The 'Future' Gets Longer

At Concorde, the big wheel's days are numbered. Will a
new spot be found for it?

The 'Present' Is Long Enough

Paris:- Saturday, 2. June 2001:- This issue has a feature about Paris' free shows. One is happening and the other one wasn't when I went to it on Wednesday. I remembered reading about it, but failed to remember it is in the future and is not a current event.

This means I should read this column carefully instead of just writing it. I will try to remember this if I ever intend to do any more tours of 'free' art in Paris.

• New This Week
• Coming Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• Major Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• More Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• Photo, Cinema and Multimedia
• Dance, Music, Opera, Theatre
• Culture, History, Science
• Unclassifieds

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. Until Saturday, 30. June. At 64 locations throughout Paris. Featured in this week's issue. InfoTel.: 01 43 38 02 66.

Viel Spaß* - will show aspects of the contemporary German artistic scene, as represented by six artists. 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.

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.

La Garde Républicaine - will have 'open doors' next Saturday and Sunday, 9. and 10. June. see the exhibition and the horses and saddles, Napoléon's drummers and the 'Fusiliers du Roy. From 9:00 to 18:: on both days. At the Garde Républicaine, 18. Boulevard Henri IV, Paris 4. Métro: Sully-Morland or Bastille. InfoTel.: 01 48 88 11 30.

MAGYart - is the name of a long Hungarian season in Paris, which begins this week, goes through the summer and continues into early fall. On Wednesday, 6. June, at the Théâtre du Châtelet see and hear Béla Bartók concerts by the Orchestra de Paris, under the direction of Pierre Boulez. On Thursday see the show by Pina Bausch, titled 'Zöld Föld, Terre Verte,' at the Théâtre de la Ville. The official opening evening will be Tuesday, 12 June, with Pierre Boulez directing Bartók's 'Le Château de Barbe-Bleu' at the Théâtre du Châtelet. This will also be presented in Budapest. Both theaters are at the Place Du Châtelet, Paris 1 & 4. Métro: Châtelet. Théâtre du Châtelet, InfoTel.: 01 40 28 28 40. Théâtre de la Ville, InfoTel.: 01 42 74 22 77.

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.

Foire Saint-Germain - is an annual fair, taking place in the Quartier Latin, mostly in the area between the Place Saint-Suplice and the Odéon theater. This continues a tradition begun in 1176; relaunched in 1978. It includes an antiques market, music, exhibitions and street theater such as 'Une fille à brûler,' which is about Jeanne d'Arc. From Thursday, 7. June until Sunday, 8. July. For more details, try Foire Saint-Germain. Foire aux Antiquaires, from Thursday, 7. June until Monday, 18. June; at the Place Saint-Suplice. Paris 6. Métro: Saint-Suplice, Saint-Germain, Odéon or Mabillon. InfoTel.: 01 43 29 61 04.

Vineyard Day - is next Sunday in Paris, from 11:00 to 19:00. At the vineyards at Bercy, in the Parc Georges Brassens, at the 'Clos Montmartre' and at the 'Clos des Envierges' in the Parc de Belleville. InfoTel.: 08 20 00 75 75, or try Paris' own Web site.

Latitudes - Inde du Sud - is a program of music and dance from southern India, beginning on Friday, 8. June and continuing until Sunday, 10. June. In and near the Cité de la Musique, at the Parc de la Villette, 211. Avenue Jean-Juarès, Paris 19. Métro: Porte de Pantin. ResaTel.: 01 40 03 75 75.

Festival Agora 2001 - features music, dance and theatre in a big and diversified program lasting for three weeks, until Saturday, 23. June. Note - this is 'serious' music, organized by the Pompidou Centre's Ircam. The festival takes place in five locations, including Fontainbleau. At the Ircam, 1. Place Igor-Stravinsky, Paris 4. Métro: Rambuteau or Hôtel-de-Ville. InfoTel.: 01 44 78 48 16.

Prize Racing - is featured in two events soon. The Prix de Diane Hermés on Sunday, 10. June at Chantilly also has something to do with Hungary. Racing starts about 14:00. InfoTel.: 08 21 21 32 13. The other race is called the Prix du Président de le République, and it will be run at the track at Vincennes on Sunday, 17. June. Racing starts at 13:45. Paris 12. Métro: Château de Vincennes. InfoTel.: 01 49 77 17 17.

Antiques - 3 Marchés - the first begins on Wednesday, 6. June, and is at the Carré Rive Gauche area until Sunday, 10. June. On the Rues de Bac, Beaune, Lille and the Quai Voltaire, all Paris 6. On Thursday, 7. June, the Place Saint-Suplice within the Foire Saint-Germain is the location, continues until Monday, 18. June - as does the next, beginning on Friday, 8. June - featuring the dealers near the Avenue Montaigne holding their fête in the Hôtel Dassault, at 7. Rond-Point des Champs-Elysées, Paris 8. Either one or all, bring money.

Pablo Gargallo - "A Catalan from Catalonia and the Catalan of the Ecole de Paris," also known as 'the Catalan sculptor.' Until Sunday, 10. June; from 11:00 to 17:30; except Mondays. At the Hôtel de la Monnaie, 11. Quai de Conti, Paris 6. Métro: Pont Neuf or Odéon. InfoTel.: 01 40 46 58 40.

Sextet - features photographers Bernard Dufour, Inez Van Lamsweerde, Vinoodh, Daniel Lasclet, Diana Michener and Guy Pellaert. Until Sunday, 10. June. At the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, 5-7. Rue de Fourcy, Paris 4. Métro: Saint-Paul or Pont-Marie. InfoTel.: 01 44 78 75 26.

