While Events Roll On

Some of the Paris 'scene' is free - as here, in the
Luxembourg garden.

Scene Dithers

Paris:- Saturday, 12. May 2001:- Changes to this column - or 'page' if you prefer - were announced here last week, with a somewhat abbreviated version that was put online.

By 'abbreviated,' last week's word-count dropped from about 6500 words to about 4700. This is hardly thin, but is still twice the 2400 words it all began with in issue 3.40 on Monday, 5. October 1998.

I have never had any particular concept for this page. What is too much, what is too little? What needs being 'in' or 'out?' About the only feedback I get from it involves questions about contents it does not contain - like, how to get tickets for Madonna's concerts in Paris? Answer - all sold out.

With that particular problem out of the way, what am I supposed to do with this page? Do more? Do less? Turn it into a subscription newsletter, available via email?

If you have the answer, please feel free to use the 'mail-to' at the bottom of this page to let me know what it is. 'Ed' will thank you.

Until then, here is this week's 'abbreviated' column of current and coming events in Paris.

• New This Week
• Coming Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• Major Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• Other Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• Photo Works
• Culture, History, Science
• Cinéma and Multimedia
• Unclassifieds

Voyages - plunge into a dim and 'zen atmosphere,' in an small series of installations created by Rachel Mahler. Continuing until Thursday, 28. June. Open from Monday to Saturday; from 13:00 to 19:00. At a fairly new location called the Espace d'Art, 55. Rue du Montparnasse, Paris 14. Métro: Montparnasse or Edgar Quinet.

Le Bestiaire d'André François - with texts by Vincent Pachès, features paintings and designs of the animal zoo at Le Monde, more lively than nature. Open Tuesday to Friday, from 12:30 to 18:30; or by appointment. At L'Atelier An. Girard, 7. Rue Campagne Première, Paris 14. Métro: Vavin or Raspail. InfoTel.: 01 43 22 01 16.

Strebelle à Paris - from the Opéra and along the Rue de la Paix, and filling the Place Vendôme, find the monumental - really huge! - sculptures of Olivier Strebelle, beginning on Tuesday, 15 May and on show until Friday, 15. July. Paris 1 and 2. Métro: Opéra or Madeleine. Free entry of course - open non-stop.

La Mode et l'Enfant - 'mode' did exist for kids, for at least three centuries before our own, and it is on display, including costumes for royal kids. From Wednesday, 16. May until 18. November; from 10:00 to 18:00 daily except Mondays. At the Musée de la Mode - Galleria, 10. Avenue Pierre-1st-de-Serbie, Paris 16. Métro: Iéna or Alma-Marceau. InfoTel.: 01 56 52 88 00.

Rodin En 1900 - this exhibition recreates as nearly as possible one shown in 1900, featuring 168 sculptures, drawings and photographs that were shown at the Pavillon de l'Alma. Only until Thursday, 10. May; from 11:00 to 18:00; except Mondays. At the Musée du Luxembourg, 19. Rue de Vaugirard, Paris 6. Métro: Odéon or Saint-Suplice. InfoTel.: 01 42 34 25 95.

Les Aquarelles de Signac - feature 133 works by Paul Signac, from the Dyke Collection at the Museum of Arkansas. The 'Signac 1865 - 1935' show - below - contains watercolors too - and if these are as good, don't miss this. Only until Tuesday, 15. May; from 11:00 to 17:00, except Mondays. Musée Marmottan, 2. Rue Louis-Boilly, Paris 16. Métro: La Muette. InfoTel.: 01 42 24 07 02.

Picasso Erotique - features about 40 paintings and 250 drawings and engravings treating one subject - one of Picasso's favorites - from 1900 up until the '60's. Until Sunday, 20. May; from 12:00 to 19:00 and 12:30 to 21:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays; closed Mondays. At the Jeu de Paume, 1. Place de la Concorde, Paris 1 - within the Tuileries. Métro: Concorde. Info. Tel.: 01 47 03 12 50.

Viel Spaß* - will show aspects of the contemporary German artistic scene, as represented by six artists. This show begins on Thursday, 31. May, following the 'DeSign Zinc' show which closes on Friday, 25. May. Viel Spaß continues until Friday, 13. July. Open Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 19:00. At the Espace Paul Ricard, 9. Rue Royale, Paris 8. Métro: Concorde or Madeleine. InfoTel.: 01 53 30 88 00.

