Rain or Shine

Typical Paris weather - between rain and shine, at the
Bassin de la Villette.

Paris Has Something for You

Paris:- Saturday, 14. July 2001:- After today, France really goes on holidays, for a whole month. While France - and Parisians - are doing this, Paris puts on its summer show, some of which is listed here.

A few items below are offering their 'last chances' to you, and because this column won't be updated next week, you should be careful to note other events that will end before the next edition appears on Monday, 30. July.

This week's 'new' items are not just listed immediately below, but are scattered throughout this week's column - which may be a bit longer than usual. Just keep scrolling until you find what you are looking for.

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

Jardin Botanique - is Paris' 'show' garden, featuring its ordinary, its rare and its exceptional plant-life, such as a rare tree from Easter Island. This exhibition also has features for kids. Until Sunday, 30 September; daily from 9:30 to 19:30. At the Parc Floral de Paris, Route de la Pyramide, in the Bois de Vincennes. Paris 12. Métro: Château de Vincennes. InfoTel.: 01 43 28 47 63.

Bals - Concerts - will be found at the Kiosque à Musique at Villette every Sunday until the end of August; usually starting about 17:30. These free concerts can be a lot of fun if the weather comes too. At the Kiosque à Musique in the Parc de la Villette, 211. Avenue Jean-Jaurès, Paris 19. Métro: Porte de Pantin. InfoTel.: 01 40 03 75 75.

Romanes - Cirque Tsigane - is with the subtitle 'Nothing In the Pocket' - which may mean this a a gypsy-type of circus, or a reference to a clown's costume. No shows on Sundays, otherwise at 21:30 until Saturday, 11. August. This is part of the Quartier d'Eté program and the Web site should have complete details. In the Jardin des Tuileries, Paris 1. Métro: Tuileries or Concorde. InfoTel.: 01 44 94 98 00.

Quartier d'Eté - a vast variety of events make up this summer's Paris program of artistic treats - from techno to opera to circuses - to be performed on streets, places and unusual locations throughout the city. This program goes on more or less non-stop until mid-August. Some of these events are free and others are not. The Quartier d'Eté Web site should have complete details. InfoTel.: 01 44 94 98 00.

Ciné l'Eté - if you are 25 or under this program offers seats at independent cinema for 25 francs. The list of participating cinemas can be found on a postcard, available nearly everywhere. At the boxoffice, be prepared to prove your age. The program continues until Friday, 31. August. These conditions are also accepted at the outdoor movies at La Villette and the Parc André Citroën. InfoTel.: 08 20 00 75 75.

Walk-In Outside Movies - are now a tradition at the Parc de la Villette, which has a sit-down place for you to watch free movies on an inflated screen. Films roll from Tuesday, 17. July until Sunday, 26. August; and start about 22:00 when it's dark enough. Deckchairs are also available. Prairie du Triangle, Parc de la Villette. Métro: Porte de Pantin. InfoTel.: 01 40 03 76 92.

Au-dessus des Catacombs - the wait is nearly over for the reopening of the Catacombs, with this new photo exhibition starting on Tuesday, 17. July and continuing until February 2002. Closed on Mondays and some holidays, but open on Tuesday from 11:00 to 16:00 and from Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00. At the Catacombs, 1. Place Denfert-Rochereau, Paris 14. Métro: Denfert-Rochereau. InfoTel.: 01 43 22 47 63.

L'Octuor de France - offers chamber music concerts in the Orangerie in the Parc de Bagatelle. With Brahms, Prokofiev, Verdi - in several concerts - with two entry prices: 100 francs for afternoons and 150 francs for candlelight - plus 10 francs for entry to the park. From Thursday, 19. July until Wednesday, 15. August. Parc de Bagatelle, Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16. Métro: Pont de Neuilly, plus bus 43, plus 10 minutes' walk. InfoTel.:01 42 29 07 83.

Fête des Tuileries - features carnival rides and attractions in the centre of the city, until the beginning of September. Open until midnight, and until 01:00 on Friday, Saturday, and on Tuesday, 14. August. On the Rue de Rivoli side of the Tuileries. Paris 1. Métro: Tuileries or Concorde. InfoTel.: 01 46 27 52 29.

Tour de France - after riding around France for three weeks followed by a huge supporting circus including TV on motorcycles, this year's bike race wheels off its final laps in Paris. The finishing line is on the Champs-Elysées and the final day will be Sunday, 29. July.

