In my new life as retiree my blog is my biggest entertainement and before anything else, I like to thank everyone of my readers and followers to stay with me over the years since November 26 2010 !!! Thank you !!! I decided to trim some of my older posts in my series Some news from France and condense them as not to lose the most important parts, me think, of them, Therefore, this is my new work, the condense news of my belle France, Hope you enjoy it as I.
Some news from France CXLXIIII March 12, 2017
The fashion weeks started January 5 by the Mens,followed by the costumes, and the female fashions of fall winter 2017 the fashion weeks ended in Paris on March 7 .More than 600 passarelles from New York to Paris by way of London and Milan, the question is what is the purpose? The industry has a lot of glamour but less sales and the ones that are going up are the super expensive collection for the very rich.
And more fashion why not from the Great Cristobal Balenciaga, at the Musée Bourdelle, Palais Galliera. Entitled “ Balenciaga l’oeuvre au noir” , over 100 customes in black shown until July 16. This will follow « Costumes Espagnols entre ombre et lumiére » at the Maison Victor Hugo (21 june – 24 september 2017) , and will close out with “Mariano Fortuny” at the Palais Galliera (4 october 2017 – 7 january 2018) The inmortal opera Carmen of Bizet will come to Opera Bastille on a play done by Calixto Bieito from now to April 14’ and then again from June 13 to July 16 2017. The celebration of the 40 years of the Centre Pompidou de Paris is not just been held in Paris but in Seine-et-Marne dept 77. At the La Ferme du Buisson ,Centre Photographique d’île de France,and the parc Culturel de Rentilly. The film by Rossellini as the center piece. The activities will be open to the public The presentation is running from now to July 16 with the following schedule: vernissage Saturday March 11. At 12h le chateau, parc culturel de Rentilly, at Bussy Saint Martin , Centre photographique d’île de France at Pontault-Combault ; La Ferme de Buisson ,Noisiel, projection of the film by Rossellini in a big screen
An incourtanable place for me and my other half is to the Epicerie du Bon Marché department store. Completely remodelled in 2013 and now open on Sundays from 10h to 20H !!! A Paris must for all. Until March 26 you have the 3 days of TBM with 30% discounts on many items March 17-19 there is the Hérmes show jumping international CSI 5 at the Grand Palais, the best of horse jumping in the capital. This is Hérmes sponsored event. The fireman are honoured in Paris, celebrating the 50th anniversary of founding the brigade in paris; this is showing at the Hôtel de ville or city/town hall of Paris. It became an unit in the 19C under the leadership of Napoléon Ier. By an Imperial decree he lent this job to a group of military personnel, creating the Battalion, later a regiment in 1867 and finally a brigade of volunteers in March 1st 1967. Until April 29, in the Salle des Prévôts Tapisseries. The “Printemps des Poètes” is on until March 19 in Paris. This 19th edition will make in evidence the work of Léopold Sedar Senghor and Tchicaya U Tam si. At the Bibliothéque de l’Arsenal, 1 rue de Sully , Paris 4
The inescapable Chatou fair returns for its 94th edition on the island of the impressionists! The fans of flea market ,antique, art of the 20C, and local produce will end up in this bucolic setting around 500 merchants from antique dealers, second hand dealers, jewerlers and art galleries. This year the theme will be French style Napoléon III furniture to designs of Pompidou . On the boulevard Voltaire a small fair within a fair with hams and suckling roasted pigs roasted on the spot , pata negra, and ducks . Until March 19
Some news from France , CXLXV March 19, 2017
At the route de Suresnes (16éme),my previous passing route into the town of Suresnes and Paris by the Bois de Boulogne you find the domaine de Longchamp, a white castle building that many people would ask what is it? Well ,it does not matter, the truth is it has become after a long renovation the home of the fondation GoodPlanet. Led by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, from May 13-14 all the weekends they will have talks and exhibits on ecology, environment, and generosity with the great photographer. On its first exposition it will be presented the inedict images of Human, a video portrait of humanity done in 60 countries.
