The Paris Chapter: 24 Sept - 1 Oct
Free museums, flamenco, rewilding food, basketball, speed dating, sacred chants, LinguaFest, 'open door' artist studios, cocktails, creativity lectures and more.
It’s a strange truth: we come home to ourselves by stepping away; the body still, the mind at play. The great art forms are truly a meditation, providing that delicate balance of “here, yet utterly elsewhere”, transporting you across the divide.
It’s a magical thing, to momentarily extend the bounds of yourself through another. I took in a late night expo at the Centre Pompidou (details below), and found it perfectly unpopulated. Eye-to-eye with the fragments of others’ lives, the tangle of that day’s thoughts eased open, the threads now free to wander.
I exited in a rêverie, met by a view across the Parisian rooftops - the sun having just set, the Eiffel Tower slowly, softly coming to light. I don’t think I walked home so much as floated.
The mind must travel. What do you turn to, to take you far and back again?
In this week’s edition:
Art salve
Special event: Introducing one of my very own making…
Events
In other news: I’m thrilled to be featured in this week’s edition of Monday Media Diet. Details in the final section!
Art salve
Corps à corps, Centre Pompidou (2e)
A history of photography as told through the human body, with works from greats such as Helmar Lerski, Walker Evans, Gordon Park and Dorothea Lange, and over 350 images in total. On display: new modes of capturing identity, as they developed (see a 1917 take of Marcel Duchamp’s many sides, above).
It’s a grand exhibition with an intimate scale, its up-close-and-personal portraiture a potent reminder of our shared humanity. As Claude Simon (a featured artist) noted, the medium is a way to “keep a trace of what had never yet been and never will be again”, photography an allegory for personhood.
17€. https://www.centrepompidou.fr
* Special event *
Nectar, Wed 4 Oct / Judy restaurant (6e), 7.30pm
In curating this newsletter each week, I realised I was still craving an event that puts the best of the best - deep connection, intellectual stimulation and soulful nourishment - together. So I went to work, and here it is!
Nectar is the first in a series, designed by Creative Monastery in partnership with Judy restaurant. Each month, we’ll be bringing you inspiring guest speakers, mindful rituals and integrated wellness, served with organic food & wine and a healthy dollop of Australian cheer.
We’re thrilled to have New York Times best-selling author Sarah Wilson as our special guest for the launch - her views on purposeful living have always hit home - in conversation with naturopath, author and founder of Judy, Dominique Gassin.
Hope to see you there!
Events
Missed the last edition and want to know what’s on this weekend, 23-24 Sept?
Mon 25
Biodanza (15e), 7.30pm
A tempting tagline - "When you dance, you have the luxury of being you” - and the chance to boogie out any Monday blues. Five Rhythms-style free movement, set to Latin or jazz music.
La voie de la souplesse, La Villette (19e), 8pm
World champion judo players in conversation on “the supple way”. Expect technical talk alongside the importance of ritual, courage, honour and respect.
[FR] 15€. Buy your ticket
Tues 26
Concert Quatuor Agate, Reid Hall (6e), 7pm
A bilingual presentation of the international quartet’s work; their music, and the practice of combining total personal involvement with an abandonment to the collective.
[FR/EN] Free. Registration required
Soirée Mixologie et Massage, Little Home Paris (11e), 7pm
A “ladies night out” presenting an unusual blend: a mixology class (cue the cocktails) followed by massages. Do report back if you attend.
[FR] 25€. Buy your ticket
Wed 27
Comment stopper la Fast Fashion? L’Académie du Climat (4e), through Sat
A five-day expo on how to curtail the Fast Fashion curse, deep diving into challenges such as consumptive practices, overproduction, power players and protecting human rights.
[FR] Free. Full details
Poetry, Shakespeare & Co (5e), 6.30pm
A poetry evening with Greta Bellamacina, celebrating her new books A House is a Dance and Who Will Make the Fire. Arrive early if you want to make it through the door (S & Co being what it is).
[EN] Free. Full details
Rencontre “Le Déploiement”, Centre culturel canadien (8e), 7pm
Voices from the South and the Far North on the experience of home, community and “memorial landscape” across Arctic territory, with artist Emmanuelle Léonard and multidisciplinary artist and musician Geronimo Inutiq.