1940 - or, 'Année de Tous les Destins,' retraces the WWII campaign of May-June 1940 in France. There are few combat photos in this exhibition but much else. This exhibition continues until Saturday, 21. July. At the 'Mémorial du Maréchal Leclerc Hauteclocque et de la Libération de Paris - Musée Jean Moulin,' Jardin Atlantique, above the Gare Montparnasse. Paris 15. Open daily except Mondays, from 10:00 to 17:40. InfoTel.: 01 40 64 39 44.

Patrick Wolff - 'art is a game,' according to Max Jacob, and 'too bad for those who think it is a duty.' See Patrick Wolff oil pastels until Friday, 27. July; from Tuesday to Friday; from 12:30 to 18:30. At the Atelier An. Girard, 7. Rue Campagne Première, Paris 14. Métro: Vavin. Info. Tel.: 01 43 22 01 16.

Les Gemmes de Louis XIV - 'gemmes' means a special kind of vase, made of hard stone - rare stone, this is. This exhibition reunites Louis XIV's collection, which includes rare pieces from antiquity up to the 17th century. Until Monday, 23. July; from 9:00 to 18:00 and until 21:45 on Wednesdays. Closed Tuesdays. Musée du Louvre, Pyramide entry, Cour Napoléon, Paris 1. Métro: Palais-Royal. InfoTel.: 01 40 20 51 51.

Pompeii - is an exhibition advertised on posters, but one that I know nothing about otherwise except that it used to be about 17 km south of Naples, until 79 AD. Until Sunday, 22. July; from 9:30 to 18:00; on Sundays and holidays from 10:00 to 19:00. Closed Monday. At the Palais de la Découverte, Avenue Franklin-Roosevelt, Paris 8. Métro: same name. Info. Tel.: 01 56 43 20 21.

Desnos, Foujita, Youki - surrealist love in Montparnasse was - surrealistic! Until Sunday, 29. July; 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.

Prolonged - Diamants! - The show for blonds - features 400 of the world's best - or biggest? - sparklers. Feared to be just some old crystals, the show required a fleet of Brinks' trucks to get it into place. Prolonged until Sunday, 29. July; daily from 9:00 to midnight except on Tuesday, when closing time is 19:00. At the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57. Rue Cuvier, Paris 5. Métro: Jussieu. InfoTel.: 01 40 79 36 00.

Classical Music - Sainte-Chapelle is the scene of classical events, featuring soloists from the Orchestre Symphonique Français and the harp and flute duo of Gabriel Fumet and Iris Torossian. At 4. Boulevard du Palais, Paris 1. Métro: Cité. InfoTel.: 01 42 77 65 65. The Eglise Saint-Séverin also features the Orchestre Philharmonique de France, on 11 and 14. August. Paris 5. Métro: Saint-Michel. InfoTel.: 01 42 50 96 18. Notre-Dame will be the scene of one performance by its Gregorian Ensemble, on Tuesday, 14. August; at 20:30. Paris 4. Métro: Cité. InfoTel.: 01 42 34 56 10. 'Violins de France' and the 'Trumpets and Organ' of Versailles will stage one performance on Tuesday, 21. August; at 20:30 - at the Madeleine, Paris 8. Métro: Madeleine. InfoTel.: 01 42 50 96 18.

Carreau du Temple - Jazz - this is a new five day festival, is to be held in a 'Temple' for it. Featuring various groups, from Wednesday, 1. August to Sunday, 8. August; at 21:00. At the Carreau du Temple, Rue Dupetit-Thouars, Paris 3. Métro: Temple. InfoTel.: 01 45 08 55 25.

Musique En l'Ile - features 'Les Voix de Neva' from Saint Petersburg, on several dates beginning at the end of July, and at two locations - the Saint-Germain-des Prés church and Saint-Louis-en-l'Ile church. Other concerts will be given by the soloists and choir of Christ Church, from Greenwich in the US; plus the flute and harp duo of Gabriel Fumet and Iris Torossian. Finally there will be one performance by the soloists and choir of the Kremlin Museum's La Capella, on Tuesday, 28. August. For complete details see the Festival Musique en l'Ile Web site. Paris 4 and 6. Métros: Saint-Germain and Pont Marie. InfoTel.: 01 44 62 00 55.

