New Stuff, Current Stuff

Night, winter, on the Pont des Arts.

And 'Last Chance' Stuff

Paris:- Saturday, 7. December 2002:- After a couple of weeks of neglect this column has had some large hunks clipped out, but since the 'Mois de la Photo' isn't entirely over, some of it has been imported along with the new items that have managed to pile up here.

There are not many new items in the Christmas column, but I have added some items about dining on Christmas Eve and making a 'fête' on New Years Eve. Find this in 'Noël 2002 in Paris' - now included in this issue.

• 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
• Unclassifieds + Bikes

Volcans Meurtriers - recounts the tragic destinies of Pompeii and Saint Pierre on Martinique. Except on Tuesdays, until Friday, 28. February, from 10:00 to 18:00 and from 10:00 to 22:00 on Thursdays. At the Museum of Natural History in the Jardin des Plantes, at 57. Rue Cuvier, Paris 5. Métro: Censier-Daubenton. InfoTel.: 01 40 79 30 00.

Les Sixties - Mode d'Emploi - is about how we looked in the '60s, if 'we' were around in those ancient times. Except Mondays, from 11:00 to 18:00, 10:00 to 18:00 on weekends and on Wednesdays until 21:00. At the Musée de la Mode et du Textile, 107. Rue de Rivoli, Paris 1. Métro: Palais-Royal. InfoTel.: 01 44 55 57 50.

Chevaux et Chevaliers Arabes - as depicted on the arts of the Middle East. Until Sunday, 30. March except on 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.

Carnets de Voyage - are excerpts from our long past history, perhaps from dugout canoe days. Beginning on Wednesday and continuing until Monday, 10. March. 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.

De la Representation à l'Action - since this is at a 'site of contemporary art creation' it could mean anything, but if there is no 'action' complain to the MGT. Starts on Thursday and continues until Sunday, 16. February. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 14:00 to 19:00, on weekends from 11:00 to 19:00. Le Plateau, at the corner of the Rue des Alouettes and the Rue Carducci, Paris 19. Métro: Buttes-Chaumont. InfoTel.: 01 53 19 84 10.

Frantisek Bílek - exhibition of sculptures, part of the Bohemia Magica season, with Czech sculptor Frantisek Bílek. Until Sunday, 2. February, open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 except on Mondays. At the Musée Bourdelle, 18. Rue Antoine-Bourdelle, Paris 15. Métro: Montparnasse or Falguière. InfoTel.: 01 49 54 73 73.

La Consolation de l'Absence - is about miniatures made to be reminders of absent loved ones, even if they were autoportraits. Until Sunday, 19. January. Open daily except Mondays from 10:00 to 17:40. At the Musée Cognacq-Jay, 8. Rue Elzévir, Paris 3. Métro: Saint-Paul or Chemin-Vert. InfoTel.: 01 40 27 07 21, or InfoFax.: 33 1 40 27 89 44.

La Légende d'un Héros - marks the centennial of the birth of Philippe Leclerc de Hautclocque. This is the general who was chosen by Charles De Gaulle to liberate Paris and Strasbourg. Until Thursday, 8. May. 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,' entry via the Jardin Atlantique, above the Gare Montparnasse. Paris 15. Métro: Montparnasse or Gaîté. InfoTel.: 01 40 64 39 44.

La Place Vendôme - could be subtitled 'Art, Pouvoir et Fortune,' because this is the three-century history of the Place Vendôme, and what could be better place to show it off? Until Sunday, 19. January, daily from 12:00 to 18:00. At the Hôtel de Villemaré, 9. Place Vendôme, Paris 1. Métro: Tuileries. Note - this exhibition moves to the Mairie of the 1st arrondissement, from Thursday, 24. January to Sunday, 2 March. At 1. Place du Louvre. Métro: Louvre-Rivoli.

What Better Place? - 'Quel meilleur endroit?' - to invite ten artists to express themselves about a place than in the place itself? Yet this isn't about Balzac or his house. It is about what you might think of it if you were invited to. I visited it and I did - before this exhibition. Beginning on Wednesday, 11. December and continuing until Sunday, 16. March. From 10:00 to 17:40 except on Mondays. At the Maison de Balzac, 47. Rue Raynouard, Paris 16. Métro: Passy or La Muette. InfoTel.: 01 55 74 41 80.

Salon Nautique - is otherwise known as the 'wet show,' and features more than you wanted to see of things that float, sail, glide, dive and half-fly - on lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Beginning on Thursday, 7. December and continuing until Saturday, 16. December. Usually from 10:00 to 19:00, with a longer evening on Tuesday, 13. December. At Paris-Expo, Paris 15. Métro: Porte de Versailles. InfoTel.: 01 41 90 47 10.

