The Paris Chapter: 15-21 May
Laughing yoga, a secret garden in the heart of the Marais, French ateliers, an alternate-future expo, a classical music concert amid the roses, and more.
Welcome to the second edition of The Paris Chapter! I hope you had a lovely weekend in the sun. Here’s the round-up of what’s caught my eye for the week.
Art salve
Uchronie, by Vincent Fournier, explores alternate versions of history, using photography, sculpture, video, mosaic, jewelry and 3D printing to play with questions such as “What if life on earth had evolved differently? What if animals were gifted with poetry?”
With stunning photos following NASA astronauts training in moon and Mars-like environs, and pieces interwoven with the permanent collections, it’s a handsome and thought-provoking showing. It took me years to get to the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (I was put off by the hunting part) but it’s fast become one of my favourite art spots.
12.50€ full price admission, www.chassenature.org
In addition:
Wed 17 - La Galerie Dior (8e) reopens with a new collection , and Médecines d’Asie launches at Musée Guimet (16e)
Thur 18 - the Paradox Museum (9e) opens for business
Fri 19 - Tim Burton’s Labyrinth begins at Parc de la Villette (19e)
Escape to…
The middle of the Marais. When you don’t have time for a proper nature hit, a quiet park in the midst of the busiest shopping district goes a long way.
Jardin des Rosiers Joseph-Migneret is a hidden gem, tucked behind tall wooden doors on rue des Rosiers, or accessible by the back of a courtyard on rue Francs-Bourgeois.
While you’re there:
Pop into Smith & Son Marais, a tiny English-language bookstore with a fab array of all the magazines you can’t find elsewhere.
French resource
I’ve found the Pocket Casts app invaluable in improving oral comprehension. Where most podcast apps allow you to adjust the speed by 0.5 increments, here it’s 0.1. When first starting out with French podcasts I’d listen at 0.8 so I could catch every word, before building up to 1.3 to train my ear to a vitesse closer to standard conversation.
Listen to an interview with Vincent Fournier - the artist behind this week’s featured expo - on the France Culture Bienvenue au Club podcast.
What’s on
Mon 15
Atelier conversation en français, La Maison de la Conversation (18e), 7 - 8.30pm
Want a place to practice your French? La Maison de la Conversation is a non-profit initiative focused on bringing together people who wouldn’t normally meet. This workshop places students (of the same French level) in groups of 2-3 with a professor.
Free. Learn moreFestival Paris Music, various locations, until Sun
A range of concerts occurring in historic venues across the city - from Ground Control to the Musée des Arts et Métiers - for the festival’s 8th edition. The focus is on the unexpected, with musical styles that include pop, rap, classical, electro and jazz.
From 10€. Ticket details
Tues 16
Yoga du Rire, Le Hasard Ludique (18e), 7pm
A form of playful emotional release that involves a lot of laughing (as promised), along with different impro, dance and relaxation exercises. Don’t worry if you’re not feeling cheery, the class will get you there! I have such fond memories of the technique from my acting days.
20€. Instruction en français. Grab your spotJami Attenberg and Lauren Collins on Writing Through Life, American Library (7e), 7.30pm
Two celebrated writers in conversation on life on the road, the creative process, and finding home within. Attenberg’s new memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You, tackles rejecting a conventional life in favor of spontaneity and creativity. Collins is an acclaimed New Yorker journalist and the author of When in French (I’m obsessed with a very specific niche of “I moved to France” books - non-fiction; personal history interwoven with the idiosyncrasies of the French language and culture - and this is one of my favourites).
Free. Reservation required
Thur 18
Festival de Yoga, Parc Floral de Paris (Bois de Vincennes, 12e), until Sun
An absolute smorgasbord of yoga, with both the practical and philosophical elements available to sample across 144 workshops and classes.
30€ per day or 100€ for a 4-day pass. Instruction en français. Full detailsFête de la Bretagne, (14e)
Get ye to the crêpes! This festival celebrating the best of Brittany runs all week, but the 18th is Breton Day, with a full 12 hours of festivities along Boulevard Edgar Quinet and rue du Montparnasse.
Free. Full details
Fri 19
ImageNation Vernissage, Galerie Joseph Le Palais (3e), 6pm
A contemporary photography exhibition of artists from around the world, in one of the Marais’s premier art spaces. Join the evening’s opening event, or view the expo throughout the weekend.
Free. Full details“Handmade” piano recital, Piano Academie (1e), 7pm
An intimate charity concert performed by Javier Rodriguez, bringing the “should’ve kept going with the damn piano lessons” refrain to the fore.
By donation (proceeds go to Odanadi.org, a trust in India that helps the victims of human trafficking). Grab a ticket
Sat 20
Code & Brunch, Le Wagon Gaudelet (11e), 9.30am - 12.30pm
Create a landing page in two hours, while eating croissants. As someone who racks up websites the way I do magazine subscriptions, I love the idea of muscling up and being able to spend my Squarespace subscriptions on something else.
Free. Reservation requiredGuerilla Yogi community class (7e), 11am - 1pm
Start the weekend in good form. Two hours of solid practice led by Marc Holzman, whom I had the pleasure of taking classes with pre-pandemic. His sage approach, alignment know-how and deep familiarity with Ayurvedic traditions make him one of the best teachers I’ve encountered (in Paris or elsewhere). All levels welcome.
20€ suggested donation. Details hereLes Ateliers D’Écriture en Français, La Maison de la Conversation (18e), 3 - 5pm
At a B1/B2 level and keen to boost it up? Improve your writing skills (definitely my weakest French point, argh) with this intimate workshop - 10 spots only - that guides you to write in the style you’re most inspired; poem, travel story, recipe… anything flies.
Free. Reservation required
Side note: La Maison is super close to Les Puces de Clignancourt (supposedly the largest flea market in the world), so you could plan to visit before/after.Atelier AcroYoga Des Elements, Le Centre Element (3e), 6.30 - 9pm
Daunting to the uninitiated but actually simple to achieve, acro yoga is essentially partner work that gets you airborne, providing a good stretch while proving how quickly you can build connection and trust. Seriously addictive.
45€. Instruction en français. Reserve your spotLes Musicales de Bagatelle, Bois de Boulogne (16e), until Sun
Classical music concerts in the oasis that is Parc de Bagatelle: 25 hectares of formal gardens, including waterfalls, 10,000 rose bushes and - wouldn’t be France without one - a chateau. Pack a picnic: the concerts start between 3 - 6pm.
10€. Buy a ticket
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Thanks for being here,
Jenni