Opening With a Bumble

Top of the steps at the Grande Arche at La Défense.

Sweet Dreams - Even Past Ones

Paris:- Saturday, 27. January 2001:- Here we are at the end of January, with the near end of some winter events and the timid beginnings of others for a spring that still seems far off.

Mainly it adds up to a shorter column this week, but with a few additions - especially in the longer-range department. Expect more next week, right after the following bumble:

De-Stress Yourself - with the help of the good old RATP's new winter idea of 'Espaces Massages et Degustations,' which are handily located in four - oops! This great idea only lasted four days in mid-January. Too zen to be true - I should have read the whole brochure more carefully before tossing in its image. It was a sweet dream though.

• New This Week
• Coming Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• Coming In 2001
• Major Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• Other Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• Art Works
• Photo Works
• Dance, Music, Opera, Theatre
• Culture, History, Science
• Cinéma and Multimedia
• Clublife
• Sports, Bikes, Rollers
• Unclassifieds

Festival de la Géode - the 6th festival of extreme films in the extreme setting of the Géode with its extremely giant screen. Twelve films are in competition, until Sunday, 4. February. At the Géode, in the Parc de la Villette. Paris 19. Métro: Porte de la Villette. InfoTel.: 01 40 05 79 99.

Vacances In France - is supposed to 'sell' holidays in France to residents, but if you happen to be in town and in the market, here is the chance to see what France has to offer besides Paris. From Friday, 2. February until Sunday, 4. February; daily from 10:00 to 19:00; in Hall 6 at Paris-Expo, Porte de Versailles. Paris 15. Métro: Porte de Versailles.

Les Artists Américains à Paris - 'in 1900.' From Friday, 2. February until 29. April. At the Musée Carnavalet, 23. Rue de Sévigné, Paris 3. Métro: Saint-Paul or Chemin Vert. Info. Tel.: 01 42 72 21 13.

18 Francs - 18:00 - From Wednesday, 31. January until Tuesday, 6. February, 385 cinemas in Paris propose entries for 18 francs for their movies starting between 17:00 and 19:00 daily. Last year 200,000 cinema fans participated, so wait to be last in line. All types of movies are featured; both by the big chains and the independents.

This item closes the 'opening' events for this week. You will find some other new items below. The images are of posters that are around Paris, but some are for events - not necessarily listed in the text.

Rétromobile 2001 - and not forgetting Rétronautique for old boat fans - is almost here again. This year's edition honors Mercedes Benz in the form of their big ones, their racers and their sometimes dowdy convertibles. This is also the grand meeting for those searching for dreams - Brigitte Bardot's 1962 Riva - or rare parts for your Ferrari. Rétromobile takes place in Paris from Friday, 9. February to Sunday, 18. February. Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 to 19:00; on Tuesday and Friday from 11:00 to 22:00; and on weekends from 10:00 to 19:00. In Hall 2/1, at Paris-Expo, Porte de Versailles. Métro: Porte de Versailles.

The Cow Show - is officially known as the Salon International de l'Agriculture, and features France's most beautiful cows and other farm animals - plus, much more, including an incredible variety of food from all of France's regions, including exotic offshore ones. From Sunday, 18. February until Sunday, 25. February; from 9:00 to 19:00; until 22:00 on Friday, 23. February. As always, at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles.

L'Or des Amazones - is an exhibition of the prestigious works by nomads from the steppes of Asia; from 600 BC to 400 AD. All the pieces are on loan from southern Russian museums and include the entire collection from the tomb of the Princess of Kobiakovo. Coming to the Musée Cernuschi on Friday, 16. March; continuing until 15. July.. Musée Cernuschi, 7. Avenue Vélasquez, Paris 8. Métro: Villiers. InfoTel.: 01 45 63 50 75.

Banlieues Bleues - the 18th edition of this jazz festival with 37 concerts, scattered around 17 towns near Paris. Scheduled from Friday, 2. March until Thursday, 5. April. Check the Banlieues Bleues Web site for complete details. InfoTel.: 01 49 22 10 10.

