'Shopping' Is Not

If the Place de la Concorde was yours - would you
keep the wheel?

Paris' Only Attraction

Paris:- Saturday, 12. January 2002:- I came back from being away for a few days and I kind of expected that Paris would be digesting its holiday, or at least be totally absorbed by its winter sales.

Instead, it seems as if new events can't wait for 'old' events to clear out before getting installed, for the beginning of the 2002 season. While everybody is shopping, here is your chance.

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

'L'Ile de la Cité au XIXe Siècle' - features photos taken from 1858 to 1877, by Charles Marville, of the excavation work done in the 19th century for the Crypte Archéologique under the parvis of Notre Dame. This work was begun under the direction of Baron Haussmann. The expo continues until Sunday, 14. April. Except Mondays, open from 10:00 to 18:00. At the Crypte Archéologique, 1. Place du Parvis de Notre-Dame, on the Ile de la Cité. Métro: Cité or Saint-Michel. InfoTel.: 01 43 29 83 51. Entry: 3.35. The Crypte Archéologique is under the direction of the Musée Carnavalet, in association with the Commission du Vieux Paris.

Didier Trénet - Transmissions (1) & (2) - three photo exhibitions, at two locations, include photos by Beat Streuli, called 'Marseille .98.' The expo 'Transmissions (1)' continues until Sunday, 17. February, at the Ferme du Coulevrain - Ecomusée, Place Georges-Henri Rivière, in Savigny-Le-Temple. Take the RER 'D' train in the direction of Melun, to Savigny-Le-Temple. Hours vary from Tuesday to Sunday. InfoTel.: 01 64 41 75 27.

The other exhibitions by Beat Streuli and Didier Trénet continue until Sunday, 24. February. These are open from Wednesdays to Sundays, from 13:00 to 18:30. Both are at the Centre Photographique d'Ile-de-France, 107. Avenue de la République, in Pontault-Combault. By SNCF train for 30 minutes from Gare de l'Est, in the direction of Tournan or Coulommiers and get off at Emerainville or Pontault-Combault. InfoTel.: 01 70 05 49 80.

Affiches de Festivals 2001 -France is a land of festivals and all of them have posters. See the best - and perhaps buy for modest prices - 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.

Close-Up du Génie - features Eddy Novarro's photographs of France's most famous artists, taken since the '50s. The prints on show are a large selection from 80 published in the book, 'Close-Up du Génie.' This exhibition continues until Friday, 25. January. From Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 19:00, at the Espace Paul Ricard, Galerie Royale 2, 9. Rue Royale, Paris 8. Métro: Concorde or Madeleine. InfoTel.: 01 53 30 88 00.

Fred Kleinberg - is the author of the exhibition of paintings 'Retour de Moscou, Carnets de Voyage,' to be on view from Wednesday, 16. January until Friday, 1. March. From 10:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday. At the location of the Cultural Affairs direction of the Ville de Paris in the Hôtel d'Albret, Salon Jean Musy, 31. Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Paris 4. Métro: Saint-Paul. InfoTel.: 01 42 76 67 00. No entry charge.

Des Volcans et des Hommes - is an exhibition resulting from 10 years of inspecting volcanos around the world. Philippe Bourseiller was accompanied by Jacques Durie for this modest task, and the result is 100 large photos with detailed captions, hanging from the Senat's Luxembourg garden fence - along the Rue de Médicis and Rue de Vaugirard. This show continues until Thursday, 28. February. Paris 6. Métro: RER 'B' at Luxembourg.

Paris et Ses Avocats - this exhibition presents something special for lawyers, for a change. It features eight centuries of the 'legal' history of Paris. Except on Sundays, from 9:30 to 18:30. In the Salon d'Acceuil of the Hôtel de Ville, 29. Rue de Rivoli, Paris 4. Métro: Hôtel de Ville. InfoTel.: 01 42 76 43 43. Free entry, even for lawyers.

Pirates! - where else but in the Marine museum? Illustrated, cartooned and filmed, the 'myth' of pirates belongs to the sea and is ably presented here, assembled from various collections. Continuing until Monday, 13. May, from 10:00 to 18:00, except Tuesdays and 1. May. Also see another exhibition, 'L'America's Cup,' until Monday, 13. May. At the Musée de la Marine, 17. Place du Trocadéro, Paris 16. Métro: Trocadéro. InfoTel.: 01 53 65 69 69.

