Paris News July, 2009
The big news in Paris in July is the national holiday celebrating Bastille Day in the memory of the storming of the Bastille during the first part of the French Revolution. Every year on 13 and 14 July, there are celebrations, picnics, balls, concerts, fireworks, and even a parade led by the President himself. The arrival of the President at the top of the Champs-Elysées is announced by bugles and trumpets on the morning of 14 July, followed by an impressive military parade down the Avenue.
Paris Fashion Week is underway during the first week of July; designers of haute couture (one-of-a-kind designer originals) are displaying fashions from their latest collections at various locations throughout the city. Paris Fashion Week has been an annual event since 1973 and is attended by an international audience.
The Irish rock band U2, winners of more Grammy awards than any other band in the world, play a concert at Stade de France on 11 July. U2, formed in 1975, has sold over 145 million albums throughout the world.
The Avenue des Champs-Elysées will be the location for the last leg of the Tour de France on 26 July. Thousands of cycling enthusiasts and interested spectators will line the route as the leaders, which will likely include Anquetil, Armstrong, Coppi, Hinault, and Merckx, ride in to determine the champion of the 96th edition. This event, which is nicknamed the Grande Boucle, is eagerly anticipated and sure to be very exciting for all those in attendance.
The Paris Quartier d’Eté festival, held from 15 July through 9 August, is a lively mixture of concerts, installations, shows, and theatre. Events will take place at the Luxembourg Gardens, Cinema le Quartier Latin, Tuileries Gardens, and many other venues throughout the city. The festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year; this year's lineup includes Robyn Orlin at the gardens of the Palais Royal, the Queen of Soul, Sandra Nkaté, on stage at the Jardin du Luxembourg, and Andy Warhol portraits set to a rock soundtrack on the big screen at Saint-Eustache church.
The Paris Chopin Festival continues through 15 July. Fryderyk Chopin was associated with Paris for almost two decades, and in 1984 the Chopin Festival was established. Artists from around the world come to the festival to perform Chopin's works as well as the music of other great masters; concerts take place at the Parc de Bagatelle.
The internationally-acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater offers performances at the Théâtre du Chatelet from 6 July through 25 July. The modern dance company is based in New York, New York and is marking its 50th anniversary of bringing African-American culture through modern dance to the world's stages.
Paris News June 2009
The 2009 French Open tennis tournament will be held from May 24 to June 7 in Paris; this tournament is considered the most challenging of the grand slam tournaments. The spectacular Roland Garros stadium will host this event; the venue is named for the brave World War I fighter pilot who sacrificed his life fighting for his country. The famous clay courts at Roland Garros are the nemesis of many of the top names in tennis, including Roger Federer. Other athletes thrive on clay courts and are expected to perform well at the French Open.
The Paris Mambo Festival is scheduled to take place June 5 - 7; the event offers a variety of shows, parties and workshops in a festive ambiance. The festivities will take place at Espace Congres, in the southern part of Paris.
On June 21, the annual Fête de la Musique will provide concerts which are free and open to the public. Most concerts will be held in open-air areas like parks, or in public buildings such as train stations and museums. The Fête de la Musique was launched by the French Ministry in 1982 for cultural enrichment; the date coincides each year with the date of the summer solstice for the northern hemisphere.
The annual Midsummer Fireworks display event will take place on June 24; hundreds of spectators turn out to watch the show from the Quai Saint-Bernard. The fireworks celebrate the shortest night of the year.
Paris Gay Pride 2009 is scheduled for the afternoon of June 27; the parade begins at 2:00 pm at Boulevard du Montparnasse and proceeds to Boulevard Henri IV and Place de la Bastille.
Pop star>Britney Spears has added three extra Paris dates to her current "Circus" tour: July 4th, 5th and 6th, at the legendary Bercy venue. Opening for Spears on this tour are the Pussycat Dolls.