Tennis, Anyone? - hey, it's Roland Garros time again. What is in dispute is a round of the international 'Grand Chelem' - aka 'slam.' 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.

Caricatures Tous Genres - Balzac went bust as a publisher, so he joined Philipon to found the weekly, 'La Caricature,' which featured Daumier, Grandville and Monnier, to name a few. Philipon founded the first illustrated daily, 'Le Charivari.' To begin on Tuesday, 12. June and continue until 9. September. At the Maison de Balzac, 47. Rue Raynouard, Paris 16. Métro: Passy or La Muette. InfoTel.: 01 55 74 41 90.

The Château de Budapest - part of the Hungarian season 'MAGYart' begins with this exhibition about the history of Budapest's Château; repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. Most items on display are from the Budapest History Museum. From Wednesday, 13. June until 16. September. Except Mondays, generally open from 10:00 to 17:40. At the Musée Carnavalet - Histoire de Paris, 23. Rue de Sévigné, Paris 3. Métro: Saint-Paul or Chemin-Vert. InfoTel.: 01 44 59 58 58.

La Dame de la Mer - the first lady oceanographer, Anti Conti travelled the world's oceans for a technical institute to look at fish, and stayed on to photograph everything maritime. An exhibition of her work opens on Friday, 15. June and continues until 9. September. Except Mondays, open from 11:30 to 18:30. At the Pavillon des Arts, Rue Rambuteau, level 1, Terrace Lautréamont, Les Halles, Paris 1. Métro: Châtelet, Les Halles. InfoTel.: 01 42 33 82 50.

Chopin Festival - has its 18th edition with large program of concerts and recitals, finishing up on Saturday, 14. July. On Sunday, 17. June, eight young pianists perform in the afternoon. The festival begins on Saturday, 16. June. All at the Orangerie at the Bagatelle, Route de Neuilly, in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16. Nearest métro: Pont de Neuilly, or bus 43. Park entry: 10 francs. InfoTel.: 01 45 00 22 19.

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.

Cinquante Ans de Sculpture Espagnole - presents 19 significant Spanish artists, from the last half of 20th century, with some works made especially for this expo, which will be shown later in Madrid, in the Retiro. Opening date is fixed for Monday, 18. June. Free entry, from 7:00 to 23:00, in the gardens of the Palais Royal, Paris 1. Métro: Palais-Royal.

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.

Marché de la Poesie - I don't know if this involves the buying and selling of poetry, but it is an event within the Foire de Saint-Germain. Load up on poetry from Thursday, 21. June until Sunday, 23. June; from 12:00 to 20:00. Place Saint-Suplice, Paris 6. Métro: Saint-Sulpice. InfoTel.: 01 43 29 61 04.

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.

Feux de Saint-Jean - is called a 'spectacle pyrotechnique' which translates into a free fireworks show. About 23:00 on Sunday, 24. June, with rockets to be fired off from the upstream tip of the Ile Saint-Louis, with a view from the Quai Saint-Bernard. Paris 5. Métro: Jussieu or Gare d'Austerlitz.

Guitar Masters - many of the names are unknown to me, but some like Al di Meola, John Williams, Enrico Macias and BB King are not. This festival begins Saturday, 23. June and continues until Tuesday, 26. June. Start times are either 20:00 or 21:00. At the Palais des Congrés, 2. Place de la Porte Maillot, Paris 17. Métro: Porte Maillot. InfoTel.: 01 40 68 00 05. While it's guitar time, Mark Knopfler will also be on stage on Monday and Tuesday, 25. and 26. June, at the Zenith, 211? Avenue Jean-Jaurès, Paris 19. Métro: Porte de Pantin.. InfoTel.: 08 92 68 36 22.

Raymond Hains - is presented in a retrospective, with works done from 1949 through to 'new realism.' Opening on Wednesday, 27. June and continuing until 3. September. Daily except Tuesdays; from 11:00 to 21:00. At the Centre Georges Pompidou, Place Georges Pompidou, Paris 4. Métro: Rambuteau. InfoTel.: 01 44 78 12 33.

Marché de la Bibliophile - is a book market, also within the Foire de Saint-Germain and it will feature collectible books, bindings, engravings and autographs. This is its 8th edition. Beginning on Wednesday, 27. June and continuing until Monday, 2. July. From 11:00 to 20:30. Place Saint-Suplice, Paris 6. Métro: Saint-Sulpice. InfoTel.: 01 43 29 61 04.

Villette Jazz Festival - is basically two three-day weekends of jazz in all its forms. Some concerts are free because they will be performed outside. Big names, some not so big, but lots of live music. Varieties of combo tickets are available. Dates - are Friday, Saturday, Sunday; 29, 30. June and 1. July; and Friday, Saturday, Sunday; 6, 7 and 8. July. Concerts start as early as 16:30. At the Parc de la Villette, 211. Avenue Jean-Juarès, Paris 19. Métro: Porte de Pantin. ResaTel.: 01 40 03 75 75.

Da Adversiadade Vivemos - from the '60s and '70s, 14 of Latin America's most dynamic young artists, chosen by Carlos Basualdo. Until 30. September. At Paris' Musée d'art Moderne, 11. Avenue Président Wilson, Paris 16. Métro: Iéna or Alma-Marceau. InfoTel.: 01 53 67 40 00.

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.

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.

Les Années Pop - painting, film, design, architecture, music, shows - the '50's ad '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 Georges Pompidou, Paris 4. Métro: Rambuteau. InfoTel.: 01 44 78 12 33.