[FR] Free. Registration required
Paris beyond the postcard, American Library (7e), 7.30pm
Where is the ‘real’ Paris? Cole Stangler discusses his new book, Paris is Not Dead: Surviving Hypergentrification in the City of Light, and sustaining the cultural identities woven within a city’s fabric.
[EN] Free. Registration required
Le Souffle du Serpent, Le Consulat (11e), 8pm
Performance meets ritual, with choreographer Zora Snake drawing on the sacred rites of Cameroon for a body-symphony that melds song, dance and scenography.
From 10€. Buy your ticket
Paris Basketball, Halle Carpentier (13e), 9pm
I’d honestly never put ‘Paris’ and ‘basketball’ in the same thought space until now, but for 15€ one could happily get in on the atmosphere.
From 15€. Grab your seat
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Thur 28
Rewilding Food & the Self, American University (7e), 9.30am - 7pm
A full-day exploration of a new food narrative, rewilding, delving into factors such as fasting, the commodification of nature, nutritional primitivism and the market for natural wine.
[FR/EN] Free. Registration required
Artistes de Ménilmontant (20e), through Sun
Peek into Parisian artist studios with this ‘open door’ opportunity. Plenty of different art styles on display, accompanied by local neighborhood events.
Free. Full details
Creative Practice and Place, University of London Institute (7e), 6pm
A lecture from Professor Morag Shiach, Emerita Professor of Cultural History at the Queen Mary University of London, on how specific networks and places have shaped creative practices in Paris and London.
[EN] Free. Registration required
Master Class: The New Silk Road, IE France (9e), 6.30pm
Swot-up on the past, present and future of the Silk Road, and its role in the growing tension between China and the US. Led by Fernando Cortiñas, global consultant and academic.
[EN] Free. Registration required
Cosmo Conversations, Jardin des Tuileries (1e), 6.30pm
Share stories with strangers, on the theme ‘Journeys of resilience’. With a picnic-style setup, participants contribute personal narratives, anecdotes, and folktales, celebrating diverse storytelling styles.
[EN] Free. Registration recommended
Fri 29
LinguaFest, Halle des Blancs Manteaux (4e), through Sun
A mini festival on lingua franca, hosted by Mundolingua, the museum of languages. If you’re looking for language-learning books, immersive travel opportunities, language schools or cultural centres, this be the place.
[FR/EN] 5€. Full details
Lost in Frenchlation, L’Arlequinn (6e), 7pm
Subtitled showings of French films, crew Q&As and the chance to meet other cinephiles. This week, Toni en Famille, starring Camille Cottin, followed by an interview with the director.
[FR/EN] From 8.50€. Reserve your spot
We call it Flamenco, Maison de l’Océan (5e), 7.30pm
A quick Spanish culture immersion, presenting six flamenco styles in four acts. Performed at the Maison de l'Océan - a truly stunning venue.
45€. Buy your ticket
Sat 30
Grow Your Mindset Book Club (9e), 4pm
Craving book talk? If you’ve read the title - or can manage it in time - head on to the September meeting of this book club, discussing Strangers to Ourselves by Rachel Aviv.
[EN] Free. Registration required
Sun 1
Free museums, various locations
Many of the city’s top museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month, including Centre Pompidou, Musée d'Orsay, l’Orangerie, Musée national Gustave Moreau.
35+ Speed Dating (9e), 4pm
Sick of dating apps? No idea if this is any better, but at least you get to interact face-to-face. Two hours of seat-swiping, followed by social drinks.
[EN] 29€. Full details.
Chants sacrés d'Orient, Crypte du Martyrium (18e), 5pm
Dive into the beauty of Syriac and Byzantine chants - listed as UNESCO intangible heritage - sung a cappella by Fanny Perrier-Rochas.
20€. Buy your ticket
Language Exchange (11e), 6pm
Tables are divided equally between foreigners and Frenchies, and switched up every 30mins to keep it fresh. They specifically note that it’s not speed dating, so if you were planning to get flirty, try the event above instead.
[FR/EN] 10€. Reserve your spot
In other news
I’m thrilled to be featured in this week’s edition of Monday Media Diet, talking on my background, my top travel recommendation and favourite magazines, podcasts et al.
» Come dive in with me
The Paris Chapter is designed to help you have a deeper, richer experience of the city, as an expat, Frenchie or traveller. Feel free to tell me what you’re most looking for, and to send event details and tip-offs my way (email below).
Help others have a better week in Paris
Thanks for being here,
Jenni
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