Already since today Sunday 19 March, the department store le Bon Marché (and its Grande Epicerie) will open 7/7 ! After doing so the BHV ,and the Galeries Lafayette,it’s the turn of the le Bon Marché. This ,already has created 150 jobs both permanent and temporary!! Good going
The recently designated “ ZTI” zones or zones touristiques internationals in Paris. They are in 12 areas such as the Champs-Elysées Montaigne, Haussmann, Le Marais, les Halles, Maillot-Ternes, Montmartre, Olympiades, Rennes/Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Emilion-Bibliothèque, Saint-Honoré/Vendôme, Saint-Germain, and Beaugrenelle. Also, they are in Cannes, Nice, and Deauville.
The impressionist painter Camille Pissarro has a nice museum that has recently been renovated in Pontoise. After 6 months of work, it has reopened with new rooms of exposition in the street level floor to allow works of arts to be shown in 250 sq meters of space. The museum was opened in 1980, and now it is more accessable and practical. You are , also, able to see works from his sons Lucien, Georges ,and Ludovic-Rodo, but ,also, of Daubigny, Guillaumin, Signac, Hayet, Piette, Cézanne, Caillebotte, Goenette, and Luce. From today to June 11 you will be able to see an exposition on Camille Pissarro of old and new works shown. The location is 17, rue du Château, 95300 Pontoise . I come back to the arts, on American painter Joe Bradley. Since the Biennal of Whitney in 2008, he does not stop breaking prices record reaching sometimes the million USDollars. The Fundacion Almine y Bernard Ruiz-Picasso para el Arte (Faba), will open the château de Boisgeloup for the first time to the public in April and May to invite the painter born in Maine in 1975 to expose his work in the sculpture shops of Picasso!! A great gift to this graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design of Providence. At this place about 100 years after the meeting of Minotaure and the ballerina Olga Khokhlova,celebrated at the Musée Picasso ou can reach Gisors from gare Saint Lazare in Paris by train and then taxi to the castle above mentioned or the car of course, but I put public transport as most folks coming here use it instead of the car, which to me is always better but… If you need driving guidance to any of these places let me know.
The wonderful Musée d’Orsay is coming back for the night owls lovers. For the 4th time this old train station will revert on the fall of night into a promenade where paintings, music,and poetry will be mix. You have Thursday March 23 to do this. You will be in the middle of the exposition “Au delà des étoiles. Le paysage mystique de Monet à Kandinsky” And ” Curieuse nocturne Au delà des étoiles”. Of course the exposition will regularly run to June 11, And a great event , great year on Rodin, his greatest work the Le Penseur in 1906 was put in front of the Panthéon, later transferred in 1922 to the Hôtel Biron that itself was opened in 1919.The majority of his work was shown here. However, walking the streets of Paris you can find many of his work. Please ,note this event, ” Rodin, l’exposition du centenaire au Grand Palais”, until July 31 2017. You come to the Théâtre des Gobelins at 73 avenue des Gobelins (13éme) that now houses the Fondation Jerome Seydoux-Pathé. The bas-reliefs of the théâtre des Champs-Elysées (8éme) were done by Antoine Bourdelle. The group of cariatides in the Théâtre de la Renaissance (10éme) are the work of Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse. At the metro station Varenne, line 13 where there is the Musée Rodin, located at 79 rue de Varenne (7éme). The work of the L’Âge d’Airain at Place Rodin (16éme); the bronze made a scandal in 1877 because Rodin had insinuated the mold was that of his face. Another mold is at the courtyard of the high school or Lycée Rodin (13éme). The work the Ève, L’Ombre et La Méditation is at the Jardin des Tuileries all three statues near the Musée de l’Orangerie. The statue of Honoré de Balzac at Boulevard Raspail since 1939, this monument to Balzac is on the spot by boulevard Raspail near the Carrefour Vavin. Another version of it is seen in the garden of the Musée Rodin. The statue of Victor Hugo , is at the angle of avenue Henri-Martin and Victor Hugo (16éme), this was initially ordered for the Panthéon. Instead another one was chosen by Rodin where the writer is surrounded by three muses. The stele block of César Franck was done for his grave at the Cementary of Montparnasse, the musician dead in 1890 was honored by Auguste Rodin with a medallion in haut relief.
Some news from France CXLXVI March 22, 2017
The return of night racing at the Vincenne racecourse or Vincennes Hippodrome de Paris are back each Tuesdays and Fridays evenings starting today. You will be able to have a dinner at the restaurant Le Panoramique. You can, also, get a tour of the racecourse , The 2017 edition of the faire of trones or Foire du Trône will start on March 31st at 18h30. You paid 25€ and can use all the rides inside. The proceeds will be renverse on the association Petits Princes. It will be on the lawn of Reuilly at the entrance to the Bois de Vincennes (11eme). They will have about 350 rides ,stands and restaurants. The star attraction will be the «sky fall» that can give you a free fall from 80 meters.
Bosquets of the gardens of the Château de Versailles will have several contemporary arts exhibits this year instead of just one as in the past. The work exposed will be in cooperation with the Palais de Tokyo in Paris this coming summer
The porte de Montmartre (18eme), as the local saying goes when you leave Paris by this gate you dont said we passed the péripherique or beltway but rather you say we pass by the Passage-miroir or mirror passage. This is the way to the flea market of Saint Ouen and for many years hosted a clandestine market with about 400-500 biffins or chiffonier ( second hand merchants). From 2009, the mayor’s office of Paris has authorized about 200 of them at this location. They are there Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. They are supervised by the Aurora Association to help the poor.
The jardin de l’Arsenal by the water with shade and sunny spots linking to the Canal Saint-Martin to the Seine river. Always great to have an apéro drink on the banks of the canal Saint-Martin and Canal de l’Ourq. There are plenty of bars and restos very nice there such as the Okay Café, Point Éphémère, Marcel, etc etc. We can taste the oysters on the lawn by the level of the bridge or pont Louis-Philippe on the road voie Georges Pompidou, it is now pedestrian and cost 14€ for 12 oysters not bad for the location ! You can sit at the end of the island or île Saint-Louis, under the quai de Bourbon facing the Hôtel de Ville. At the end of the rue de l’Abreuvoir and the rue Girardon, next to the château des Brouillards,few steps from the house of Dalida in the rue d’Orchampt, place Dalida has a nice bust of her with a view towards the Sacré-Cœur to drop for sublime. In the heights of the parc de Belleville you have a great view of all Paris. Regular musical events are organize there on Saturdays, and a great bakery up the steps!In the parc de la Villette at the end of the Canal de l’Ourcq this is quiet sublime and nice spots hidden sometimes and layout gardens along it without getting wet. Also at the Vignes Montmartre, a little square facing the vines very nice and cute ,good for a date ,romantic interlude at the Rue des Saules. The jardin des Rosiers in the square des Francs Bourgeois a little haven of peace and calm right between three mansions, and a garden here to see Paris. Not the closest to inner Paris but less frequented as well with nice architecture of the bridges and stairs you see it by the Allée des Cygnes 15eme. This is Paris always eternal, and it is in la belle France, where else
Welcome to the Duty Free of Galeries Lafayette recently opened at 21 , boulevard Haussmann (9eme). It is located at the old stores of Surcouf and the la Halle, and the façade is typical of the department store with the name « Shopping & Welcome Center ». A complete center dedicated to the Chinese visitors that represent about 25% of total sales of the store or about 2B€., with an average purchase of 1400€ per visitor. This shopping space of 4 200 m2 will be in two levels renovated by the Architect Ora-ïto. It offers the articles preferred by the Chinese from leather goods jewelry, sun glasses, deluxe pens all on the street level, and on the basement beauty, parapharmacy, groceries, tea, caviar, wine and liquors, kitchen accessories, and gifts The spectacles hall of the Bal Blomet (ex-bal nègre), mythical place of the folly years will re-open this week at 33, rue Blomet (15eme). The name will simply be the Bal de la rue Blomet. Every Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays you will have shows on cabaret, musical comedy, jazz, and classical music. A space for 70 tables will be available for dining.
