Bastille Day: A New Entry for the Waiters Race

When Les Halles closed suddenly last year, it meant the end of the traditional Bastille Day waiters' races -- or so we thought.

This year, those who want to do some racing have two choices: The French maid races in Adams Morgan at L'Enfant, one of several Bastille Day events that Julia and I wrote about earlier, or a more traditional competition at the Sofitel, as part of its "SOphisticated SOcial Hour" from 7 to 9 on Tuesday night.

The Sofitel's races will take place on the sidewalk on 15th Street NW outside the hotel, explains Lisa Byrne, the hotel's director of catering and conference services. The format will be similar to the old races at Les Halles: You have to speed-walk while carrying trays of full glasses of water. The only real difference is the length of the Sofitel's course: "It's a little less than a block, so we have people go back and forth a few times," Byrne says. Anyone can enter, and bottles of wine will be awarded to the winners.

Not racing? The evening starts with a free tasting of French wines, and bartenders will be making drinks with French ingredients (Domain de Canton ginger liqueur, Emperor vodka) both inside the hotel's art deco Le Bar and on its patio. Capacity for the party is limited, so RSVP to pamelaspunch@aol.com to get on the list.

-- Fritz

By Anne  |  July 10, 2009; 3:56 PM ET
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