Poussières d'Etoiles - could also be called 'stardust,' which is something that unites you and me to the cosmos - here presented as an ultrasensory voyage with lots of special effects. Continuing until 2004, at 21:00 in winter, and at 22:00 in summer, except for Monday and Tuesday. At the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, 30. Avenue Corentin-Cariou, Paris 19. Métro: Porte de la Villette. InfoTel.: 08 92 69 70 72.

Au Temps de Marcel Proust - an exhibition focused on the Belle Epoque, with paintings of Paris of the period, with portraits of the real people Proust used as models in his prose. Paintings by Jean Béraud, Henri Somm and Abel Truchet. Marcel Proust was featured in Metropole earlier this year. Until Sunday, 20. January. Except Mondays, 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 42 72 21 13.

Raphaël - Grâce et Beauté - Casanova said nobody did human figures better and he knew what he was talking about. Raphaël Sanzio and 80 of his paintings will turn up in the Senat's little gallery located in a Medicis park, for an extended stay after Raphaël's 20-year absence from Paris. Continues until Sunday, 27. January. Free entry, at the Musée du Luxembourg, 19. Rue Vaugirard, Paris 6. Métro: Saint-Sulpice or Odéon. InfoTel.: 01 42 34 25 95.

Jouets de Princes - includes the period of 1770 to 1870, when toys for royal kids formed part of their education for their future royal jobs rather than for sheer fun. Many French parents think the same today - growing up is a 'serious' business, royal or not. Until Monday, 28. January. Except Tuesdays, from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:00. At the Musée des Châteaux de Malmaison et de Bois-Préau, Avenue du Château, in Malmaison. Take either the métro or the RER to La Défense, then the bus 258 to the Bois-Préau or the château. InfoTel.: 01 41 29 05 55.

Lam Métis - Wifedo Lam was born in Cuba in 1902, with roots in Africa and China. He moved to Spain and painted there until his involvement with the civil war landed him in a sanatorium near Barcelona, which led to his arrival in Paris in 1938, where he met Picasso for the first time. For this exhibition, see a selection from Lam's paintings done between 1938 and 1961. Until Sunday, 20. January. Daily from 11:00 to 19:00. At the Musée Dapper, 35. Rue Paul Valéry, Paris 16. Métro: Etoile, Victor Hugo or Kléber. InfoTel.: 01 45 00 01 50.

August Strindberg - has been subtitled 'Painter and Photographer' for this exhibition which continues until Sunday, 27. January. Daily from 10:00 to 18:00, and to 22:00 on Thursdays, but closed on Mondays. At the Musée d'Orsay, 1. Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, Paris 7. Métro: Solférino or RER Musée d'Orsay. InfoTel.: 01 40 49 48 14.

L'Atelier de Gilbert Boyer - is an installation based on a text by Zadkine and a voyage to Canada - Gilbert Boyer from Quebec explores the ties between public and private spaces. Until Sunday, 27. January. 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.

Lettonie, Latvija - is an exhibition from the collection of the National Museum of History of Latvia. The occasion is the 800th anniversary of the founding of Riga. Until Sunday, 20. January. Except for Tuesdays and holidays, from 9:15 to 17:15. At the Musée de l'Homme, Palais de Chaillot, 17. Place du Trocadéro, Paris 16. Métro: Trocadéro. InfoTel.: 01 44 05 72 00.

Leclerc et Ses Hommes - Crossed Destinies - the victor of Koufra, liberator of Paris and Strasbourg, did it all with a wide variety men from all stations in life, who contributed to his and their own destinies. Presented with a background of comics from 1948-49, this exhibition continues until Sunday, 20. January. Open daily except Mondays, from 10:00 to 17:40. At the 'Mémorial du Maréchal Leclerc Hauteclocque et de la Libération de Paris - Musée Jean Moulin,' Jardin Atlantique, above the Gare Montparnasse. Paris 15. InfoTel.: 01 40 64 39 44.

