Bastille Day

What's on tap for Bastille Day (July 14) at French restaurants in the area?Le Bistro Midi (845 S. Montford Ave., 410-276-0800) is celebrating the whole week with wine and cheese tastings, a five-course French meal July 11, a French champagne brunch July 13, and for the day itself, a prix fixe meal.Maggie's in Westminster (310 E. Green St., 410-848-1441) is planning a happy hour running from 3 p.m. to 6: 30 p.m., two-for-one on all drinks.Tersiguel's in Ellicott City (8293 Main St., 410-465-4004)

It's Europe Day! (Yeah, we didn't know that either.) Welcome to your trends report for Friday, May 10. You're not alone if you were in the dark about the EU's annual holiday: Apparently, very few Europeans know that it exists. Nonetheless, between that, soccer championships and some market-related news articles, Europe managed to get some major attention on Twitter this morning. Also getting heavy traffic -- mostly on Google search -- was the NBA. This weekend's matchups include Heat-Bulls and Warriors-Spurs.

Watercolor Lavender Farm will hold its second Bastille Day Celebration of the Arts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 13 at the farm, 2821 Hitchcock Road in White Hall. Owned and operated by the Asher Family, about 3 acres are planted in lavender, which is harvested and made into sachets, soaps, oils and other natural products. Watercolor Lavender Farm was the recipient of the 2001 Outstanding Achievement Award for Small Business from the Chesapeake Bay Program and Business for the Bay. The celebration will include the sale of a variety of distinctive products, including cheese, bread, organic produce, fresh-cut flowers, photography, pottery, stained glass and handcrafted furniture.

It's been years since Baltimore hosted a political convention, but almost under the radar one's happening here this week. Members of the Green Party of the United States are gathering downtown starting today, opening a three-day convention to pick a presidential candidate. Jill Stein, a physician and environmental health advocate from Massachusetts is the frontrunner, with 138 of the 184 delegates assigned so far. Comedian and actress Roseanne Barr, who's been active in politics over the past decade, is running second.

Elk Run Vineyards will get a jump on Bastille Day celebrations with a French dinner from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. July 13 at the winery west of Taylorsville. Diners can watch the sun set over the vineyard while enjoying a six-course dinner under a tent. Elk Run wines, many of which will be older vintages, will be matched with each course. The cost is $85 per person, and reservations are required. Elk Run is at 15113 Liberty Road. Information: 410-775-2513. Mouse, fish, puppy at Mount Airy library The Mount Airy branch library, 705 Ridge Ave., will offer: "Year Round Story Time" at 11 a.m. today (Dynamite Dogs)

TUESDAY WAS Bastille Day. And, in honor of the occasion, the Savage librarians celebrated the French Revolution.As part of the celebration, the staff asked for a contribution from Bonaparte Breads -- the authentic French bakery in Savage Mill.What a good idea!It happens that master baker Pierre Lefilliatre bears a strong resemblance to Napoleon Bonaparte.Lefilliatre brought four dozen little pains elegantes -- elegant breads -- for participants to consume.He owns an accurate Napoleonic-era uniform, which he wore to the presentation.

Well-aged music with rich color, a hint of tobacco and a strong finish was served up by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to open its newly christened Summer Wine and Music Fest Wednesday night at the Meyerhoff. Because it was also Bastille Day, the tastings in the lobby were of French vintages; inside the hall, works by French composers prevailed. As in previous BSO summer festivals, a chamber-music program preceded the orchestral one, and, in a nicely symmetrical touch, the spirit of Francois Couperin put both portions in motion.

DIGNE-LES-BAINS, France - The signs on the autoroute announced it clearly: Driving into Digne-les-Bains was "impossible" without a pass. But on this Bastille Day, French cyclists were exempt from the rules of the road. David Moncoutie of the French team Cofidis went to the front early and fought off a series of attacks to finish an emotional first in the 116.2-mile 12th stage of the Tour de France yesterday. Sandy Casar of team Francaise des Jeux outsprinted Spain's Angel Vicioso for second.

SAINT-FLOUR, France - The racing yesterday belonged to the French, which seemed fair because it was Bastille Day, a national holiday. Richard Virenque, 34, a rider brought down by the Tour de France's worst doping scandal in 1998 but who rose again because of his fierce love of climbing the mountains, led much of the way to earn the first mountain-stage victory. And a young native, Thomas Voeckler, made a determined sprint at the end of the 147.27-mile leg, this year's longest, to hold on to the Tour's yellow jersey.

PARIS -- A young Frenchman with neo-Nazi connections fired at least one shot at President Jacques Chirac yesterday morning as the French leader was being driven in an open jeep down the Champs-Elysees before the start of the annual Bastille Day military parade, police said. Chirac was not hurt. The police said the man, Maxime Brunerie, 25, who was wrestled to the ground by spectators before he was arrested, admitted planning to assassinate Chirac and then commit suicide. Brunerie, a student and part-time chauffeur who lives in the Paris suburbs, was "known to belong to neo-Nazi and hooligan movements," including a far-right student group, the police said.

