Fete de la Musique...It's French for Party Time!

Vous etre un chien! That means, "you are a dog" in French. It's not terribly impressive, but it's all I managed to retain from a year of introductory French in freshman year of Christopher Columbus High School, before I got kicked out and began my extensive tour of SoFla's high school system. But just because I forgot how to speak the language doesn't mean I can't enjoy their many artistic, culinary and cultural contributions. And no, French fries, French toast and French kissing do not count...though, admittedly, all are enjoyable.

You may not speak French either, but likewise, there's no reason you can't enjoy the upcoming Fete de la Musique, a free celebration of music to kick off the first day of summer on Sunday, June 21. The party starts at 5pm at the Alliance Francaise (618 SW 8 ST), where locally-based Afro-Latin World-Beat Mezcla maestros Lanzallamas Monofonica will prove yet again why their music is a truly universal language. Brazilian samba ensemble Grupo Embalo will follow them.

And the party continues, as their flyer says, "until late," first with a performance at Gordon Biersch by electro-nu jazz band Amereida, then at Transit with Vincent Raffars and Nico Wayne Toussaint, direct from Paris. Sure, Monday morning is gonna suck, but just make like the French and pour yourself a glass of fermented grapes for breakfast. Ok...that was a sweeping generalization. Then again, I'm not above it.

For more information on Fete de la Musique head here.