Just in time for summer, the conveniently-located Hôtel Rochester Champs Elysées has reduced its nightly rates to $185 for stays through September 15; these rates also include breakfast. The hotel is located in the heart of the Champs Elysées neighborhood and is near chic boutiques, lively brasseries, and the Arc de Triomphe.
Another hotel offering summer specials is the Le Méridien Montparnasse, located on the famous Left Bank. Room rates start at $154 per night for most nights in July and August and include a Paris welcome kit, a discount of 10% at the Galeries Lafayette department store, and a discount of 15% at the hotel's two restaurants: Café Atlantic and Justine.
PARIS CURRENT NEWS: May 2009
Paris, France News - Both the Paris St-Germain and Marseille French football teams recently announced changes in management. PSG's Paul Le Guen's contract expires at the end of the season and will not be renewed. According to an L'Equipe article, Le Guen had recently clashed with PSG's chairman, Sebastien Bazin, over issues concerning the club's transfer policies. Marseille had previously announced that Didier Deschamps would assume control from Eric Gerets.
As of May 2, two cases of the A(H1N1) virus (commonly known as the swine flu) have been confirmed in France. Both patients are hospitalized in Paris and "are doing well," according to Roselyne Bachelot, the French Health Minister. A third person was also hospitalized and will most likely be found to also have the virus. All three recently returned from Mexico.
Over the weekend of May 2 and 3, baggage handlers at Paris's Orly international airport staged a protest against unloading planes arriving from Mexico and Spain over fears of swine flu. The actions, which are permissible under French law, caused travel delays for hundreds of passengers. In response to the protest, French health authorities announced they would begin supplying medical face masks to all workers whose duties could bring them into contact with luggage or passengers from Mexico.
The 'Seine de Danse' dance festival will feature 160 artists presenting over 30 shows during May 11 - 16 in the square of La Défense. Twenty different dance companies will participate; in addition to free daytime performances, there will be dance workshops and five special evening performances accompanied by live music.
From May 13 through 24, the most famous cinematic event in the world takes place; the 62nd Cannes Film Festival will bring international visitors who often stop by Paris on their way to or from Cannes. French actress Isabelle Huppert will serve as the president of the jury at this year's festival.
On Saturday, May 16, the 5th European Museum Night (La Nuit Européenne des Musées) features over 1,000 museums throughout France, together with 38 other countries, sponsoring an evening of special free events designed to attract new visitors. Paris’s Grand Palais will feature a special contemporary art exhibit, and the Pompidou Centre will offer a workshop exploring the work of Alexander Calder. Almost every museum in Paris will stay open till midnight or later; light shows, dance performances, and concerts are included at some museum locations.
The Festival Villette Sonique takes place from May 27 - 31 and features both free concerts and music events for which admission is charged. The free concerts take place at the Parc de la Villette over the weekend of May 30 -31; five bands will perform each afternoon, and many people bring a picnic to enjoy the music.
PARIS CURRENT NEWS: APRIL 2009
According to many travel guides, the month of April is the start of the best season to visit Paris (April through June).
The weather is pleasant, yet the city and attractions are not yet crowded with sightseers. A wide variety of hotels are still offering off-season discounts during the month of April, as well.
The 2009 Paris Marathon was held on April 5; the first place in the men's division went to 21-year-old Vincent Kipruto of Kenya, with a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 47 seconds.
For the women, the winner was Atsede Bayisa from Ethiopia wit a time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, 42 seconds.
The relatively new Musée du Quai Branly is hosting an exhibition called “The Jazz Century” through June 28.
It is billed as a chronological tour through the jazz world with a focus on how jazz has affected other media such as literature, painting, photography, and film from the early twentieth century to the present.
The Musée du Quai Branly is also hosting a series of concerts and films which are related to the exhibit.
At the Centre Pompidou, a major retrospective of the work of Vassili Kandinsky opens on April 8 and runs through August 10.
