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 CLVII June 8, 2017
More on the Americans in Paris trail, the Mona Bismarck American Center has a wonderful weekend to start the season of pop culture. The place renamed the « Summer House » for the occasion welcome the concerts in open air and film projections by the cinéma Christine 21. Without forgetting the Texan BBQ , with bar and cocktails. All this until September 2017. The Forum des Halles welcomes you for the second year of the Festival Rock en Seine to show you the event « Unexpected Festival», 3 days of discovery of rock and pop music such as Barbagallo et Peter Peter ,Friday, Findlay et Her Saturday, and the Papooz Sunday. The 14th meeting of the jardin des Tuileries has for theme the « La ville nature». You will discover ephemeral gardens created by expert gardeners with the idea to show in evidence the terraces and balconies all with over 100 shops exposing their trade.
Dedicated to SubSaharan AFrica and the Caribbean the musée Dapper will closed its doors on June 18 unfortunately. This is the last day of the exhibition “Masterpieces of Africa” . You have about a week to admire it at 35 bis rue Paul-Valéry (16eme), its collection of remarkable art. The foundation will remain on its work thru cultural events beyond its current walls especially in Senegal and the Caribbean Curly wigs and bodice dresses are back in the alleys of the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte (Seine-et-Marne). This coming Sunday, the time of a costumed day, “The Grand Siécle Experience” the home of Nicolas Fouquet, superintendent of Finance of Louis XIV, reconnects with the splendour of the Great century. Courtiers, Marquises and gentlemen have an appointment in the garden of 33 hectares imagined by Andre Le Nôtre. Lace parasols, ribbon-decorated shoes, taffeta scarves … all the details count to win the best costume prize. Awarded at the end of the day, it will reward the most successful dresses in men, women and children, as well as the best fancy costume. At Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte, Maincy (77)
An update on previous post on it; the last sections of the old railroad line around Paris long of 32 kms will be given back to the walkers and pedestrian traffic by 2020. This is on the 20eme south of the rue de la Mare, in the 14eme between the promenade Broussais and the avenue du Général-Leclerc, in the 17eme along the boulevard Pereire ,and the rue Saussure ,and early by 2019, in the 12eme between the villa du Bel-Air ,and the rue des Meuniers. The petite ceinture is back!
The coronation Mass and Mozart’s Requiem, you know? These two major works by Mozart Open the 37th Festival of Auvers this Friday, June 9. Until July 7, the events take place under the vaults of the Church of Notre-Dame of Auvers, dear to Van Gogh, or the Château de Méry-sur-Oise, a stone’s walk away, on June 25th, relocated to the musical scene of the Ile Seguin in Boulogne (92) directed in Baroque version by the famous chef Laurence Equilbey. Finally, a great accustomed, Natalie Dessay, the immense singer who never takes herself seriously will perform for the closing of the Arias of Schubert, Debussy or Gonod. She will be in duet with pianist Philippe Cassard. See the Festival of Auvers, Opus 37 until 7 July. Complete on June 14th. at the Church of Auvers and Château de Méry-sur-Oise
And last ,but not least in my beloved Versailles:Chez ReminiSens, located in the heart of Versailles, the lady Caroline Masselin wanted to create the ambiance of the court in the 17C and 18C at the time of a meal where the food served to the kings of France was appreciated accompany by baroque music such as « Le Nôtre et les secrets des jardins », « Louis XV et ses liaisons dangereuses » or « Les scandales à la cour du Roi Soleil ». Many emblematic stories told at the table with playing actors that do all this without disturbing the guests. The lady was inspired by recipe books of the time like « Le cuisinier royal et bourgeois », edition of 1729. All this located at 20, rue Baillet-Reviron.