A new Sofi's Crepes is opening Thursday (Bastille Day) at 11 a.m. in the Valley Village Shopping Center, at 9123 Reisterstown Road, Owings Mills. Ann Costlow's original Sofi's Crepes opened next to the Everyman Theatre around the turn of the century. Costlow also owns the location on the lower level of the Woman's Industrial Exchange. As is the Sofi's in Annapolis, which is owned by Stephanie Hans, the Owings Mills store is a franchise operation. The owner of the new Sofi's is Nina Knocke.

BASTILLE DAY : French restaurant Elkridge Furnace Inn hosts its seventh annual Bastille Day celebration, including live music by jazz band Lovecraft, a silent auction of gourmet gift baskets, and food. Proceeds from the event go to Johns Hopkins Children's Pediatric Trauma Service and team, which help about 1,000 critically injured children every year. Join chef Daniel Wecker from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. July 25 at the inn, 5745 Furnace Ave., Elkridge. $50 in advance; $60 at the door. Call 410-379-4336 or visit elkridgefurnaceinn.

Ruth Harriet Hoffman, who formerly owned a freight forwarding business, died of lung cancer Sunday at her sister's Woodlawn home. The Irvington resident was 62. Born in Baltimore, Miss Hoffman was a 1964 graduate of Edmondson High School. She worked at the old Maryland Glass Co. for 16 years, and was a union shop steward there. After an on-the job injury, she became a freight forwarding agent for Phoenix Motor Express and later ran her own business in Jessup. She retired about five years ago. Family members said Miss Hoffman was a favorite aunt to her many nieces and nephews, who affectionately called her Aunt Ruthie.

THIS WAS THE FIFTH year in which Dan and Donna Wecker had thrown a Bastille Day celebration at their restaurant, The Elkridge Furnace Inn. It was the biggest one yet, with a couple hundred folks expected. About half an hour into the party, the winds kicked up around the party tent, and guests rushed to the doors to watch members of the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Trauma Team arrive on the back lawn. By helicopter. Not an unimpressive way to introduce the evening's beneficiary. For many of the guests though, the helicopter wasn't the party standout.

If you can't get away to the Mediterranean this summer, a new restaurant in Annapolis is bringing it to you. Kyma is all about Mediterranean cuisine, with some cool, breezy digs to match. Spokeswoman Victoria Caplick says the restaurant is a joint venture between the Sfakiynudis family of Annapolis - who owns the 200-year-old building - and Jack Boyle of Mie N Yu in Georgetown. Let's start with the environs. Caplick said the owners wanted to combine old and new. So you'll see some exposed brick walls interspersed with sleek white surfaces and cobalt-blue tile.

DIGNE-LES-BAINS, France - The signs on the autoroute announced it clearly: Driving into Digne-les-Bains was "impossible" without a pass. But on this Bastille Day, French cyclists were exempt from the rules of the road. David Moncoutie of the French team Cofidis went to the front early and fought off a series of attacks to finish an emotional first in the 116.2-mile 12th stage of the Tour de France yesterday. Sandy Casar of team Francaise des Jeux outsprinted Spain's Angel Vicioso for second.

BASTILLE DAY : French restaurant Elkridge Furnace Inn hosts its seventh annual Bastille Day celebration, including live music by jazz band Lovecraft, a silent auction of gourmet gift baskets, and food. Proceeds from the event go to Johns Hopkins Children's Pediatric Trauma Service and team, which help about 1,000 critically injured children every year. Join chef Daniel Wecker from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. July 25 at the inn, 5745 Furnace Ave., Elkridge. $50 in advance; $60 at the door. Call 410-379-4336 or visit elkridgefurnaceinn.

A new Sofi's Crepes is opening Thursday (Bastille Day) at 11 a.m. in the Valley Village Shopping Center, at 9123 Reisterstown Road, Owings Mills. Ann Costlow's original Sofi's Crepes opened next to the Everyman Theatre around the turn of the century. Costlow also owns the location on the lower level of the Woman's Industrial Exchange. As is the Sofi's in Annapolis, which is owned by Stephanie Hans, the Owings Mills store is a franchise operation. The owner of the new Sofi's is Nina Knocke.

Well-aged music with rich color, a hint of tobacco and a strong finish was served up by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to open its newly christened Summer Wine and Music Fest Wednesday night at the Meyerhoff. Because it was also Bastille Day, the tastings in the lobby were of French vintages; inside the hall, works by French composers prevailed. As in previous BSO summer festivals, a chamber-music program preceded the orchestral one, and, in a nicely symmetrical touch, the spirit of Francois Couperin put both portions in motion.

SAINT-FLOUR, France - The racing yesterday belonged to the French, which seemed fair because it was Bastille Day, a national holiday. Richard Virenque, 34, a rider brought down by the Tour de France's worst doping scandal in 1998 but who rose again because of his fierce love of climbing the mountains, led much of the way to earn the first mountain-stage victory. And a young native, Thomas Voeckler, made a determined sprint at the end of the 147.27-mile leg, this year's longest, to hold on to the Tour's yellow jersey.