Héros Populaires - from the Middle Ages to our times, heros have been depicted as heroic or buffoons, to either inspire us or horrify. Our popular heros, on show from Wednesday, 23. May until Sunday, 10. June; daily except Tuesdays; from 9:45 to 17:00. At the Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires, in the Jardin d'Acclimatation just inside the Bois de Boulogne. Paris 16. Métro: Sablons. InfoTel.: 01 44 17 60 00.

Quatre Jours de Marigny - this is for stamp collectors looking for themes, collections by countries, and has collectible letters and post cards. Dates are from Thursday, 24. May until Sunday, 27. May; from 9:00 to 18:00. Marché aux Timbres de la Ville de Paris, Avenue de Marigny or Avenue Gabriel, Paris 8. Métro: Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau. InfoTel.: 01 39 81 46 61.

Arts de la Marionette - is the 2001 edition of an international biannual show, featuring everything about puppets, with a worldwide viewpoint. From Wednesday, 30. May until Sunday, 3. June. At the Parc de la Villette, 211. Avenue Jean-Juarès, Paris 19. Métro: Porte de Pantin. InfoTel.: 01 44 64 79 70.

Tennis, Anyone? - hey, it's Roland Garros time again - almost ensuring bad weather. What is in dispute is a round of the international 'Grand Chelem' - aka 'slam.' From Monday, 28. May until Sunday, 1O. June. At the Roland Garros stadium, 2. Avenue Gordon-Bennett, Paris 16. Métro: Porte d'Auteuil and walk west. InfoTel.: 01 47 43 48 00, but not for reservations.

Le Mois de l'Estampe - for its 4th edition, Paris invites you to come and see its lithographs, in all forms, and in the ateliers of the artists who make them. From Friday, 1. June until Saturday, 30. June. InfoTel.: 01 43 38 02 66.

For Camera Fans - a photographer once told me never to go to the annual Foire à la Photo de Bièvres with any sort of plastic card. Its 38th edition is coming up, on Sunday, 3. June, starting at 9:00 and continuing until 18:00. This will be at the Place de la Mairie in Bièvres, which can be reached with the RER 'C' from the Gare d'Austerlitz. There is supposed to be a train every hour. By car, leaving from the Porte de Chatillon, take the RN 309 straight ahead about nine kilometres. In Bièvres, look for the parking lot and a shuttle-bus to the Place de la Mairie.

Catone In Utica - by Antonio Vivaldi, in three acts with subtitles in French. Dates for this begins on Friday, 25. May and continues into June. At the Opéra Comique, Place Boïeldieu, Paris 2. Métro: Richelieu-Drouot. InfoTel.: 08 25 00 00 58

Salon du Roller - the roller folk come inside to show off their stuff to the folks wearing simple shoes. From Friday, 18. May to Sunday, 20. May; from 10:00 to 20:00; until 22:00 on Saturday. At the Espace Champeret, Porte de Champeret, Paris 17. Métro: Porte de Champeret. InfoTel.: 01 40 38 07 08.

Paris Jazz Festival - is merely 22 free concerts, featuring names - Lisa Ekdahl, Salif Keita, Russell Malone, Didier Lockwood, Tania Maria, Buena Vista Social Club, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Chick Corea, Dave Brubeck - to name but a few. From Saturday, 19. May until Sunday, 29. July. Concerts are on weekends only at 16:30. At the Parc Floral de Paris, Route de la Pyramide, in the Bois de Vincennes. Paris 12. Métro: Château de Vincennes. InfoTel.: 01 55 94 20 20.

The Zoo Story - by Edward Albee. Produced in English by the Insight America Touring Theater of Seattle under the direction of J D Lloyd and featuring Alan Becker and Matt Slinger. Hailed by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which said it was 'finely tuned.' From Thursday, 24. May until Saturday, 9. June, at 19:00; but on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays only. At the Sudden Théâtre, 14-bis. Rue Sainte-Isaure Paris 18. Métro: Jules-Joffrin or Simplon. ResaTel.: 01 42 62 35.

Fête du Vélo - not be outdone by upstart roller folk, bike fans get their own two days in Paris on Saturday and Sunday, 2. and 3. June. Meeting place is in front of Paris' main city hall. Paris 4. Métro: Hôtel de Ville. Toll InfoTel.: 08 36 68 93 13, so cheaper via the Web - Fête du Vélo.

