Brasserie Les Halles to host Bastille Day races
The Bastille Day races and celebration returns to the streets of downtown Washington at Brasserie Les Halles as part of the restaurant’s annual 11-day Liberty Festival, which starts Tuesday.

Throughout the festival, the restaurant offers entertainment, trivia contests and prize drawings. The activities then bubble over onto the street for Bastille Day on July 14 with a party on Pennsylvania Avenue from noon until 4 p.m., featuring music, food and entertainment.

Among the attractions that day are cancan dancers, history characters, a disc jockey and the famous Bastille Races. Politicians and VIPs are expected to pack the restaurant’s patio.

The day wouldn’t be complete without the famous Waiter & Waitress Race, in which wait staff from area restaurants speed-walk toward the Capitol and back to Les Halles while balancing a loaded tray on one hand.

Les Halles is located at 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Phone: (202) 347-6848.

Party on the Potomac
Capitol Entertainment Group presents the second annual Party on the Potomac on Tuesday. Featured bands include Jimi Smooth and HitTime Band and the Ken Edwards Band.

Time: 4 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Place: Cantina Marina (400 Water St. S.W.)

What: An open-bar celebration of the nation’s independence complete with Fourth of July fare and a view of the annual fireworks display over the Potomac.

Tickets cost $70 for women and $85 for men and are available on the CEG website only. There will be no sales at the door. The Web address is www.capitolentertainmentgroup.com.

Capital Club boys plan Sinatra Soiree
The Capital Club will hold a night of cocktails and carousing at its 14th annual Summer Sinatra Soiree, featuring live music by D.C. Sinatra band Swingtown.

The party takes place Thursday, July 20, from 8:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. at the Galleria at Lafayette Center, 1155 21st St. N.W. Women pay $50 online or $60 at the door; Men pay $60 online or $70 at the door.

Attire is “strong cocktail” for women and “summer ahoy” for the men, which means clothing one would wear at a yacht club.