Bastille Day @ The Bergamot Station

So am I more of an a-​hole than deron t. because I want to give Bastille Day no stars?
A group of us drove all the way from Pasadena to the Westside for only one stinkin’ Marguez sandwich, which I was told by my French acquaintance that it was just okay as far as the Marguez goes. FYI — Marguez is like the French’s version of chorizo.
It’s so misleading that the event was advertised as at Bergamot station… it really should have said Bergamot station parking lot. And how could there only be 3 food booths? Not only that but the French sandwich booth ran out of the «jambon/​beurre» and «ham/​swiss» sandwiches at 6:30pm, leaving only the marquez baguette sandwich and some veggie paninis. How could they run out of food when the event is supposed to go to midnight?!
And after a ½ hr in line with very little progress, we gave up on the crepes. The other booth was the Moroccan food. Btw Nancy Y., we didn’t get any coupons for free crepes… sigh…
Next year, I’m SO going to the Lotus Festival instead!!!

Nancy Y. is very generous and kind whereas I’m more of an a-​hole so I gave the event just 1 star. I went last year when it was held in Park LaBrea and found myself disappointed too. Unfortunately as disappointed as I was last year, I was even more so this year. I felt the venue was cooler in that there was the possibility of checking out the art galleries but like Nancy said, there was only one gallery open and the woman watching the gallery didn’t want to be there let alone show any hint of kindness when I asked questions from «are there prints available to buy from this artist here?» to «is this the only gallery open?»
The stage entertainment was rather mediocre mostly due to really short sets by various artists. Call me a pig, but a 5-​minute cabaret display is just a tease much like having this celebration with 50 art galleries around you and not being able to see any of them is a tease!
Having been to the Bastille day celebration in San Francisco, I believe the French in L.A. don’t really know how to throw a party. Ah, but the french in S.F., mmmmm, cool cats that can really turn an alleyway into a street celebration.
The one good thing, hmmmm, the food was good as much as food can be in a street fest. It was enuf to know and possibly go to the actual restaurant and try the real deal.
The sad part was that the best thing of the day was celebrating later at Café Stella in Silverlake with a bottle of french red from Provence — actually that wasn’t sad, that was frickin awesome. My hats off to our bartender and hostess with the mostess.

6^th Annual event held at the Santa Monica art galleries, Bergamot Station. All but one gallery closed to the public. A beautiful day to be outside, listening to live bands. Variety of music, booths with food, including crepes from Café Marly. They were giving away cards for complimentary dessert crêpe with dinner. We just ate there last night, and ordered the dessert crepes, so we have them for next time. The Marrakesh food was recommended. The lines were long for the crepes and the Marrakesh booths. Also, snow cones of all kinds of favors and colors.
Friendly peeps, lots of french speaking people of all colors, and lots of kiddies. I didn’t see any dancers or entertainers and we wandered around for a while. The jewelry stands had some very nice pieces, great prices but they didn’t accept credit cards. They should probably have more tables and chairs by the stage area. Entrance fee, $ 5. We found street parking after driving just a bit away, as someone was just leaving. It goes from 2pm to 12 midnight, so it’s a perfect thing to do on a Sunday. Off the 10 freeway, Cloverdale exit, right onto Michigan Avenue.