by Ric Erickson

Number 1.33:- Metropole Paris - Monday, 7. October 1996:- The forecast for today in Paris is bright sunny weather with occasional clouds and a high of 18 degrees. I hope you are outside today, because it may be the last nice Monday of the year - following yesterday's last nice Sunday of the year.

Some kind person at the Paris Tourist Office hand-addressed an envelope and sent me October's issue of 'Selection,' which gives the calendar of Paris events for the month. The magazine is free and you can pick it up - as I usually do - at their office at 127. Avenue des Champs-Elysées, near the Arc de Triomphe.

This is really the 'fall season' in Paris now; there are far too many 'events' of all sorts, for every age - for me to list weekly in Metropole. You can come to Paris without a clue about what to do with yourself, and get fixed up right away by picking up a copy of 'Selection.' While doing this, you can also reserve and buy tickets to events, excursions and expositions, as well as use their hotel reservation service.

All of this can be real handy for those who leave work on Fridays in a real funk, and wake up on a plane just as it is about to land in Paris on Saturday.

Your Oyster Problems Are Solved - Again

This is important news for everybody who has spent Saturday night in an emergency clinic as a result of trying to open oysters at home.

Last year the 'magic wire' appeared on the scene. This permitted the slicing of the oyster's muscle without harm to the consumer - but got wrapped up in some legal problems. The process was applauded, but it will not be available again until the problems are solved - although the technique itself is still being refined.

Completely new on the market is another process called, 'l'Ecail,' which has taken ten years to perfect. A hole is milled in the oyster's shell opposite the muscle and this is filled with hygienic yellow wax. To open the oyster, you simply insert a knife blade into the wax to cut the muscle and - presto! - the oyster opens.

A test was done last year in a large supermarket and they sold more than 250 tons of oysters treated this way. This year the marketing of 'l'Ecail' is expected to shift 3,500 tons of treated oysters - at a price only slightly higher than the stock ones. I must get my wife to try this, a couple of weeks before Christmas Eve. We must do our part in keeping of the French consumption of 150,000 tons annually.

Some Coming Events:

Reminder: On Friday, 18. October, France switches its telephone numbers to 10 digits. Within France, to call a number in the Ile-de-France, you simply add '01' to the beginning of an existing number. There is no change for calling from outside France to the Paris area; just add the usual country code of 33 and 1 and the old 8-digit number.

Concerts:

Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, under the direction of Jean-Jacques Kantorow; featuring Gil Shaham on violin -performing Schubert and Mendelssohn.
Tuesday, 8. October, at 20:30.
Salle Pleyel, 252. faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris 8.
Tel.: 05 42 67 57.

Ovations et Bis, concert harp recital, with Isabelle Perrin, soloist of the Orchestra National of France. Compositions by Bach, Mozart-Erbel, Beethoven and Glinka.
Sunday, 13. October, 18:00. Free entry.
Chapelle Saint-Bernard, 34 avenue de Maine, Paris 15.
Tel.: 45 85 95 82.

Operas:

The Rake's Progress, by Igor Stravinsky - New Production. London Sinfonetta Voices, under direction of Terry Edwards. Los Angeles Philharmonic, directed by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Director, Peter Sellars. October 7, 9 and 12, at 19:30.
Théâtre du Châtelet, 1 place du Châtalet, Paris 1.
Tel.: 40 28 28 40.

Ballet:

Expositions:

La Petite Robe Noire - The Little Black Dress Private collection of Didier Ludot, featuring 50 haute couture little black dresses from the '20's, '40's, '50's, '60' and '70's - in scenes with their accessories.
Until Saturday, 26. October. Free entry, open store hours.
Printemps, boulevard Haussemann, Paris 9.
Tel.: 42 82 50 00.

On Stage:

Salon - continues:

Salon du Champignon

Sports: