The Paris Chapter: 9 - 15 Oct
Salon de Vintage, Canadian Thanksgiving, eco roundtables, a wine harvest festival, danse sismographique, atélier ceramic and plenty of book signings.
To adventure is to treat moments as if they are equally the first and last time - matching the thrill of discovery with the deep appreciation of knowing it’s over all too soon. As the weather turns, I implore of you: play outside, explore more. These golden days will be gone before we know it.
Need ideas for where to head? Check out my round-up of easy escapes within and around Paris. Suggestions for further afield coming in next week’s edition!
Art salve
Musée Cernuschi (8e)
Seeking respite from the pace of city life? Take a moment in front of this five-metre Buddha statue, the crown jewel of Frances’s second-largest Asian art museum. The 19th century manor sits at the gilded gates of Parc Monceau, offering over 10,000 works from China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.
Be sure to enjoy a stroll in the park following (see if you can find the pyramid), and if you haven’t hit your art quota yet, Musée Nissim de Camondo is just next door.
Free. https://www.cernuschi.paris.fr/fr
Events
Missed the last edition and want to know what’s on this weekend, 7-8 Oct?
Mon 9
Canadian Thanksgiving, The Moose (6e), 7.30pm
If you’re Canadian and wish to eat turkey with your countrymen, dive in. If you’re not Canadian but wish to meet some (and eat some turkey), I’m sure if you ask nicely they’ll let you join.
[FR/EN] 37€ inc set menu. Full details
Blink 182, Accor Arena (12e), 8pm
Got a 90s nostalgia itch you just can’t scratch? Throw a little Blink 182 at the issue (no idea if this’ll make it better, or just increase your symptoms). They’re in town for a one-off concert.
From 62€. Buy your ticket
Tues 10
Télérama Dialogues, Théâtre du Rond-Point (8e), various session times
Intimate talks with some of France’s top cultural talents; Yolande Moreau, Sophia Aram, Romain Duris and Cécile de France among them.
[FR] 8€ per session. Buy your ticket
Danse sismographique, La Gaîte Lyrique (3e), 11.30am
An introduction to somatic exploration, using choreographic tools to help you build awareness of your sensations, emotions and imagination.
Free. Reservation required
Sandra Newman, Shakespeare & Co (5e), 6.30pm
A discussion with author Sandra Newman on her latest work, Julia: “a radical retelling of 1984”. Newman was chosen by the Orwell Estate to create it, 75 years after the original’s publication.
[EN] Free. Limited places available. Full details
Looking for Home, Reid Hall (6e), 6.30pm
Dive into the meaning of home with director Alan Govenar’s new film. Over the course of four years, Govenar interviewed 60 people around the globe. Screening followed by a Q&A.
[FR/EN] Free. Reserve your spot
L’art en mouvement, Centre culturel canadien (8e), 8pm
A special evening of screenings focusing on dance and "art in movement", as presented at the Festival international du film sur l'art de Montréal. The program showcases bodies in all their variety, expression and poetics.
[FR] Free. Reserve your spot
Wed 11
Fête des Vendanges, Montmartre (18e), through Sun
The 90th edition of the annual wine harvest festival, featuring vineyard visits, trampolining, live music, mini theatre installations, dance-offs and more.
Free. Reserve your spot
Vagues de chaleur et solutions, l’Académie du Climat (4e), 5pm
A roundtable on how to adapt to heatwaves in cities using nature-based solutions, with speakers from the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
[FR] Free. Reserve your spot
Revue Revive, Le Consulat (11e), 6pm
Celebrate the launch of the magazine’s second edition, their spotlight on alternative lifestyles this time falling on those reinventing collective living.
[FR/EN] Free. Full details
African Fashion (Un)Folded, American University Paris (7e), 6.30pm
South African curator Dr Erica de Greef will deliver an academic talk on The Fold, a decolonising project fashioning cultural survival and community-making.
[EN] Free. Registration required
L'époque en action, La Gaîté Lyrique (3e), 7pm
This month’s theme: “I'm shaking up my business from the inside (and it's working!)” The panel looks at how to change your company and get it on the (ecologically) right side of history.
[FR] Free. Reservation required
Voices of America, American Library (7e), 7.30pm
A conversation on Poésies d’Emily Dickinson, a new edition combining her poems with modernist paintings. The discussion features Diane de Selliers (the publisher), Anna Hiddleston (curator at the Centre Pompidou) and Françoise Delphy (the translator).