Festival de Saint-Denis - this annual affair features music, operas and creations - but mostly music, and a lot of it will be Italian this year. This festival begins on Wednesday, 6. June and continues until Thursday, 5. July. Events take place at four locations in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris. Métro: Saint-Denis-Basilique or RER line 'D' to Gare de Saint-Denis. InfoTel.: 01 48 13 06 07.

Paysages d'Entre - Villes - will be an open-space or garden show, presenting the works of various artists, including the Stalker group from Rome. This expo will have a relationship to another, the Cosa Mentale - Paysage(s)' this summer. From Sunday, 10. June until 30. September; from Tuesday to Sunday; from 10:00 to 17:40. At the Musée Zadkine, 100-bis. Rue d'Assas, Paris 6. Métro: Notre-Dame-des-Champs or Vavin. InfoTel.: 01 43 26 91 90.

The Lesbian & Gaypride Parade - winds its noisy and colorful way this year from the Porte Dorée to the Place de la République, starting at 14:00; on Saturday, 23. June. Start at Paris 12, métro: Porte Dorée and end up in Paris 11. To be followed by 'afters,' probably until dawn. Toll InfoTel.: 08 36 68 11 31.

Fête de la Musique - for its 20th edition, amateurs will be celebrated, and professionals will be very much 'on stage' too. Mostly free, with outdoor live concerts in big places and little. Try the places of République, Denfert-Rochereau and the Invalides. All day and part of the night on Thursday, 21. June. Paris 1 to 20. Métros: nearly all. InfoTel.: none.

Air Show - Le Bourget - this semi-annual affair has a huge official name, and 1700 exhibitors from 43 countries. If you need an air force, this is the place to do your shopping. Daily air shows, but only open to the public on Sunday, 17. June and the following Saturday and Sunday, 23 and 24. June; from 9:30 to 18:00. Out at Expo Parc Le Bourget. Take RER line 'B' to Le Bourget. InfoTel.: 01 53 23 33 33.

Springtime for Italy - Italian art could stand up to the test of modernism, from 1880 to 1910. In addition to this major exhibition also see Carlo Bugatti and Gabriele d'Annunzio. Until Sunday, 15. July. Open from 10:00 to 18:00; until 21:45 on Thursdays. On Sundays, opening at 9:00; and at 9:00 beginning on Thursday, 21. June. Musée d'Orsay, Quai de Anatole France, Paris 7. Métro: Solférino or RER Musée d'Orsay. InfoTel.: 01 40 49 48 14.

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. Prolonged until Sunday, 27. May; 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.

Dessin à Bologne - one hundred year's worth, from 1490 to 1580, from the Renaissance to the 'Réforme Tridentine,' otherwise known as the Council of Trent. Until Monday, 2. July; from 9:00 to 17:45 and until 21:45 on Wednesdays. Musée du Louvre, Pyramid, Cour Napoléon, Paris 1. Métro: Palais-Royal. InfoTel.: 01 40 20 51 51.

Paysages d'Italie - is an exhibition of fresh-air painters in Italy from 1780 to 1830, when 'grand tours' were popular for artists and other forerunners of tourists. Until Monday, 9. July. Except Tuesdays, usually from 10:00 to 20:00. At the Grand Palais, Clemanceau entry. Paris 8. Métro: Champs-Elysées Clemenceau. InfoTel.: 01 44 13 17 17.

Signac 1865 - 1935 - is an exhibition of this significant artist's works, mounted by the Musée d'Orsay and staged at the Grand Palais. According to a TV-report - and now 'Ed' too - Paul Signac was the Riviera's 'Impressionist' - in a part of France he knew and painted better than his northern brothers. Until Monday, 28. May - by reservation from 10:00 to 13:00; otherwise none necessary. At the Grand Palais, 3. Avenue du Général-Eisenhower, Paris 8. Métro: Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau. Info. Tel.: 01 44 13 17 10.

Les Années Pop - painting, film, design, architecture, music, shows - the '50's and '60's in all their pastel and plastic glory. Until Monday, 16. June; daily from 11:00 to 21:00, except Tuesdays. At the Centre Georges Pompidou, Place Geores Pompidou, Paris 4. Métro: Rambuteau. InfoTel.: 01 44 78 12 33.