Photographies Hongroises - 'from the romantic to the avant-garde,' features 100 photos rarely seen outside Hungary from the 1880-1925 period - from Budapest's Hungarian Museum of Photography, selected by Kàroly Kincses, with Anne Cartier-Bresson and Catherine de Bourgoing. This important exhibition begins on Tuesday, 24. July and continues until Sunday, 28. October. Except Mondays, open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. At the Musée de la Vie Romantique - Hôtel Scheffer-Renan, 16. Rue Chaptal, Paris 9. Métro: Saint-Georges, Blanche or Pigalle. InfoTel.: 01 48 74 95 38.

A Beach - will be installed inside the gigantic Stade de France, featuring a mini-sea for sailboats and some sand for a beach - with palms! This will be touched up with beach tents, deck chairs and parasols. Experts will be giving sailing lessons to the 6-17 age group while there will be an inflated 'castle' for the little people to bounce in. For big people, the beach will be equipped with sound, games and contests. Oh, there will also be a beach café too. From Wednesday, 25. July until Sunday, 12. August; from 10:00 to 18:00 daily. At the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis. Take RER 'D' to Stade de France-Saint-Denis or RER 'B' to La Plaine-Stade de France. InfoTel.: 08 25 30 19 98.

Danse - within the 'Festival Quartier d'Eté' program, there will be three dance events, starting with Anokha on Tuesday, 31. July - until Friday, 3. August; then the Ardha Nareeswara group will take over from 7. to 10. August; and finally there will be the 'Europe Danse' taking place from 13-15. August. All of these will be in the Cour d'Orléans at the Palais-Royal. Paris 1. Métro: Palais Royal-Louvre. The Quartier d'Eté Web site should have complete details. InfoTel.: 01 44 94 98 00.

Musique Classique Au Vert - Dana Ciocarlie and Khroma lead a string quintette for one performance in Saturday, 18. August; at 16:30. Jordi Saval follows on Sunday, 26. August; 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.

Chillida - is one on the 20th century's most important sculptors and this exhibition features his works in all materials from lead to paper. Until Sunday, 16. September. Closed Mondays; open on Tuesdays from 12:00 to 21:30, Wednesday to Friday from 12:00 to 19:00 and on weekends from 10:00 to 19:00. At the Jeu de Paume, 1. Place de la Concorde, Paris 8. Métro: Concorde. InfoTel.: 01 47 03 12 50.

The Château de Budapest - part of the Hungarian season called '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. 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.

Regards Persans - is an exhibition presenting the last 20 years of photography in Iran, represented by 200 photos and 20 photographers - which in turn represent three photographic schools in Tehran alone. Continuing until Friday, 31. August. At the Espace EDF Electra, 6. Rue Récamier, Paris 7. Métro: Sèvres-Babylon. InfoTel.: 01 53 63 23 45.

37th Salon de la Marine - discover the salon that presents the French Navy's official painters, plus other artists attracted by watery scenes every other year. Until Monday, 27. August; from 10:00 to 17:50 daily except Tuesdays. At the Musée de la Marine, 17. Place du Trocadéro, Paris 16. Métro: Trocadéro. InfoTel.: 01 53 65 69 69.

Maillol Peintre - is an exhibition of 60 of the painter's works, from the period of 'Nabi' to the '40s. Until Saturday, 20. October; from 11:00 to 18:00 daily except Tuesdays. At the Musée Maillol - Fondation Dina Vierny, 59-61. Rue de Grenelle, Paris 7. Métro: Rue du Bac. InfoTel.: 01 42 22 59 58.

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. Very large pieces, mostly in metal. Free entry, from 7:00 to 23:00, in the gardens of the Palais Royal, Paris 1. Métro: Palais-Royal.

Da Adversiadade Vivemos - from the '60s and '70s, 14 of Latin America's most dynamic young artists, chosen by Carlos Basualdo. Also on view, Niele Toroni and Dan Graham. The first two until Sunday, 16. September and the third until 14. October. Except Mondays, from 10:00 to 17:40; until 18:45 on weekends. At Paris' Musée d'Art Moderne, 11. Avenue Président Wilson, Paris 16. Métro: Iéna or Alma-Marceau. InfoTel.: 01 53 67 40 00.

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. 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-Marcau. InfoTel.: 01 56 52 88 00.