Les Nuits des Musiciens - will be three nights with a lot of musicians and singers, with each night different. Patricia Petibon's 'night' starts it off on Thursday, 12 December, followed by Bireli Lagrene's 'night' on Friday, 13 December, to finish with the 'night' of Sanseverino on Saturday, 14. December. All at 20:30. At the Trianon, 80. Boulevard de Rochechouart, Paris 18. Métro: Pigalle. InfoTel.: 08 92 69 70 73.

Festival d'Automne - details are slight for the 31st edition of this multi-everything series of events, lasting until Sunday, 22. December. Throughout Paris. InfoTel.: 01 53 45 17 00.

Maître d'Art - is a title accorded since 1994 to exceptional 'artisans' of the arts trades. France's Ministry of Culture has just launched a new Web site that acts as a doorway to 40 of their ateliers. The 'test' period for this new Web site should be completed. Check out www.maitresdart.com

Méditerranée, Méditerranées II - is a musical program, mostly on weekends, mostly featuring North African artists. This continues until Saturday, 14. December, with most performances at 20:30. 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.

Salon du Cheval 2002 - 500 exhibitors from 12 countries will be showing off horses and everything about them - performances, material, tourism, and a 'Concours Hippique' that presents ribbons to beautiful horses. Until Monday, 16. December. Hours are 10:00 to 19:00 and until 22:00 on Tuesday, 3. December. Check the Salon du Cheval Web site for more details. At Paris-Expo, Paris 15. Métro: Porte de Versailles. InfoTel.: 08 92 68 65 86.

Les Maîtres de la Lumière - fresh air painting from the Irvine Museum in California, features 60 landscapes from the collection. Until Saturday, 14. December. Except Sunday and Monday, from 10:30 to 18:30. At the Mona Bismarck Foundation, 34. Avenue de New York, Paris 16. Métro: Iéna or Alma-Marceau. InfoTel.: 01 47 23 38 88.

Questions d'Etiquettes - is an exhibition featuring commercial labels, from the 18th century to our time. Continuing until Saturday, 28. December. 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.

Memoires du Visible - are plates and engravings from the Louvre's collection of lithographs. Starting on Friday, 17. January and continuing until Monday, 14. April. Open from 9:00 to 18:00 and from 9:00 to 21:30 on Wednesdays. Closed Tuesdays. At the Musée du Louvre, principal entry from the Pyramid in the Cour Napoléon, Paris 1. Métro: Palais-Royal. InfoTel.: 01 40 20 51 51.

Prix d'Amerique - is Paris' number one race for trotters in January when most bettors are broke, but don't mind fresh weather to clear their heads. On Sunday, 26. January, at the Hippodrome de Paris-Vincennes, 2. Route de la Ferme, in the Bois de Vincennes, Paris 12. Métro: Charenton-Ecoles, plus a long walk. InfoTel.: 01 49 77 17 17.

Expolangues - how to learn babble comes to Paris again, with some exhibitors showing how to get there or here. From Thursday, 30. January until Saturday, 1. February, from 10:00 to 19:00 and from 10:00 to 18:00 on Saturday. At the Grand Halle de la Villette, 211. Avenue Jean-Jaurès, Paris 19. Métro: Porte de Pantin. InfoTel.: 01 48 07 41 41.

Trésors d'Argent - reunited for the first time, the finest examples of the artistry of the Froment-Meurice clan of silver and jewelry craftsmen. To be on show from Tuesday, 4. February until Sunday, 15. June, from 10:00 to 18:00 daily except Mondays. At the Musée de la Vie Romantique - Hôtel Scheffer Renan, 16. Rue Chaptal, Paris 9. Métro: Saint-Georges, Blanche or Pigalle. InfoTel.: 01 55 31 95 67.

Monet at Marmottan - an exhibition featuring artists such as Delecroix, Boudin, Cham, Guys, Forain, Morisot, Cross, Signac, Renoir and Monet of course - all on paper which means aquarelles and pastels, from the museum's collections. From 10:00 to 18:00 until Sunday, 2. February, except on Mondays. At the Musée Marmottan - Monet, 2. Rue Louis-Boilly, Paris 16. Métro: La Muette. InfoTel.: 01 44 96 50 33.

Modigliani - is 'L'Ange au Visage Grave' and was an impressionist genius. This exhibition has a hundred paintings, of which a third have never been shown in France before. Includes drawings and sculpture. Until Sunday, 2. March. Open Tuesday to Thursday, from 10:00 to 19:00, from 10:00 to 20:00 on weekends and from 10:00 to 22:30 on Monday and Friday. At the Musée du Luxembourg, 19. Rue Vaugirard, Paris 6. Métro: Saint-Sulpice. InfoTel.: 01 42 34 25 95.