Some news from France CXLXVII March 28, 2017
And the works at the Hôtel de la Marine in the place de la Concorde (8eme) continues. On the 12000 M2 available, half will be preserve for office space and the other half will be open to the public. The building opened in 1774 before a furniture keeper of the crown and for 226 years the site of the French navy HQ. The rooms in renovation will be from the 19C and especially those from the 18C housing the cabinet of mirrors and makeup room of Marie Antoinette never before seen by the general public. A café will open in rdc or street level presenting products of the times such as coffee, tea, chocolates, and wines. At the same level, a restaurant with average prices showcasing the recipes of the French cuisine of the times. On the 1st level or 2nd it will have a room or salon de thé with pastries from the 18C. It is schedule to be open by end 2019
And too bad for the times we live in but it is catching up to the Tour Eiffel which will be protected. A wall will be installed by the 2nd trimester of 2018 with a bullet proof glass on the two sides given to the Seine River and the avenue Gustave Eiffel. The other two sides where the entries to the tower will be will be dotted with metallic grills doors reproducing the image of the tower and high security. There will be a high security protection with heavy military vehicles on the side of the quai Branly and the avenue Gustave-Eiffel as well as a video protection eyes on the parvis and inside the tower.
A personal library of Marcelle Benoît specialist on the French music of the 17C and 18C has given her personal collection of a thousand books to the city of Versailles! The collection will now be house in the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles (CMBV), that is in charge of keeping and teach the musical heritage of the 17C and 18C. It, also, include a rare Pleyel piano from 1908 completely restored; and a music dictionary by Sébastien de Brossard from 1705 another find, as well as one from Jean-Jacques Rousseau from 1768. Wonderful. It is at this building that the estates generals of France met to write the French constitution, a hugely historical building many times missed by visitors just going to the palace
A nice attraction my boys enjoyed while younger is reopening again this season. This is the Attraction park of Mer de Sable (sea of sands). You do well to start your visit by the « Willy West show », the newest spectacle of the park.open April 1st to October 31st, One nice one that needs to be seen in the chic city by the Seine; the Musée de la Grenouillère – Espace Chanorier, 12 Grande Rue, Croissy sur Seine tel +33 (0) 1 30 53 61 02. Admission 4€ adults. Until December 2017 you see the exposition, ” La Grenouillére aux temps des Impressionnistes” . More on the building that traces the period of La Grenouillére a floating boat today gone that was in the island or îlot du Camembert. Very popular in the 19C with an countryside, festive ambiance ; it had un guinguette on water or dancing, café, games and cold baths. The artists like Monet and Renoir came here to relax and paint. Today you see engraving, paintings, and object of arts of the period. The boat burned in 1889 and was reopened in 1928. You can take a promenade on the island that has been restored in 1999.
Some news from France CXLXVIII March 31, 2017
First, you might have read here, the Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte in the village of Maincy , Seine et Marne dept 77 is going thru a vast renovation project even if still remains open.For example, the ceiling painting “Le Triomphe de la Fidelité” in the room or chambre de Muses is going for a nice redo ,first one after 250 years! This room is famous because in 1661 it held the presentation of the work of Moliére “L’école des Maris” in the presence of the King and Queen Louis XIV ,and Marie-Thérese. The painting ceiling fabrics weights 150 kg (about 331 lbs) and it is 4×4 meters (about 13 x 13 feet); the ceiling has about 175 M2 or about 1883 Sq Feet). And this is a castle that only gets 150K euros from the State and the rest is by the partner family of Vogûé and donations! This costs can go to 1M € per season! Great private enterprise at its best to preserve a beauty of France and the World , We move away from Paris, first to Compiegne to see the Imperial Palace, done in 1751 under king Louis XV,and the wonderful carriage museum there now and the wonderful restaurant, of course,see the apartments of the emperor and emperatrice, prince and king of Rome, and the Theater Louis-Philippe. More on this wonderful place that you need to see not far from Paris out from Gare du Nord train station, and then 10 minutes walking to the palace or take the bus line 1 or 2 stop at Saint Jacques, Come closer to my old hangout and visit the famous and wonderful Chateau de Monte Cristo of the Camelias and Dumas fame at Le Port Marly ,Yvelines dept 78. Alexandre Dumas died here in 1847 and it is as he did it, very nice castle. And of course, in my beloved Yvelines dept 78, do stop by to this literary gem, the Chateau de Médan, open after many years of restoration. You see the views as seen by Paul Cézanne,and the souvenirs of Ronsard, as well as the poets of the Pléiade. And closer to my heart, from May 30 to September 24 at the Chateau de Versailles-Grand Trianon, see the expo on Peter the Great tsar of Russia on the collection of his visit here in 1717 At the Chateau de Versailles from October 24 2017 to February 25, 2018 ,you can come to see the exposition on the visitors and guests of yesteryear to the Chateau de Versailles. From the ambassador of Siam in 1686 to the ambassador of Mysore, India in 1788 many have come to pay tribute to the kings of France here. With more than 300 works of art,this expo ,the first of its kind will showcase all the visitors of the second half of the 17C until the French revolution. It will show paintings and sculptures, costumes of the times, travel guides, tapestries, porcelains of Sévres and Meissen, parade weapons, and show what was expected of them upon arrival here.
