates of good times this weekend? Thanks to the French Revolution and the brave souls who brought down the Bastille, you can. In creating the modern French Republic, they also left us a festive anniversary every July 14 that is celebrated with fervor in many parts of the world, including our fair city.

Francophiles take note: there are two monster events to attend before Monday. The most stunning, and reportedly the largest Bastille Day celebration in the West, is the Santa Barbara French Festival. The free event takes place in Oak Park on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and nearly 22,000 people are expected to attend. The name of the game is French food and entertainment and plenty of it. Dine on crepes, sip champagne and watch cabaret shows on three stages. Wandering mimes, jugglers and accordion players will mingle with the crowd and there will be puppet shows, storytellers and a wading pool for the littlest French fry.

If a trip to Santa Barbara isn't in the cards then live it up in town at West Hollywood Park's Bastille Day festival on Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. The price is $5 (free for the tykes), which makes this cheap and French and fun. There will be a wacky French waiter's race and a petanque tournament (for those of you who excel at tossing metal balls at sticks). Comedians, musicians and singers will abound and faux-street cafes will be set up to serve a bounty of French delicacies and wines.

If you're not the crowd and festival type and you just want to celebrate quietly with your beau over a decadent French meal, then make a reservation at one of these restaurants to get in on special Bastille Day deals:

La Cachette: Eat a Bastille Day dinner on Monday. The $90 three-course meal includes an appetizer (Jean Francois' fois gras terrine with sauterne aspic and small brioche, petit gris escargot with stuffed wth mushroom and garlic butter or Belgium endive salad with white truffle oil, walnuts and mix of Imported Blue cheeses); a main course (duck two-way a l'orange with braised cabbage and crispy potatoes, roasted rack of lamb, grilled vegetable Provencal with thyme, lemon grass and ginger jus or grilled Alaskan halibut with asparagus in a mousseline sauce; and a dessert (an assortment of La Cachette's special Bastille Day sweets).

71 Palm Restaurant: From 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. this quaint Ventura restaurant (Which specializes in French country dining) will serve a special three-course Bastille Day menu with a glass of house wine for $35 per person. Choices include tomato Provencal tart, grilled salmon béarnaise and steak au poivre. Live accordion music will be performed.

Wine Bistro: This restaurant promises "a little bit of Paris in Studio City" and on Sunday and Monday it is sure to deliver. A Bastille Day brunch will take place on Sunday with live French jazz and on Monday night there will be more of the same including DJ Le Noir and special menu items.

La Vie En Rose: Located in Brea, this French restaurant will serve up a special four-course menu of French favorites and a beverage for $75 a head and jazz up the scene with live music, Cancan dancers and an honest-to-god "best beret" contest. C'mon you must have one somewhere in your closet.

The Foundry: Perhaps the most unique way to celebrate the holiday is at Eric Greenspan's restaurant where $40 a head will get you dinner, dessert and a cocktail. The event is a fundraiser for a cook from Craft restaurant who was hit on his Vespa while heading to work and has no health insurance to pay his massive medical bills. Greenspan, Lisa Vega of Providence and Ray England of Craft will make the food and first-rate bartenders from the Doheny, Comme Ca, Osteria Mozza, Malo, Gordon Ramsay and the Edison will pour the fancy drinks. 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Melisse Restaurant: Proceeds from this Bastille Day dinner will go to the Careers through Culinary Arts Program's scholarship fund, which helps students from public high schools find career opportunities in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Chef Josiah Citrin will team up with students and graduates to prepare French delicacies such as boeuf Bourguignon and classic apple tarts. The cost is $130 per person and the fun begins at 6:30 p.m.