Some news from France CLVIII June 14, 2017
The Champs-Elysées Film Festival starts tomorrow with the films of always to help bring back this art to the area; which has lost quite a few cinemas over the years from over 20 to just 7 today and going from 4M to 1M entries from 2001 to 2016. In about a dozen sites you will be able to see French and American films like Diabolo Menthe :Tuesday June 20 at 18h30 in the Publicis Cinéma, 129, avenue des Champs-Elysées. Also, « Un tramway nommé désir » Sunday June 18 at 18h in the Lincoln, 14, rue Lincoln. You have plenty to see from June 16 to 21 in the evenings ,the main site will be at 133, avenue des Champs-Elysées (VIIIe). The event starts June 15 to 22, Starting this coming Friday the museum or Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac (7eme) will show wonderful art inside the RER E ; this is the line chosen to have painted the walls with 400 photos of the civilisations of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas; the ride between Haussmann-Saint Lazare, Gare du Nord, Magenta and the towns of the Val-de-Marne and Seine-et-Marne departments. On June 15 Thursday, tomorrow the train will start at 10h30 from the Gare de l’Est platform 11
The Chapelle Saint-Frambourg was purchased in 1973 by Georges Cziffra to preserve it and making an unique musical and cultural center. Today the foundation that bears his name owns the Chapel and has a series of events coming up that will bring back its shine to the chapel where Hugues Capet was made king of France . Saturdays and Sundays are days of archeology with guided visits to see the search done in the crypt. June 21 will be the music fesival or Fête de la musique all over France and here at 19h there will be a free concert by the Pianist Isabelle Oehmichen, with a recital of clasical and romantic music from works of Schubert, Beethoven, Czerny, Chopin, and Liszt. You can, rent the Chapel for events that can host up to 450 persons. This in Senlis dept 60 Oise a wonderful town to visit too
If there is an experience not to missed in Paris this summer come to the one dedicated to the paintings of Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) in the museum or musée d’Orsay. OVer 60 paintings showing the power of the museum that allows to bring together this exhibition from works from all over the world. Especially, see the work of « Portraits de Cézanne » it tells the story of the artist from humble to greatness; all on until September 24 2017
Some news from France CLVIIII June 21, 2017
In my beloved Versailles , you will have electro music at the Place de l’Europe with the group Ostud & Soundmotion ,and the pop rock of the 50’s will be by the Place des Manéges. Several groups will be around town such as by the Cathédrale Saint-Louis, Cour des Senteurs, Cour de la Grande Ecurie , and the jardin des Etangs Gobert.
A historic icon of Paris is ready to open on July 5th, on the Place de la Concorde, this is the Hotel de Crillon. An architecture marvel of the 18C done by the Ange-Jacques Gabriel a symbol of luxury French style is to open again after extensive renovations. It will be managed by the group Rosewood Hotels and Resorts with Saudi ownerwhip; this the former residence of the counts of Crillon that was turned into a hotel or Hotel des Voyageurs in 1909. It will have 124 rooms vs 147 before with 33 suites, 10 suites Signature and done by the best in the business such as Karl Lagerfeld for the decorations. Aline d’Amman the artistic director will be invited with 3 decorators designers such as Tristan Auer, Chahan Minassian and Cyril Vergniol (previously collaborated with Alberto Pinto). It will have a hair saloon and brasserie a spa and pool done by the arts decoratif experts of Minassian. And the kitchen by Christopher Hache previously experiences at Briffard, Senderens, Frecho, etc. Hôtel de Crillon 10 place de la Concorde (8)
There is a new exposition at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, . until January 14, 2018. Inspirations, hommage by artists to great men of our times with their productions. From Darwin to Jackson Pollock appearing in L’ordre des Pierres (2007) Orson Welles and Michel-Ange in Par des temps incertains (2001) and many more to discover. Valerian et Laureline en mission pour la Cité. 30 avenue Corentin-Cariou (19) La Fête Foraine des Tuileries; right in the jardin des tuileries; going on now until August 27th. You have over 60 attractions with 20 carrousels of wooden horses, ice skating, crazy cars, phantom trains, shooting galleries, fishing, trampoline, toboggan, climbing, the great wheel is the most popular.
Something wonderful in Seine-et-Marne, at Provins back again. The lights, the flamboyant decorations, the banners and flags resembling the middle ages are back June 24 and 25 weekend. These are the médiévales de Provins. Costumes and spectacles from the period come to meet Dame Garance and her husband Enguerrand that will explain the fabrication of pigments on cloths. Saturday the evenings will be high in colors with a Bal, concert of medieval music and to close the 34th edition, an illumination at 22h and spectacle of fireworks at 22h30.
