Paris Gay Pride 2009

Last weekend was really busy. After the group moonwalk that I posted yesterday, I rushed to Bastille, to reach the end of the 2009 Paris Gay Pride. It was not very different from last year of course, only this time I've tried to get a broader view, in order to get a Paris monument in the picture... Here you go! This big dome in the background belongs to the Pantheon and it's located 1,25 mile away from where I took the photo (yes, it was a clear day!). Like always I took a zillion photos. Have a look at this little Animoto if you want to see them.

Group Moonwalk in Paris

Michael Jackson must be happy if he sees what turmoil his death did to the world! There were several celebrations given in his honor last weekend in Paris including two "giant moonwalks". I went to one of them, rue Oberkampf, in the 11th and it was quite fun to see the happy faces. I took many photos of course, but I chose this one in the end. If you miss the motion, have a look at the videos taken by the zillion spectators! [Sorry for the late posting, I made a mistake setting the post date!]

Where is Amir?

Today is not the first day of the month and though the City Daily Photo bloggers have arranged a "sub theme day" to support Amir, the owner of a daily photo blog from Tehran called Tehranlive.org, who has been reported missing - well at least who stopped blogging - since June 17, 2009. We are all concerned about his situation and we want him back! More in this forum, and, like for all theme days click here to view thumbnails for all participants. [update] Amir is safe and sound with his family, as reported on Oeirasdailyphoto.

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).

Somewhere in Le Sentier

I told you already how I think the 2nd arrondissement - and more precisely the area we call Le Sentier - will be the new up and coming area of Paris. Well, for the time being, the buildings - and some of the people! - are pretty old and need renewal (what the town hall is currently trying to promote actually). You still have old lanterns, like the ones that were used at the time of gas.

Eglise Saint Séverin

I was at a product launch party last night and I thought the place was going to be nice enough to make a decent photo. In fact there was nothing interesting about it... So instead let me show you the back of the cloister of Eglise Saint-Séverin, a church that you can find in the Latin Quarter, in front of which I pass every morning on my way to work. It's a beautiful place, that you must visit if you're in the neighborhood

Typical Paris Skyline

Last evening I helped a friend to pack a few things before his removal. He lives by the Square des Epinettes, a public garden located in the 17th arrondissement. When I saw the view he can enjoy from his apartment (he lives on the last floor of a 7 story building) I grabbed my camera and shot! As you can see all these buildings have different shapes and sizes and their facades are much more simple than Haussmanian style buildings that were built after these ones.

Champs de mars

I passed by the Champs de Mars today. The weather was so beautiful that I had to stop! When I saw this kid on the scooter, I thought it would be perfect to have him in the foreground while the Eiffel tower would be in the back. I rushed, took several photos and finally selected this one because of the composition, the colors and the fact that he does not face the camera. The monument you can see in between the Eiffel Tower and him is the Peace Wall that I already mentioned in 2005.

Fête de la musique 2009

I'm just back from Nice but I managed to offer you a photo of La fête de la musique (the Feast of Music) in Paris! I took it on place du Châtelet, one of the many locations where music is celebrated throughout France. The French are pretty proud to have "invented" - in 1982 - this feast which now takes place in about 120 countries throughout the world! This year's theme was "50 years of French songs". If you are into French songs and can read French, then you will have hours of fun on the exceptionally comprehensive website that the Culture Ministry made especially for the occasion. Here, for instance, you can listen and/or download the scores of 5 memorable tunes. And here you can take a quiz. I did - the simplest - and I only got 75%! Shame on me...

Perpendicular Parking!

I'm sure you know what parallel parking is all about, but have you ever heard of mixed parallel/perpendicular parking?! Well, in Paris, we have and here is an example! Smart Cars are so small that some of their owners think they can park either way. Hence, this example that I took near my home. A Smart Car is 2,50 meters long, whereas an average car is 2 meters wide, so it's not that bad... I'm not sure that the Police agree with that though. That is all I just wanted to show you a bit of Parisian life on this Father's Day (for us).

Jardin Ephémère 2009

Amazing what they do in front of the Hôtel de ville (town hall)! You may remember the French tennis Open recently, or the ice rink last winter, now they installed a giant temporary garden (un jardin éphémère) like last year, and the year before. This time, I found it a little less impressive (there is no pond!), but I suppose it's still interesting if you're into all these gardening stuff  (I'm not, I'm a city boy, LOL!). Everyday you may even want to talk to some Paris gardeners (there are many many!) as they organize little gatherings to answers Parisians' questions. Isn't that cool?

