Fashion Week (again!)

If there is one specialty France has managed to keep alive it's fashion! What was initially a social class identification system has now become a huge industry. Of course we do have competitors, but still... France and Paris in particular is a passage obligé (mandatory place to be) when dealing with fashion (whether on the creative side or the business side). Some may find it superficial, but whether you like it or not you cannot deny it's a true art! Yesterday the Fall/Autumn 2014 season has started and it will last 9 days. I took this photo during a previous show, when, at the end, hairdressers and make up people get on stage to make a appearance.

French Cancan is back!

Look at what I found this morning in my street! An ad for a French Cancan show that is going to take place at Le Palace (the equivalent to NYC Studio 54 in the 80's and now a theater) in March and April! The Cancan (that the Brits renamed "French Cancan") is a dance in which women show their legs and Petticoat which was very daring at that time (the Internet did not exist then, remember?!). This new show will be more compliant with the 21st century if we judge from this video teaser... It looks pretty good actually, I might fall for it...

Theater killed the video store!

It's not everyday that you can witness the opening of a new theater, and though, last evening I did! It's called le Théâtre Bô Saint Martin (Bo is a play on words with "beau" which means beautiful). It's not the largest one in Paris, but it's a real cute one, all nicely decorated (It used to be a video store before, hence my title!) Most artists who will perform there are stand up comedians, all aiming for fame, like my dear friend Silvia (second from the left, also on Facebook) who did not hesitate giving up everything to pursue her dream: being on stage (I so look up to people who are able to do that!). Now, let the show begin...

The largest French farm...

Like every year, my favorite trade show returns! It's called Le Salon de l'agriculture and it just opened today. People call it "the largest farm in the world" for its spreads out on 150 000 sq meters (1 614 586 sq feet) and shelters no less than 4,000 farm animals ! Since this year is an election year, all candidates will visit it as  farmers' votes are very important - even though they only accounts for 3.6% of the active population nowadays. The guys in this photo are obviously from England. After all, it's also an International show!

Margaret Cho in Paris

I'm just back from an evening at La Java, a former dancing hall that is now a bar and shelters a stage where comedians can perform. Last night, I saw... Margaret Cho, an American comedian that I never thought I would see in Paris. Why? Because she only performs in English and mainly deals with american issues. No wonder 99% of the audience was American! I, as a French, had a good laugh though, for she really pushes it very far and is really politically incorrect! Check it for yourself, but watch out, some bits could be rated PG99!

Music!

Let's take a little musical break today... Until the end of May, there is a music show at Le Cabaret Sauvage in Parc de la Villette, called Barbès Café (after Barbès, the area I posted about a few days ago which is known for being the hub of immigrants from North Africa). The show is actually a musical that features North African songs (mostly Algerian) written by artists that started immigrating to France in the 40's. It also seems to have a little political claim, if you look carefully at the posters that I photographed, you'll see two mentions "100% made by immigrants" and "Made in France" ;-). Take a look at the rehearsal here.

Animal Farm

Like every year around the 20th of February the Salon International de l'Agriculture (the International Agricultural Show) returns. And like every year it's going to be as succesful as the year before. Parents love to take their kids to this show - especially the ones in Paris - to show them what food looks like before it hits the freezer LOL. And it's not only about cows and pigs of course, but also about cheese, plants, tractors... everything you can find in a farm. The French, who almost all come from a farmer background (in 1900 almost one half of the French population would still work in a farm environment) love their peasants.

Delightful moment

Great, delightful, fantastic, witty, funny, spectacular, inspiring, subtle, stunning... I don't know enough English words to express what I feel after having seen the Voca people, a group of accapella singers that are really extraordinary. You've probably heard of them already (if you don't visit their website or Youtube), but I did not - and I'm really fortunate to have seen them live on stage at the Bobino theater yesterday. If you come to Paris rush to Bobino before the end of March, or else wait till they come to you.

First snow!

What? This is only mid November and it already snowed?! And no, I did not take this photo in Canada, but yesterday in Paris ;-) Explanation: for a conference, I had to go to Heavent, a trade show that is currently taking place at Porte de Versailles in the 15th arrondissement. This show is dedicated to events planning and all that revolves around this industry. There were lots of service providers that operate in this field, including a fake snow maker. Here you go LOL!

A night at Le Lido

If you came to Paris you probably heard of Le Lido. Le Lido is a cabaret located on the Champs Elysées, it was created in 1946 and starred people like Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich, Josephine Baker and more recently Elton John. But more than anything, it is known for its Bluebell girls - that is stunning dancers with endless legs ;-) - a female dance crew that was created by British dancer Margaret Kelly (you have to watch this clip from the archives of CBC-TV). In this photo you have two samples of Bluebell girls (I'm sorry I cannot show their face) that I photographed during a promotional event.