Semi-Marathon de Paris - the 9th edition of this little stroll through Paris' 13th and 12th arrondissements and the Bois de Vincennes is scheduled for Sunday, 4. March 2001. Sign-up deadline is 16. February.

International Marathon de Paris - is the 25th edition and it takes place in Paris about a month later, on Sunday, 8. April 2001. This 'big one' takes routes into both the Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes, but mainly runs through Paris' centre on the right bank, with a dip into the 16th arrondissement. Sign-up deadline is 18. March.

Ani, Capitale de l'An Mil - From Thursday, 15. February until 15. May, at the Pavillon des Arts.
Balzac Dans Ses Murs - presents a new layout at the museum, and emphasis on Balzac's working style and life in Passy. From Wednesday, 28. February until 15. May, at the Maison de Balzac - which is closed until Tuesday, 27. February.
Le Paris Semi-Marathon - takes place on Sunday, 4. March 2001.
Salon du Livre - features Germany this year as the country of honor. From Friday, 16. March until Wednesday, 21. March. At Paris-Expo, Porte de Versailles.
L'Or des Amazones - From Friday, 16. March until 15. July; at the Musée Cernuschi
La Mode Enfantine - From Sunday, 1. April until 31. October; at the Musée Galliera.
Paris et Charles V - From Wednesday, 4. April until Friday, 1. June; at the Bibliothèque Forney
Le Paris Marathon - takes place on Sunday, 8. April 2001.
International Model Salon - or, for its full name, 'Mondial de la Maquette et du Modèle Réduit - Salon des Jeux.' 300 exhibitors, over 10,000 models; plus 1000 games. From Saturday, 7. April until Monday, 16. April, from10:00 to 19:00, and to 22:00 on Friday, 13. April. At Paris-Expo, Porte de Versailles.
Au-Dessus des Catacombs - From Wednesday, 2. May until 31. December; at the Catacombs, or course.
Le Dessin Romantique - From Thursday, 3. May until 15. July; at the Musée de la Vie Romantique.

L'Asie des Steppes - 'From Alexander the Great to Genghis Khan' is the first major exhibition to be hosted by the Musée National des Guimet. The time spans from 350 BC to 1225 AD, from Europe to China; reunited in 150 works. Until Sunday, 1. April. Except Tuesday, open from 6:45 to 17:45. Arts Asiatiques - after six years of work, one of the world's most important museums devoted to the arts of Asia reopened on Friday, 19. January. Shown on TV, it looked great. Hours are 9:45 to 17:45, except Tuesdays. Musée National des Guimet, 19. Avenue d'Iéna, Paris 16. Métro: Iéna. InfoTel.: 01 56 52 53 00.

Alberto Giacometti - 'Le Dessin à l'Oeuvre,' features 150 working drawings, from public and private collections - a Giacometti retrospective on the 100th anniversary of the artist's birth. From Thursday, 25. January until Monday, 23. April. At the Centre Georges Pompidou, Place Georges Pompidou, Paris 4. Métro: Rambuteau InfoTel.: 01 44 78 12 33.

Les Primitifs Italiens - 50 newly restored rare works, by Giotto, Boticelli and Monaco; and four other major schools of Italian painting are represented in this important exhibition. Until Sunday, 25. March; from 10:00 to 18:00 daily. At the Musée Andre-Jacquemart, 158. Boulevard Haussmann, Paris 8. Métro: Miromesnil. InfoTel.: 01 42 89 04 91.

Les Andalousies - is sub-headed 'from Damascus to Cordoba,' and concerns the concentration of culture founded by the Umayyad dynasty, begun in Damascus and transferred to Andalusia in 756 AD. Until Sunday, 15. April; daily except Mondays; from 10:00 to 18:00. At the Institut du Monde Arabe, 1. Rue des Fosses-Saint-Bernard, Paris 5. Métro: Cardinal Lemoine. InfoTel.: 01 40 51 38 38.