Kandinsky is widely regarded as one of the 20th century's key art figures; the exhibit is a joint effort of the Centre Pompidou, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum of New York and the Städtische Galerie in Lenbachhaus in Munich.
Also continuing through July 20 at the Centre Pompidou is an exhibit of the works of Alexander Calder, who is well known for large mobiles and structures of painted metal; it is titled Les années parisiennes (The Parisian years), 1926-1933.
One of the largest fairs in all France is the Foire du Trône, which runs from April 4 through June 1 this year.
Held in the Parc de Reuilly in the Bois de Vincennes, the origins of this fair date back to the year 957.
The event boasts over 350 attractions including roller coasters, arcade games, jugglers, acrobats, and fire-eaters.
Four new wine bars are offering first-rate wines with delicious food to match.
5è Cru is an ocher-hued venue serving not only fifth-growth bottles, as implied by the name, but wines from every other terroir of France.
The recently renovated Le Porte Pot features a cellar with 120 varietals; Cavestève is a modern and light-filled spot with an interesting selection of artisanal wines and international classics. Popular with locals, Versant Vins is located at the city's oldest food market, the Marché des Enfants Rouges.
Pinkberry clone Myberry has locations on rue Montorgeuil and rue Vieille du Temple, offering refreshingly frozen concoctions of nonfat frozen yogurt and fresh fruit, as well as a multitude of smoothies.
Disneyland Paris presents a new show and sing-along, High School Musical 2, which runs from April 4 through September 27. The whole crew from East High is here to sing and dance their way though the summer, Disney style.
PARIS CURRENT NEWS: MARCH2009
In northeast Paris, the Seine St Denis neighborhood is preparing for the start of the Banlieues Bleues Festival, which runs March 6 through April 10, 2009.
The Banlieues Bleues Festival is a celebration of music featuring blues and jazz; many big names are expected to perform in various venues throughout the area.
Paris' Maison des Cultures du Monde
Paris' Maison des Cultures du Monde is hosting the Festival of the Imagination in March and April. Devoted to the cultural and musical styles of humanity across the globe, this annual celebration features both the grand masters of various traditions as well as emerging young artists.
Paris Marathon
Runners everywhere are preparing for the annual Paris Marathon, to be held April 5, 2009.
The maximum limit of 37,000 participants was reached last fall, but running enthusiasts and spectators are expected to be out in very large numbers to witness the race and cheer the participants on.
The internationally-known Paris Marathon follows a scenic route that takes runners along the Seine River and past many famous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Place de la Bastille.
Wine and cheese are served at the 35th kilometer of the race.
In addition, the Marathon Expo exhibition features a large number of sponsors and exhibitors; over 60,000 visitors are expected to visit the marathon Expo this year.
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris is presenting the Mickey's Magical Party celebration starting on April 4, 2009.
This event will feature special happenings and attractions throughout the resort, including Playhouse Disney Live stage shows, Dance Time in Discoveryland, Minnie's Party Train, and Disney's Stars and Cars.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide announced plans to open the W Paris-Opéra Hotel in 2011.
The prestigious new W Hotel will occupy an elegant building from the 1870s Haussmann era; the location is near the Galleries Lafayette and the Place Vendome.
France's smoking ban
France's smoking ban , which went into effect last year, has resulted in markedly lower cigarette sales for 2008, as well as fresher air in the bars, restaurants, and cafes of Paris.
Many of these establishments have set up designated areas for smokers out of doors.
French book and music retailer Fnac
French book and music retailer Fnac will close its location on the Bastille place by year-end, but 25 Fnac stores remain at other locations throughout the Paris area, including stores in Montparnasse and on avenue des Champs-Elysées.
The Notre-Dame Cathedral
The Notre-Dame Cathedral is enforcing a new modest-dress rule for visitors; guests to the famous cathedral are advised that shorts and bare arms are not permitted. Visitors are also expected to be quiet and respectful inside the cathedral.