[EN] Free. Reserve your spot
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Thur 12
Think Big’her, Station F (13e), through Fri
Exchanges, experience-sharing, workshops and conferences on the theme of accelerating gender diversity for sustainable businesses.
[FR] From 30€. Ticket details
Returning to Ordinary Life, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (13e), through Fri
A series of workshops examining “the ordinary of madness after disaster”, the state of love, how to mend a broken pace and what makes an epidemic real.
[EN] Free. Reservation required
Rencontre Amélie Nothomb, Fnac Montparnasse (14e), 6pm
An opportunity to meet the prolific author - on the launch of her latest work, Psychopompe - and have your books signed.
[FR] Free. Full details
Rencontre Christopher Rothko, Fnac Bercy Village (12e), 6.30pm
As a lead-in to the Fondation Louis Vuitton’s upcoming Rothko exhibit, his son Christopher (who co-curated it), will be discussing his new book, The Interiority of an Artwork, exploring the painter’s experience of the human condition.
[FR] Free. Full details
Circle Song Workshop, Salle Saint Roch (1e), 7pm
Discover the world of vocal freedom via rhythmic beat-boxing exercises, melodic journeys and group improvisation. They say there are no wrong notes, so even the “tonally challenged” can attend.
[EN] 10€. Book your spot
Guerilla, Maison des Metallos (11e), 8.30pm
A theatrical experience hors ordinaire, composed of a lecture, tai chi class and an electronic music session detailing “the contradictory inner world of people who share a common present and don't know how to face a common future”.
[FR] From 10€. Full details
Fri 13
Bibliomania, Réfectoire des Cordeliers (6e), through Sun
The 14th edition of this old book fair focuses on graphic design, with 40 professional booksellers setting up in a 13th century convent.
Free. Full details
Paris Podcast Festival, La Gaîte Lyrique (3e), through Sun
Discover new podcasts, meet with the teams behind them, and learn how to make your own. Friday is mostly pro sessions, with the weekend for the general public.
[FR] 5€. Buy your ticket
Atélier Ceramique (2e), 10am or 3pm
A guided workshop for beginners and the experienced alike. All materials are provided, and your object will be fired and glazed.
[FR] 20€. Book your spot
Ottolenghi book signing, Le Bon Marché (7e), 3.30pm
Less an event per-se, more a chance for the quickest of meet n’ greets with the famous chef. If you’ve been meaning to buy one of his books, this is your moment.
Free. Reserve your spot
Café-Ciné: Peter Jackson, Bibliothèque Rainer Maria Rilke (5e), 6pm
Not just for fans of LOTR (though they’ll likely be present), this evening celebrates the Kiwi director’s career as a whole, from King Kong to the Beatles.
[FR] Free. Reservation advised
Cours de Hip Hop Breakdance, Carreau du Temple (3e), 7pm
Been sitting on a desire to learn breakdancing - or simply keen to break out of your comfort zone? This class walks you through the basics.
[FR] 16€. Reserve your spot
Sat 14
Portes Ouvertes, Uman Project (3e), through Sun
Wellness studio Uman Project is offering a weekend of free classes, as an opportunity to sample their healing practices. The line-up includes yoga, breathwork, a soundbath and intuitive dance.
[FR/EN] Free. Reservation required
Salon du Vintage, Carreau du Temple (3e), through Sun
Over 100 exhibitors selling furniture and decorative objects from the 1950s through 90s. On the fashion side, pieces by Chanel, Dior and Yves Saint-Laurent will be up for grabs.
8€. Buy your ticket
La musique secrète des plantes (10e), 7pm
A unique experience combining science, music and gastronomy, with researcher and plant-whisperer Jean Thoby leading a journey into the world of plant consciousness. The sonic dialogue will be accompanied by raw sweets.
[FR] 35€. Full details
Sun 15
Brunch & Intuitive Writing Workshop, The Muisca Art Space (4e), 11am
Tune up your creative flow in a friendly environment, with writing exercises and supportive group feedback. Hosted by author Hakima Tantrika.
[FR/EN] 35€ inc brunch. Book your ticket
Out & about
The Eiffel Tower turned pink on October 1 for the launch of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Self-exam details and ways to donate.
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
About | Art salves | Escapes | Previous editions
The Musée Cernuschi really is one of the undervisited gems of Paris. I'm impressed -- subscribing!