Rouge, blanc et bleu
Inside the French consul general’s Bastille Day bash
Headlining world events have surrounded Bastille Day in recent years.
In 2016, the July 14 festivities ended abruptly after reports of the Nice,
France, truck attack flooded in. Then in 2018, on the day before France clinched the FIFA World Cup, la Fête nationale celebrations kicked into enthusiastic overdrive.
So last Sunday in Houston, French Consul General Alexis Andres continued Bastille Day’s newsy tradition by congratulating the U.S. women’s national soccer team on its 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup victory at the consular residence in River Oaks.
The traditional white manse on Kirby has played host to many a rouge, blanc et bleu lawn-slash-house party. That’s where an intimate crowd dressed in the theme, making the most of an occasion to whip out Lady Dior handbags or Chanel accessories.
A trio of French-speaking mixologists helped things along with a variety of spirited cocktails. Bramble? Classic daiquiri? Chilled rosé or champagne? Just past the home’s marked gate, a white-tented pop-up bar proved a popular first stop for arriving guests. And when the humidity became unbearable, partygoers ducked indoors for air-conditioned relief and a sprawling crudité and charcuterie spread.
Mid-soiree, Andres hopped behind a Lucite podium to deliver brief, bilingual remarks after a duo of national anthems. Then later, the shindig resumed around him with a swirl of passed macarons, eclairs and miniature crème brûlées.
A mix of equally delightful Houstonians, both visiting and permanent fixtures, completed the scene. Miya Shay held court near a sunken atrium, snapping poolside selfies with friends. The artist Sebastien “Mr. D” Boileau gave house tours — he’s a frequent visitor, after all. And City Controller Chris Brown explained the Texas-French Alliance for the Arts’ “Open the Door” initiative. For two weeks in 2013, some 60 two-sided doors painted over by 100 artists were scattered throughout Houston, with one remaining prominently in the consular residence’s front yard. A fitting, photoworthy adieu to this year’s reception and something to look for come 2020.