Brooklyn's Micro Museum, called by the New York Times "A high-tech funhouse," will present, in association with Musician's General Store, South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation, and Bar Tabec --- its third Annual Bastille Day Street Party on Smith Street on Sunday July 10 from 10 AM to 8 PM between Bergen and Pacific Streets (F.G train to Bergen Street). The Museum has been in the forefront of bringing worldwide artists to the area to create their performances (theater, dance music) and to exhibit their leading edge art and media. Celebrating its democratic mission, as well as the third anniversary of the Museum's expansion to the ground floor space at 123 Smith Street; making it more visible and accessible to their whole community, they are giving a "international neighborhood block party," in line with the French Revolution theme of "Power To the People." 

The multi-faceted Festival will include specially-created "festival food" and drinks at kiosks from such distinguished Smith Street French restaurants as Bar Tabac, Patois and Robin Des Bois, Saul's as well as other noted institutions like Cucina, Apt. 138, Raga, Tabouli, Pacifico and La Rosa & Sons. In addition, Bar Tabac will supervise patanque tournaments (a French ball game similar to bocci), where interested participants can register for a fee.

Other events will include Conceptual Artist Mikella Millen, "street-chalking" from 10 AM to 3 PM, creating a vivid but temporary artwork. She will direct anyone willing to help with her free spirited design-in-progress that will serve as the literal groundwork for the music party at 6 PM for Cyro Baptista's Beat The Donkey.

Inside Micro Museum, tours from 12 noon to 6 PM will be available of exhibits, including the interactive VIP room, and works by William and Kathleen Laziza: Blabbermouth, an interactive furniture suite which when sat on, utter hundreds of famous sayings, and the notorious Kissing Installation, where viewers can incite patterns of kissing and imagery (for the festival, special images from the Louvre will be used). There will be an additional party for BLABBERMOUTH - July 16 from 5 - 8 PM, with William and Kathleen Laziza, toasting the completion of their newest interactive installation as well as, their 25th anniversary year of collaboration, creative partnership and marriage. BLABBERMOUTH will be the feature exhibit of Micro Museum until September 24 and will be a highlight exhibit from October 8 - until 2006.

There will be music throughout the day, culminating in a special 6 PM performance by world-renowned Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista and his group, Beat the Donkey. Baptista is a unique performer who as worked with such artists as Paul Simon. YoYo Ma, David Byrne, John Zorn, Trey Anastasio and Dr. John, he is regularly cited on the "Best" lists of the New York Times, Downbeat and other major music outlets. Beat the Donkey newest CD has been hailed a "carnival in a can". http://www.cyrobaptista.com

Micro Museum, headed by William and Kathleen Laziza, opened on Smith Street in 1986, and since then has "beguiled visitors" (Time Out New York) with its cutting-edge art from all over the world. Micro Museum is supported in part by the public funds of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the NYS Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Special thanks to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, NYC Council Brooklyn Delegation and Assemblywoman Joan Millman. For further information on Micro Museum's Bastille Day on Smith Street, visit http://www.micromuseum.com/

Musician's General Store, owned by Mingo Tull and Roseann Natale, is one of Micro Museum's creative partners and hosts ongoing music lessons at the museum for piano, violin, woodwinds and horns. It is located at 213 Court Street and can attend to all your music needs. http://www.musiciansgeneralstore.com

Many international restaurants and small boutiques first colonized Smith Street and South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation's Executive Director Bette Stoltz has been the inspiration behind the Bastille Day Festival. She was honored by Micro Museum in 2002 for her tireless effort to make Smith Street a destination for worldwide and residential visitors.

Digital images and high quality video footage available upon request

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