Paris Pour Escale - or, 'Passing Through,' features mostly non-western modern artists who are migrating through the art scene, from there to here and beyond. Until Sunday, 11. February; except Monday, open daily from 10:00 to 17:40. Musée d'Art Moderne, 11. Avenue du Président-Wilson, Paris 16. Métro: Iéna or Alma-Marceau. InfoTel.: 01 53 67 40 00.

L'Ecole de Paris 1901-1929 - is a big expo devoted to foreign artists who arrived in Paris before 1914, and photographers who showed up in the '20's - until it was mostly over in 1930. Based on the twin peaks of Montmartre and Montparnasse, these 'visitors' had a tremendous influence on French art. Until Sunday, 11. March; except Monday, open daily from 10:00 to 17:40. Musée d'Art Moderne, 11. Avenue du Président-Wilson, Paris 16. Métro: Iéna or Alma-Marceau. InfoTel.: 01 53 67 40 00.

Le Dessin Pour Passion - some artists stayed in Paris during the war and some were 'invited' to Germany, and Paul Belmondo was one of these. The time seems right for the 'rediscovery' of this sculptor's designs, with an exhibition of 60 of them. Continues until Wednesday, 21. February. Except Monday, open daily from 10:00 to 17:40. At the Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Avenue Winston-Churchill, Paris 8. Métro: Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau. InfoTel.: 01 42 65 12 73.

La Verité Nue - features masters of Austrian expressionism; Boecki, Gerstl, Kokoschka and Schiele. Continuous until Monday, 23. April. At the Musée Maillol, Fondation Dina Vierny, 59-61. Rue de Grenelle, Paris 7. Métro: Rue du Bac. InfoTel.: 01 42 22 59 58.

Enkibilalandeuxmilleun - is another exhibition by a comics master, in a country where the comics are an art form, and thus worth as much or more than other forms of art. Therefore, 'art' by Enki Bilal, until Saturday, 14. April. At the Bibliothèque Historique, 22. Rue Mahler, Paris 4. Métro: Saint-Paul. InfoTel.: 01 44 59 29 40.

Jean Vilar - actor and director, Jean Vilar ran the Théâtre National Populaire from 1951 to 1963. On show, photos, models of decors, posters and costumes by Gischia. Until Sunday, 1. April; from Wednesday to Sunday; from 13:00 to 19:00. Musée - Chemin du Montparnasse, 21. Avenue du Maine, Paris 15. Métro: Montparnasse. InfoTel.: 01 42 22 91 96.

volt(a) - from the spark to the battery, is an electrifying exhibition to be presented, beginning I assume, on Tuesday, 23. January at the Musée des Arts et Métiers, 60. Rue Réaumur, Paris 3. Métro: Arts et Métiers. Open daily except Mondays and holidays; from 10:00 to 18:00; on Thursdays until 21:30.

Grand Comme un Mouchoir - is an exhibition presenting antique handkerchiefs, and contemporary artistic ones. From Tuesday, 16. January until Saturday, 17. March; from Tuesday to Saturday, from 13:30 to 20:00. At the Bibliothèque Forney - Hôtel de Sens, 1. Rue Figuier, Paris 4. Métro: Pont Marie InfoTel.:01 42 78 14 60.

René Margotton - Works - returning to the Parisian scene, this student of Fernand Léger shows his symbolic and lyric works until Wednesday, 31. January. Open from Tuesday to Friday, from 14:00 to 19:30; on Saturday from 11:00 to 19:30. At the new Galerie Orsel, 47 bis. Rue Orsel, Paris 18. Métro: Anvers. InfoTel.: 01 42 29 13 00.

Nijinsky - was born in 1889 and lived until 1950. Along the way this exceptional dancer was admired by artists, from Cocteau to Chagall and depicted in paintings, sculptures, designs, engravings and photographs. Until Sunday, 18. February; from 10:00 to 18:00; until 21:45 on Thursday; from 9:00 to 18:00 on Sunday. Closed Monday. At the Musée d'Orsay, 1. Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, Paris 7. Métro: Solférino or RER Orsay. InfoTel.: 01 40 49 48 14.

