At 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening a champagne cork popped that sent more than 40 waiters and waitresses on a footrace in the inaugural Sacramento Bastille Day Waiters' Race.

Each of the runners had to carry a server tray holding two glasses and a bottle of wine from the alley between Le Petit Paris and Mulvaney's B&L, around the 1800 block between L Street and Capitol Avenue, and into the courtyard behind the L Wine Lounge and Urban Kitchen.

"They celebrate the fall of the Bastille in Paris by running through the streets with wine, and wouldn't that be fun to do in Sacramento?" said Patrick Mulvaney, owner of Mulvaney's B&L.

Mulvaney decided to organize the race per the suggestion of Sactown Magazine's Rob Turner. In Sactown's June/July issue, Turner wrote about the race's origins in Paris, and its replication across the United States. Washington, D.C.; Boston; Los Angeles and Portland are all holding their own races for Bastille Day, so why not Sacramento?

"I thought originally we would have eight-10 people, quite frankly, but when we started inviting everybody, everybody came, and so we were up to 40 or 50 racers," Mulvaney said.

In this inaugural race, Midtown restaurants were heavily represented. Aimee Chilson from de Vere's Irish Pub was sent to the race by her boss to claim the first-place prize, the Golden Beret.

"I'm in pretty good shape I think," Chilson said before the race of her chances for victory, "I had an iced tea, and a water, and a cigarette."

Jeff and Rochelle Cohen are Sacramento residents and had heard of the event in the morning news. As admitted Francophiles, they were excited to come and witness the festivities.

"Anything to inculcate French customs into Sacramento is a lot of fun," Jeff said.

The moment the race began, glasses and bottles of wine went crashing to the asphalt. The waiters' raced on, refusing to be discouraged, around the block and up the steps in seek of prizes and pride. Once they reached the courtyard, they had to serve two glasses of wine to designated judges sitting at tables.

First place went to Joe Cowley, 24, from Michelangelo's at 18th and I streets. He was awarded the Golden Beret and given a multiple-night stay at The Citizen Hotel on J Street.

"I'd say this is the best achievement I've won so far," Cowley said jokingly. "I love Midtown, I know it well, so it was very fun," he said.

Other prizes awarded were gift certificates from US Denim Spot, Caren Templet and overnight stays at Paris on the Yolo Causeway from the Hyatt and Sheraton hotels, according to Mulvaney.

After the race, L Wine Lounge was serving food and drinks in the courtyard, and Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates and Yogurtagogo were offering desserts. The atmosphere was light, and the race seemed a success.

"It was fun, and I think everybody had a good time," Mulvaney said. "The fact that 45 people wanted to get out and put a tray and glasses together on a hot July night and run around, I thought that was funny, and it was good for Sacramento."

Photos by Brandon Darnell.