Automobile show 2010

Every other year in Paris the Mondial de l'automobile (the world automobile show) takes place at VIParis, a big exhibition center at Porte de Versailles. I'm not too big on cars to be honest, so I don't really look forward to this "big" event. Only this year I visited hall 8, dedicated to old cars and it really made my visit worth it. Great find really. I loved it. I took a few photos (that you can see in this little Animoto) and selected this one for my photo du jour. Italians are the best when it comes to designing cars I say!

Newlyweds?

Well if you think they look funny for newlyweds, don't be surprised... They are not really newlyweds, but actors - and they are not even just married if I understood the plot of their play correctly, they are just on the verge of getting married and scared to death! Anyway, I found them (Elsa Pasquier and Matheo Capelli) on the Seine banks today, promoting their play Dis-moi oui!, among dozens of other show people at "Spectaculaire", an exhibit dedicated to the upcoming shows in Paris this year. Clever idea.

A night at Bollywood

I spent last evening at Bollywood! You know this part of Mumbai dedicated to Indian movies... OK, you're right I'm lying, I stayed in good old Paris. But I still got to spend 2 hours in front of La fabuleuse histoire de Bollywood show at Porte de Versailles, clapping my hands and yelling "Shava" like crazy. These Indian dancers must be on something illegal to have so much energy! Anyway, I had a real blast! Please forgive the poor photo quality that is all I managed to take (I was too scared of being caught!) and I just wanted to share a little bit of my Parisian night time!

How to become a real Parisian...

If you want to know what being a real Parisian means, you have to ask "Professor Olivier Giraud", a young French man who spent five years as a restaurant manager in Palm Beach, Florida before he realized he would be much better off as a comedian in France. And I concur... (Well not that I know what he is worth as a restaurant manager!) as I went to see his show last night (with PHX, Guille, Michael...) and had a real good laugh. The show is in English (sometimes with a heavy French accent), and makes fun of the French as much as the Americans (and the Germans!). If you come to Paris, you HAVE to see it. Have a sneak peak in this little video.

(Still) made in France!

I already told you how the French find it tacky to be "too" patriotic. On some occasions, however, it is OK to be proud of being French; this includes wars, football or rugby matches and... French goods! We even have a trade show - called "Made in France", not very original! - to promote them. The show is not about large industrial world leaders like Dassault (airplanes) or Alstom (trains and turbines) or even Dannon - Danone in French - (dairy products), but about small and medium businesses related to fashion or haute couture in general (like the famous embroider Lesage who is now a school). I just saw the outside of the show (it takes place inside the beautiful building of the Paris Chamber of Commerce) unfortunately, but I'm sure it was really worth the visit.

Paris Safari...

Today, almost like every year, I went to the "largest farm in the world", that is the "Salon International de l'agriculture", a trade show dedicated to farming and farmers... It's a very popular show as the French love their farmers - even though they only count for 3.5% of the GDP (vs 7% 30 years ago...). It was really fun to see the numerous kids playing with the cows, the sheep, the tractors... This year I chose to show you this cute little goat that became the star of the podium for a while ;-) No need to go to Africa to see animals!

Gee, what a day. After 24 hours of stuffing myself with Christmas food(!) I came back to Paris and rushed to the Olympia to attend a show by Dany Boon. Dany Boon is a French comedian well known for a movie I already told you about: Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis. This time he was alone on stage and it felt good to laugh after so much family gathering (not that my family is not funny!) Now I have to rush again, this time to pack, for I'm going away tomorrow for a week. Where? You'll find out tomorrow... And last but not least. Thanks a million for all you Christmas wishes. I love you all.

A stunning show

I'm usually very picky about shows, but tonight I can tell you that I attended a really delightful one. It's called La Clique and it runs at the Bobino theater, in the 14th arrondissement. It was witty, funny, creative, unexpected, daring... Well, really good. Have a look at some of the numbers if you want to have a better idea. I took this photo at the intermission from the balcony.

Paris, the city of Music

I spent the evening listening to American hit songs... You think I remained glued to my TV, watching all of the Michael Jackson tributes don't you?! All wrong. I went to a show called, "Trois Américains à Paris", starring 3 excellent performers. They sang all the classics (The Sound of music, Cabaret, Singin'in the Rain, An American in Paris, That's Entertainment, Yentl...). I had a very nice time. It was the last performance, so, even if you're in Paris now, you won't be able to see it (not to mention that if you're in Paris, you probably don't want to listen to American songs!). However, if you want to listen to music in Paris at the moment check Les Musicals, a festival that is currently taking place in Paris (have a look at what they did at Sacré Coeur for their opening).

Open air Opera at Le Sénat

Call me lucky because I'm just back from the Luxembourg gardens where I attended a unique performance of Rigoletto (an opera by Verdi, with this famous aria, I'm sure you know). Every year for the past 9 years, between June and September, Le Sénat (the Senate), welcomes l'Opéra en plein air (the open air opera). The weather was great and the performance stunning. I'm very grateful to my neighbour who gave me these tickets to thank me for helping her out with her computer ;-)