Rendez-vous à Paris » Cultural

Personal Concierge Service with Fabulous Nelly

Sara — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:18:12 +0000

My dear friend Nelly is my fashion guru. Although Nelly is French, I met her while she was living in Beverly Hills, California. Nelly worked in the fashion industry, including for Louboutin, and certainly brought that “French touch” to sunny Beverly Hills. Nelly helped the women of Beverly Hills find that je ne sais quoi Parisian chicness through her services as a stylist. (And she influenced my platinum blonde coiffe).

Now Nelly is back in Paris and is offering her services to those who want to live and know the Parisian lifestyle. Do you need a new look or do you simply want to know how to look effortlessly beautiful like the Parisian girls? Or are you tired of looking like a fashion clone and wish to develop your own personal style? Nelly has got the eye and ears to help you. Or perhaps you need help setting up your trip to Paris. Nelly can help you find elegant hotels (all price ranges), tours, restaurants, and of course shopping. Or have you moved to Paris and want to live the French art de vivre like the locals? Let Nelly guide you. No one knows the ins and outs of Paris like Nelly.

Nelly is warm, fun, eccentric, and above all stylish!

Call Nelly at 06 16 92 66 36 or email nellyfusil@gmail.com

Hourly rate: 75 euros

The Sound of Music : Beautiful Musical in English

Veronique — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:05:16 +0000

13 Piste 13

I spent a great evening yesterday at The Châtelet theatre. I saw the Sound of Music inspired by a true story.

It was the first time in 50 years since this show has been performed in Paris. And it was superb ! The set was grand. First we think that we are in the mountains of Heidi. Maria is young, loves life and singing.

The sisters of the convent are not very sure that Maria’s place is to become a sister. So they send her to the widow Captain‘s home to be the nanny of his 7 children. The captain is a captain, at home everybody answers to the navy whistle and the only game for the children is to march! She lets the sunshine in again and she falls in love with her smart captain…but we are in Austria just days before the Anschluss. Friends are not so friendly anymore.

At this time, after the songs that everybody knows since Julie Andrews sang them in the Robert Wise movie, it is the end of romance, country games and easy life. The famous Von Trapp family choir is invited to sing in a festival.

We are the audience of this festival and as the people of 1938, we see the Nazis keeping watch over us. When SS and SA come into the Châtelet Theatre, it is very impressive. As it is when a big nazi flag covers the grass and the Von Trapp family disappear into the trap door in order to escape to Switzerland, to freedom. Beautiful voices, good actors and sensitive direction.

14 Piste 14 This show is a very beautiful Christmas gift and the sound of music will stay for a long time in your mind.

Théâtre du Châtelet 01 40 28 28 40 métro Châtelet to 3rd of January

subtitles in French!

Pascale Simonet Paintings for Sale

Veronique — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:20:50 +0000

I like Pascale Simonet, her paintings and the way in which she sees her work. For her, “black” is her colour, source of life, energy, strength. She scratches the painting, works on the volume. She likes to give titles to her works.

She appeared on “Thé ou Café” on Channel 2 in November, allowing many to discover her art. I forgot to inform you about her exhibition at The Meridien Montparnasse Hotel. But don’t worry – she will show her work again in 2010, and I will inform you!

Look at her paintings and let your comments.

20 Holiday Festivities in Paris

Sara — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:19:47 +0000

Window displays at Galeries Lafayette

Eat roasted chestnuts on the street
Christmas lights on the Champs Elysées
Christmas markets (Champs Elysées, Grand Arch La Defense, Les Abbesses, Saint Germain des Pres)
Share a galette des rois (but respect the tradition- not before January 6th)
Cup of vin chaud at your neighborhood café
European Christmas market at Trocadero
Ride the giant ferris wheel at Concorde
Ice skating at the Hotel de Ville
Place Vendome
“Le Jardin Imaginaire de Noel” in Les Halles
Playing in the snow at “Charléty sur neige”
Take a ride on a carousel – for free
Champagne!!!!
See “Arthur” at the Grand Rex Theatre with the féérie des eaux or see “Scrooge”
Skate on the terrace of the Trianon Palace at Versailles
Crêche de Noël at Notre Dame, place saint sulpice
Have a snack in front of the cozy fireplace at the Park Hyatt (50€ for 2)
Try traditional recipes, such as bûche
Volunteer! Petits frères des pauvres, Autremonde., armée du salut…

Happy Holidays!

ARTEUM …ART FOR ALL

Veronique — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:20:44 +0000

I recently discovered a new shop in the CNIT area at La Défense. It’s easy here, everything is new. But everything is not so playful and happy.

But everything here is a concept, made and inspired by artists : painters, sculpters, designers.

And there is a lot of of everything : pens, pencils, notebooks, key rings …hearts made out of ceramic (37€).

Everything to offer to someone or to keep for yourself. However, when I am looking for a gift, I end up finding a lot of things for myself!

I need to touch and look , especially the funny creations from Thomas de Lussac (Moonwalk lamps, table mats)

Jewelry, calendars with paintings (15€), computer mouse pads, limited edition pictures, Warhol mugs, carpets from Castelbajac (200€)…

Do not forget the book corner and the section for children.

In the centre of the shop there is « l’atelier d’artistes ». Works of artists are exhibited and sold. You have to choose quite fast because there is a big turn-over.

Just have a look !