Sur Le Mékong - is the result of two months' work by Jean-Jacques Dournon in Vietnam's Mekong delta, it features drawing, paintings and photographs. Until Friday, 2. February; from Monday to Friday; from 10:00 to 18:00. Hôtel d'Albret, 31. Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Paris 4. Métro: Saint-Paul. InfoTel.: 01 42 76 67 00.

Poster Festival of the Year 2000 - Paris jumped the gun by having its 'Millennium' festival a year early, but some of the posters for it are exceptional. See - and perhaps buy - these now and until the end of March. At the Galerie Grand Monde, in the Cour Damoye, entry via 12. Place de la Bastille, Paris 11. Métro: Bastille. InfoTel.: 01 48 05 51 30. The Cour Damoye has several other galleries and shops, so a visit to all of it will be worth your while.

Le Musée Gustave Moreau - is in the old apartment of Gustave Moreau's parents and has been restored to the way it was when he turned it into a personal museum. In the 2nd and 3rd floor ateliers, Moreau's collection on view is as it was discovered by André Breton and the surrealists. Open Monday and Thursday from 11:00 to 17:15; and from 10:00 to 12:45 and 14:00 to 17:15, from Thursday to Sunday. Musée Gustave Moreau, 14. Rue de la Rochefoucauld, Paris 9. Métro: Trinité. InfoTel.: 01

Parfum l'Expo - will introduce you to the magic world of perfume, which is a major industry in France. Continuing until Sunday, 4. March. Open daily except Monday, from 9:30 to 18:00; on Sundays and some holidays from 10:00 to 19:00. At the Palais de la Découverte, Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt, Paris 8. Métro: Franklin D. Roosevelt or Champs-Elysées Clemenceau. InfoTel.: 01 56 43 20 21.

Les Crimes de Paris - shows off Paris' crime scenes, according to thrillers dating from Louis' time to WWI. Until Saturday, 31. March. From Tuesday to Friday, from 14:00 to 18:00; and on Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00. At the Bibliothèque de Littérature Policière - aka BILIPO; 48-50. Rue du Cardinal-Lemoine, Paris 5. Métro: Cardinal-Lemoine. InfoTel.: 01 42 34 93 00.

Arman - his 'Vingt Stations de l'Objet' have been chosen by the sculptor to represent the past 20 centuries, from Year One up to the invention of photography. This exhibition continues until Wednesday, 21. March. Except Mondays, open from 11:00 to 19:00. At the Couvent des Cordeliers, 15. Rue de l'Ecole de Médécine, Paris 6. Métro: Odéon. InfoTel.: 06 66 84 67 25.

Friedl Dicker-Brandies - an exhibition of pastels, designs and engravings by this artist, known for works associated with Bauhaus, and the camp at Terezin. Except Saturday, daily from 11:00 to 18:00 and 10:00 to 18:00 on Sundays until Monday, 5. March. At the Musée d'Art et d'Historie du Judaisme, Hôtel de Saint-Aignan, 71. Rue du Temple, Paris 3. Métro: Rambuteau. InfoTel.: 01 53 01 86 48.

Le Coton et la Mode - ordinary cotton may form most t-shirts, but this material has a long and rich history that is not particularly well-known. Until Sunday, 11. March; daily except Monday; from 10:00 to 17:40. At the Musée Galliera, 10. Avenue Pierre-1er-de-Serbie, Paris 16. Métro: Iéna or Alma-Marceau. InfoTel.: 01 47 20 85 23..

Génies Timbrés - is an exhibition of postage stamps featuring lesser-known inventors and other egg-heads who have brought us things like the sewing machine and the tube radio. Until Saturday, 24. February; open from Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 18:00. At the Musée de la Poste, 34. Boulevard de Vaugirard, Paris 15. Métro: Montparnasse.