Figures du Carneval - 'au Temps de Balzac' is an exhibition of 110 designs and engravings by Gavarni, of the carnival in Paris at the time of Balzac. 'Beaucoup des drôleries.' From Wednesday, 23. January until Sunday, 21. April. Except on Monday, from 10:00 to 17:40. At the Maison de Balzac, 47. Rue Raynouard, Paris 16. Métro: Passy or La Muette. InfoTel.: 01 55 74 41 90.

Madame Carven - is presented here showing 50 years of creative clothing, from 'afternoon' dresses to suits for air hostesses. The exhibition features designer clothing, sketches and photos from private collections and institutions such as the Musée du Parfum de Grasse. From Friday, 25. January until Sunday, 26. May. Daily except Monday; from 10:00 to 18:00. At the Musée Galliera, 10. Avenue Pierre-1er-de-Serbie, Paris 16. Métro: Iéna or Alma-Marceau. InfoTel.: 01 56 52 86 00.

Troc at Troc - merely means the 'Salon des Antiquaires' in the Trocadéro gardens for 10 days, from Friday, 18. January until Monday, 28. January. Daily from 11:00 to 21:00. Paris 16. Métro: Trocadéro. InfoTel.: 01 44 88 52 60.

Rétromobile - starting on Friday, 8. February everybody will be going out to the Porte de Versailles to get 'rétro' again, in the wheel sense - which will include, as usual, some fancy motorcycles and boats, all museum pieces - some of which are for sale. Try to get yours before the final day on Sunday, 17. February. Hours are usually from 11:00 to 19:00, but start earlier on Saturday and Sunday, and go later on Tuesday and Friday. At Paris-Expo, Porte de Versailles, Paris 15. Métro: Porte de Versailles. InfoTel.: 01 48 44 30 30.

Salon de l'Agriculture - is known by all Metropole readers as the 'Paris Beautiful Cow Show.' It returns for another run this year, from Friday, 23. February until Sunday, 3. March. Daily hours are mostly from 9:00 to 19:00, except on Friday, 1. March when the barn stays open until 22:00. At Paris-Expo, Porte de Versailles, Paris 15. Métro: Porte de Versailles. InfoTel.: 08 92 68 93 89.

'Vieux Papiers' - info is skimpy for this big event, other than the mention that this year's theme is 'the cat.' 'Old papers' means collectible ones. Dates are Thursday, 21. February until Sunday, 3 March, and hours are generally from 11:00 to 19:00. Not at Paris-Expo, but at the Espace Champerret, 6. Rue Jean-Oestreicher, Paris 17. Métro: Porte de Champerret. InfoTel.: 01 56 53 93 93.

Expolangues - features everything you wanted to know about learning languages, with Ireland as the 'country of honor' this year. From Wednesday, 30. January until Sunday, 3. February, from 10:00 to 18:00. At the Grand Hall, Parc de Villette, 211. Avenue Jean-Jaurés, Paris 19. Métro: Porte de Pantin. InfoTel.: 01 48 07 41 41.

Sous le Soleil de Mithra - is an exhibition of religious subjects inspired by antiquity and done by Picasso - most likely also concerning some heads of bulls. Continuing until Monday, 4. March 2002. From 9:30 to 17:30, except on Tuesdays. At the Musée Picasso, 5. Rue de Thorigny, Paris 4. Métro: Saint-Paul. InfoTel.: 01 42 71 25 21.

La Nouvelle Athènes - many think the Second Empire period of the 19th century represented the 'Belle Epoque' but forget the preceding intimate and literary period that associated Balzac, Dumas, Baudelaire, Chopin and Georges Sand, with the 'July Monarchy,' all within a small area in the 9th arrondissement's 'Nouvelle Athènes.' Until Sunday, 10. February 2002, from 13:00 to 19:00, at the Fondation Taylor, 1. Rue La Bruyère, Paris 9. Métro: Saint-Georges. Free entry.

L'Orient de Saladin - or 'Au Temps des Ayyoubides,' is an exhibition about the life and times of the Crusades, which are motly unrelated to our times. Continues until Sunday, 10. March 2002. Except Mondays, open from 10:00 to 18:00. At the Institut du Monde Arabe, 1. Rue des Fossés-Saint-Bernard, Paris 5. Métro: Jussieu. InfoTel.: 01 40 51 38 38.