Some news from France CLX June 28, 2017
This is a new update no time to wait for next post as Paris with its Major does it again. The two way traffic on rue de Rivoli (1eme) and rue Saint-Antoine (4eme) will be close to automobiles for give way to a bicycle lane on the left hand side of 4 meters wide and only one lane for automobiles. The project will be presented in public meeting in the mairie (mayor’s office) of the 4eme arrondissement , and the new traffic alignment will be in effect from next August in rue de Rivoli between the portions including between the Hôtel de Ville, and the land spot at Saint-Paul. There is a revolutioin of sort coming for the public transports in the ile de France and Paris. The bus network of the RATP will be modifie in the coming months as it has never been renovated since 1950!!! There will be 4 new lines and modification on about 46 lines over the 60 now existing. The transport site will change name from STIF to Ile-de-France Mobilités. The new plan should be in service by end of 2018. And of course, with all these changes, price hikes are a rigueur. From August 1st the Pass Navigo will go up 3%, and will then cost 75,20€ (from the 73€ now). The price of the single metro ticket will remain the same but the carnet of 10 will go up 40 centimes to 14,90€. The price for the tickets “Origine-Destination” (where the cost is already over 7€) will supposely not increase
Going over the wonderful park or Parc des Buttes-Chaumont (19eme),that is celebrating it’s 150 years!! and stay one of the favorite spot of Parisiens that went there for 6 millions last year. The park is located between the districts or faubourgs Belleville and Villette, annexed to Paris in 1860. The work on the park began in 1864 with huge efforts that lasted 3 years with over 1000 men and hundreds of horses. Around it ,it has 6 hills that forms several valleys where the engineers did a picturesque scenary to invite you to a voyage. It has an alpine orientation that is call the petite Suisse or little Switzerland; this was a wish of emperor Napoléon III that himself had spent his childhood in the germanic Switzerland. Large uphills criss cross the park sometimes with streams like the Alps region; a Vosges style forest is planted along the rail lines of the Petite ceinture. In the Central island you have behind some vegetation an imitation of the cliffs of the Etretat normande with its arch and peak ,and at the top on the belvedere a roman temple in miniataure call the Sibylle inspired by the one in Tivoli (Italy) culminating at 30 meters above the lake. The park has inspired many artists such as Aragon, Tardi, Despentes, and George Sand did praises on it, Jacques Tardi the croque on his aventures with Adèle Blanc-Sec, Alain Resnais filmed in On connaît la chanson , and represented the ceiling background for Vernon Subutex, the recent trilogy of romance of Virginie Despentes. The greatest hommage to it came from Aragon who in the « le Paysan de Paris » mentioned the park settle in the inconcious of the city of Paris. A must when coming to Paris
And from today to Friday the European languages will be mixing in the streets, theater and cinema Ermitage of Fontainebleau. The 6th edition of the Festival Série Séries dedicated to European series with this year the theme courage. Each serie presents its members creators, scénaristes actors on site after the diffusion of each episode creating a real interaction with the public. Each projection is follow by an exchange with the public. You can see « Guerilla »,the new series produce and played by Idris Elba,a German espionnage series name « Same sky », as well as the series « Match »,a Norwegian series name, and the « The simple Heist », coming from Sweden without forgetting the animated cartoon series such as « Ernest et Célestine »,a French series for small children
We love is the Village Suisse in the heart of the 15eme district not far from the tour Eiffel, you have about 150 stands on the site of the old Universal Exposition of 1900. You have decorators interior design, antiques, and art galleries in the middle of suspended gardens and patios covered with trees. Le Village Suisse, 78 avenue de Suffren, 15eme , And we all know the very popular flea market of Saint-Ouen,however, have you visited the fleas of the Porte de Vanves ? Here is where you find the best, a giant flea with crazy merchants offering all the rare and beautiful; you need to come early to get the best. Les Puces de la Porte de Vanves, Avenue Georges Lafenestre and avenue Marc Sangnier, 14eme It is not a pool but a nice splash of water very refreshing in the middle of summer. This it the water sprays in the place de la République , that reflect like a mirror of water,and if stay a while the effect will be like taking a big dive with less effort.
There is a program in memory of Alfred Hitchcock with one of his most celebrated film The Birds or Les Oiseaux, and two comedy evenings with the Dark Shadows of Tim Burton ,and Moonrise Kingdom of Wes Anderson… From 21h be there with a small pique nique before the film at 22h30. You can the long chairs but it is advise to bring your own with cushions because this is very popular. July 6-8 at the Château de Vincennes 1, avenue de Paris – 94300 Vincennes ,You will enjoy the new programming for the next edition of the Festival Silhouette in the very nice park of the Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge, film projections on fiction, clips, animation, and experimental and also concerts to dance at the apéro hour ;From August 25 to September 2 Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge – 19eme
And last for this post but not least,the wonderful story of the Tati stores is slowly coming to an end. Who searching for real bargains off the tourist traps have not come here during the years; Tati is an institution. Well no more unfortunately for many families it is up for sales. The main store is known to Parisiens as the Tati Barbés, and it will be taken over by another chain call Gifi, also,very popular here. They are negotiating for the former employees destinies and the owner of the building which guarantee is coming to an end, this will be to follow up to see what happened finally to the white and rose window store at Barbés.
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 !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 