Also, at the Salle Gaveau, 45-47 rue La Boétie 8eme for 25€ you will be able to listen to Jean-Christophe Rufin on April 12 at 20h. This is the adventurer, writer, and diplomat descendant of Chateaubriand ,At the Musée d’Orsay running on June 22,23,28, all at 14h15, and 29 (18h15); you will see an exhibition of Portraits de Cézanne. He painted about 200 paintings in his lifetime with 26 self-portraits and 29 of his wife ,Hortense Fiquet. Then, you have the wonderful exhibition at the Grand Palais, “Des Grands Moghols aux Maharandjas-Joyaux de la collection Al Thani”. This is on from April 14 to June 1 on certain dates and hours each day. You will see 230 pieces of the collection Al Thani telling you about the history of Indian jewelry from the Mogols time to today. At the Musée de l’Orangerie on April 5 to August 21, you will see the works of art of the collection from the Museum Bridgestone coming from the dynasty of Ishibashi. As their museum is undergoing renovation the entire collection will be shown at the Orangerie, that will give you the chance to see their collection of impressionists paintings
You can see the exhibition on the clothing of famous French singer Dalida on the 30th anniversary of her passing. More than 50 dresses will be on display going from names like Carven,Loris Azzaro, Balmain, and YSL etc. April 27 to August 13 2017 ,this will be at the fashion museum Palais Galliera, 10 avenue Pierre-1er-de-Serbie 16eme ,See something different, the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 11 avenue du Président Wilson 16eme; you will see three artists on their best time: Derain, Balthus, and Giacometti. Almost 100 paintings, graphic arts, sculptures from the 20’s to the 60’s; from June 2 to October 29, nice, To see Art Déco in Paris, head for the Palais de la Porte Dorée at 293 avenue Daumesnil 12eme. Here from April 28 you will the best works. The palace was done for the 1931 Universal exposition to serve as a permanent museum of the Colonies. See the entrance in stone, hall d’honneur with a huge mosaique, the iron grill door, the rooms of Lyautey and Reynaud, and paintings of the civilisations of Africa, and Asia. And come to one of my favorites seldom mention but worth a visit, La Cité Universitaire, 17 boulevard Jourdan 14eme , coming out from the exit of the RER B Cité Universitaire. This complex of building was created after WWI to welcome students from 130 nationalities, to contribute to world peace and knowledge. It has 37 resident buildings which are an open air architectural museums. Of course, my favorites that I have visited are Collége d’Espagne (Spain), and the Fondation Abreu de Grancher (Cuba).
Go to the Centre Pompidou but not in Paris, see it at Metz in Lorraine , see the exposition on Fernand Léger and the contemporary arts movement, September 28-30 2017. You can come to Metz from Paris Gare de l’Est (Paris Est) train station. And do go south to Lyon to see the wonderful Musée des Confluences (at the joining of two river Rhône and Saône) and see the vineyards from October 5-17 2017 on a special guided tour.
There you go folks, a big task but a work of love to keep the best, me think of these wonderful older posts over the years, These are what I think worth keeping of my older Some news from France series, and I thank you, Again, hope you enjoy this post as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
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