Tips for Throwing a French-Themed Party

For Francophiles, any time is a good time to celebrate French, but there is one holiday in particular that cries out for a French-themed party: Bastille Day. Here are some ideas for a party with some French panache.DecorationsIf youre going for patriotic Bastille Day colors, Americans have it easy: you can just reuse your red, white, and blue bunting from the 4th of July. You might also consider investing in some posters, or make your own by blowing up your favorite photos of France. If youre feeling artistic or playful, decorate place card with little drawings of the Eiffel Tower, or make tiny berets or French flags as party favors.DiscussionsTo get people in a chatty mood, consider one of these topic ideas:- French quotations - offer up a few of your favorite Francophone words of wisdom for discussion.- Today in Francophone history - talk about famous French people who share each guests birthday.- Travel stories - anyone who has been to France will be eager to talk about it. Set up a projector to swap stories and photos.br/>- French culture - theres no shortage of discussion topics when it comes to French movies, plays, literature...- French is better than... everything - I put this together just for fun; see if you can add to my lists, or come up with new ones.- Spanish is easier than French - fact or fiction?EntertainmentDont forget to have some nice French music playing in the background, or even a movie.Food and DrinkNothing says fà ªte like good French food and drinks. Some classic foods are cheese, crà ªpes, fondue, French onion soup, pà ¢tà ©, pissaladià ¨re, quiche, ratatouille, croissants, and a variety of French breads. For dessert, try chocolate mousse, and crà ¨me brà »là ©e. As for beverages, theres wine, champagne, pastis, chartreuse, coffee, and Orangina. Bon appà ©tit  !Vive la France!