CNIT 2, place de la Défense
92053 Paris La Défense métro La Défense Grande Arche or RER La Défense.
phone : 01 47 76 12 24 Monday to saterday 10 am to 7pm sunday 11am to 6pm

Theatre subtitled in English

Sara — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:11:15 +0000

Information from the La Colline website:

La Colline presents English subtitled performances for a non French-speaking audience. For the season 2009/2010, The national theatre La Colline has chosen 3 different plays by 3 different authors of 3 different times : Ibsen, Camus, Koltès. I have a soft spot for The Just Assassins. One of the first plays I saw.

A programme in English is also available on the night of the performance.

A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

Thursday 3 December at 8.30 pm & Tuesday 15 December at 7.30 pm
Stéphane Braunschweig is familiar with the world of Ibsen, and continues his confrontation with the Norwegian playwright’s works by staging simultaneously Rosmersholm and A Doll’s House, a play in which a successful plan of family happiness seems to be playing out. Nora, the main character, finds herself caught up in the emergency of a totally unexpected and radical dilemma that suddenly emerges in the peaceful world of A Doll’s House. She, who seemed to have based everything on a compromise, is cast into the void, forced into action and to give up everything she ever believed in and believed herself to be, deprived of the values on which she had built her life, and inexorably work her way through to her own rebirth, whatever the cost.

The Just Assassins by Albert Camus - Les Justes

Saturday 3 April at 8.30 p.m/Tuesday 20 April at 7.30 p.m

Black Battles with Dogs by Bernard-Marie Koltès - Combat de nègre et de chiens

Wednesday 16 June at 8.30 p.m/Friday 25 June at 8.30 p.m

Information and booking

Ninon Leclère

+ 33 (0)1 44 62 52 10
n.leclere@colline.fr

The Circus is in Town

Sara — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:19:25 +0000

The Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione celebrates 150 years of the flying trapeze this year! In 1859 the flying trapeze act was created by Français Leotard on the Cirque d’Hiver stage. Now in 2009 the Cirque d’Hiver brings back this act to the center stage. Watch the trapeze artists fly through the air as you hold your breath. It is definitely the most exciting part of the show.

Of course, there are many other fun acts to watch. The Lions and their tamer have also returned. What I like is that you are very close to the stage and can see the that these animals truly are the kings. There are also amazing balancing acts (which require major muscle), jugglers, illusionists, a twirler, and of course the clowns. My daughters favorite part was the clown act, like most children. They did have us laughing out loud.

Here is a video with a few highlights from the show.

Cirque d’Hiver from now until March 7, 2010

Special show times during school holiday.

www.cirquedhiver.com

Art Nouveau Revival: New Exhibition at Musée d’Orsay

Sara — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:07:35 +0000

Art Nouveau was an artistic movement during the turn of the 20^th century. You can see signs of this particular design throughout Paris, especially on some Metro signs. But the new exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay emphasizes the rebirth of Art Nouveau from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Its revival was in part thanks to homage by the Surrealists and two major exhibitions on Art Nouveau in New York (Art Nouveau: Art and Design at the Turn of the Century, MoMA, 1959) and in Paris (Les Sources du XXe siècle. Les arts en Europe de 1884 à 1914, Musée national d’art moderne, 1960).

Anything and everything Art Nouveau was à la mode, from design and architecture to psychedelic graphic art. In 1966 the first psychedelic concert posters used Art Nouveau graphic designs. I like the Grateful Dead and The Doors posters.

Art Nouveau Revival is an exhibition full of surprises. If you love pop art like me, then you will find the influence Art Nouveau had on advertising and fashion fascinating.

Art Nouveau Revival

Musée d’Orsay, 1, rue de la Légion d’Honneur 75007

From now until 4 February 2010

www.musee-orsay.fr

Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps on Stage: Hilarious and Dynamic

Veronique — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:02:38 +0000

At the cosy théâtre la Bruyère, Eric Métayer (best stand-up comedy act 2007 ) , as director and comedian, ignites the stage playing with 3 other very good actors.

Only 4 actors tell the story of this Hitchcock movie! And it works.

They change costumes, voice, even gender. And a lot of the tricks and jokes found in the movie are transferred to the stage.

Everything is on stage. The train slicing through the night (but it is a toy), the Highlands (with Nessie!), policemen, a beautiful young heroine, the evil German spy, the suspense, even Hitchcock himself…

Everybody knows the story, so, if you do not understand every word, no problem, you will really laugh!

Théâtre La Bruyère 5, rue La Bruyère 9e
01.48.74.76.99 métro Saint Georges
from Tuesday to Saturday 9 pm, Saturday 3.30pm, Sunday 3pm

Kitsch English-language Bookstore in the Marais

Sara — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:46:06 +0000

I Love My Blender is not your typical Parisian bookstore. Christophe, the owner, has transformed his love and appreciation for Anglo literature into a cute bookstore specializing in books from the US, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, the UK, India, and Australia. The books in English appear opposite their French translations. There are also books for children.

Many of the books are recognizable titles and authors such as Jonathan Safran Foer and Jack Kerouac. But there are also many surprises because Christophe hand selects every book he puts on display. So you won’t be bombarded with just bestsellers (no Dan Brown here) and I can appreciate that! In fact, Christophe has turned into a neighborhood conseiller, advising locals on the best in Anglo literature. He is very knowledgeable and speaks English.

A selection of kitsch stationary and gifts decorate the walls in the back of the shop. I bought a small notebook with a picture of a woman from the 1950s saying, “Make your own damn dinner”. It’s a daily reminder of a motto I live by. You will also find cute children’s toys if you are looking for a unique gift.

I love I Love my Blender Bookstore

I Love my Blender

36 rue du Temple

75004 Paris

Open Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 7:30 pm

01 42 77 50 32