Recycling Party

I'm just back from a "Recycling party"! It took place at a famous concert hall in Paris, called l'Alhambra (near Republique) where the European Recycling Platform teamed up with No Major Musik, a music producer in order to organize a big concert to stimulate the recycling of electronic goods. Thus, anybody who showed up with something electronic to recycle was granted free access to the concert. Clever idea for a pretty boring topic, isn't?! PS: I'm off fro 3 days in the South of France, but I'll feed you with photos of Paris as if I was still in my beloved city ;-)

Biking in Paris

Sorry, I have to get up very early tomorrow and it's late already so you won't have a caption today, just a photo ;) Why don't you make your own, then I'll use the best!

10 PM update. OK, though choice of course. I loved - and laughed at - TF's words, but it's more a report than a real caption. I blushed - and also laughed - at Michael's one (New Paris Monument unveiled) but it would be a little vain for me to pick this one. So I'm happy to declare Drummond the winner of the day with:

"Latest Paris Velib is eco disaster, say critics!"

The Mairie de Paris (sounds familar) was roundly criticised by enviromental groups today after unveiling its new Velib prototype. Despite the cost of over 10,000 Euros per unit, their anger was targeted mainly at the environmental impact of 20,000 additional motorcycles on the streets of Paris.
Following on from proposals to turn the Tour de France into a motorcycle event, this latest bombshell did not go down well with both traditionalists and Green campaigners alike. Both President Sarkozy and his Wife are keen 'bikers',as is the Mayor of Paris. "In the name of equality why shouldn't everyone have a Harley just like us?" they declared in a joint statement issued earlier today.

Paris Paname!

Last evening I had a business party on a boat by the Eiffel Tower. It was very nice. Not far from the boat I was on, I saw this one and it made me realize I never told you about "Paname". Paname is a slang name we give to Paris on some occasions that are difficult to explain - namely when we think of the city as an exotic place! Apparently this nickname was first given to those Parisians who wore Panama hats at the beginning of the 20th century.

Playing with color and black and white

Here is another one of our famous street artists. His name is Miguel Donvez, aka "Mimi the clown" and you can see several of his stencils in the streets of Paris (I think I took this photo in the 6th arrondissement). Anyway, have a look at his website if you want to know more about him (it's also in English). This stencil made me think of a little animation film made by a group of students from the Paris VIII university where color and black and white, play a large role. Have a look...

Paris?

City Daily Photo police: "And you think we're going to believe you took this photo in Paris?". Eric: "I swear, Officer, I did, in the 8th arrondissement!" Pfff... I did not end up in jail, but you've gotta say,it's hard to believe, isn't? This pagoda used to be an old Louis-Philippe style building that a yound student that became an art dealer at the begining of the 20th century (Mr Ching Tsai Loo,) had turned into a pagoda. Very impressive. You cannot really visit it, but if you happen to go to the Jacquemart-André museum, well it's not very far: it's located at 48, rue de Courcelles.

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 ;-)

Fiddler on the sidewalk...

Look what I found near the Palais Royal. A nice little chamber orchestra playing for the passers by. FYI, you need a written authorization to play music in the streets of Paris, otherwise the police may ask you to stop, "bail" your instruments or fine you... Have a nice Saturday everyone, I'm off to bed after a pretty long week (imagine, 5 days of work!)

Le dîner en blanc 2009

Like last year, and the year before I went to the white dinner party (Le dîner en blanc), only this year I was too tired to do the whole thing, I just went to take photos. It took place at La Concorde, a dream place to be having dinner outside in Paris. Like always there were a lot of people and the atmosphere was really good and very chic ;-). I took a zillion photos, of course. I gathered my 34 favorite ones in a little Animoto that you can watch here. BTW, this masked gentleman is Nicolas Mazet and he his an art gallery owner in the 8th arrondissement.

Sea Horse Mail!

I knew what snail mail was, but I had never heard of Sea horse mail! A French invention probably... More seriously, this "discovery" coincides with news we received a few days ago from the French Post Office. They are considering giving up overnight delivery (at the moment, according to their stats, almost 84% of the letters sent to any destination within France arrive the next morning). Why? It's too expensive, uses to much energy... and is not necessarily required by the customers. When I saw that I thought it was really a shame, and then I started thinking "when was the last time I needed to send a letter that would reach its receiver in 24 hours?" I could not remember! Besides, I have e-Mail, Facebook, Twitter, and of course, PDP to get my messages across nowadays!