Jacqueline Kennedy - if you missed it at the time or if you missed the time entirely, see Jackie O's costumes from her period in the White House, from 1959 to 1963. This includes 70 costumes plus 200 other documents. Do you remember the 'Pill Box' hat? This expo continues until Sunday, 16. March. Except Monday, from 11:00 to 18:00, 10:00 to 18:00 on weekends and on Wednesdays until 21:00. At the Musée de la Mode et du Textile, 107. Rue de Rivoli, Paris 1. Métro: Palais-Royal. InfoTel.: 01 44 55 57 50.

Rituels Tibetains - or, the 'Visions Secrèts du Ve Dalai Lama' is an exhibition organized around 56 original pages of the 'Secrèts,' accompanied by other objects, some on view here for the first time. Continues until Monday, 24. February. Hours are 10:00 to 18:00, except on Tuesdays. At the Musée National des Arts Asiatiques / Musée Guimet - Le Panthéon Bouddhique, 19. Avenue d'Iéna, Paris 16. Métro: Iéna. InfoTel.: 01 56 52 53 00.

Francis Picabia - this exhibition presents about 200 items from Picabia's lifetime of works, including his Dadaist period. Continues through to Sunday, 16. March. Except Mondays, from 10:00 to 18:00 and 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 80.

De Caillebotte à Picasso - features major works from the collection of Oscar Ghez, essentially a round-up of French painting from 1870 to 1950. Until 15. June 2003, from 10:00 to 18:00 daily. At the Musée Jacquemart-Andre, 158. Boulevard Haussmann, Paris 8. Métro: Miromesnil. InfoTel.: 01 45 62 11 59.

The Cremaster Cycle - Matthew Barney's complete cycle, including films, sculpture, photos and drawings, from a baroque imagination that mixes Greek mythology with magic, psycho stuff and hardcore music. Sounds soothing. Until Sunday, 5. January except on Mondays, from 10:00 to 18:00 and 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 80.

'Fleurs du Mal' by Constantin Guys - Guys painted Paris ladies who were sometimes over-painted themselves, from 1860 to 1880, and this bi-centennial exhibition shows about 100 of his works. Guys was championed by Baudelaire as a 'peinture de la vie moderne' in 1863, but slighted by contemporary critics. Until Sunday, 5. January 2003, from 10:00 to 18:00 daily, except Mondays. 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.

Matisse - Picasso - is a big show featuring these two painters, more or less side-by-side and they have more in common than you may think. Until Monday, 6. January. As usual, advance tickets are required for mornings from 10:00 to 13:00. Otherwise open from 10:00 to 19:15, and until 21:15 on Wednesdays. Closed Tuesdays. At the Grand Palais, 3. Avenue du Général Eisenhower, Paris 8. Métro: Champs Elysées-Clemenceau. InfoTel.: 01 44 13 17 17.

Manet - Velázquez - in another double-header in the 'Spanish manner,' which examines art of the 19th century in this big show continuing until Monday, 6. January. Hours are 10:00 to 18:00, until 21:45 on Thursdays, and 9:00 to 18:00 on Sundays, but it's all closed on Monday. At the Musée d'Orsay, entry at 62. Rue de Lille, Paris 7. Métro: Solférino or RER Musée d'Orsay. InfoTel.: 01 40 49 48 14.

Max Beckmann - is a ' Peinture dans l'Histoire,' who is worth an ultra major exhibition and your gazes until Monday, 6. January. From 11:00 to 21:00 daily except on Tuesdays. At the Centre Georges Pompidou, Place Georges Pompidou, Paris 4. Métro: Rambuteau. InfoTel.: 01 44 78 12 33.

Constable - 'Le Choix de Lucian Freud' includes 200 works with many portraits by this English painter more known for his landscapes, in this first retrospective in Paris. Until Monday, 13. January. Open 10:00 to 19:15 and until 21:15 on Wednesdays. Closed Tuesdays. Reservations (often) required for morning visits before 13:00. At the Grand Palais, 3. Avenue du Général Eisenhower, Paris 8. Métro: Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau. InfoTel.: 01 44 13 17 17.

Le Geste Kôngo - or 'Les Bois Sacrés d'Hélénon,' is a new exhibition of 'Nikisi' and 'Minkisi' - which are statuettes, singular or plural, done by the Kongo and their immediate neighbors in Africa. To be seen until Sunday, 19. January. Open daily from Wednesday to Sunday, from 11:00 to 19:00. Free entry on the last Wednesday of the month. At the Musée Dapper, 35. Rue Paul-Valéry, Paris 16. Métro: Etoile, Victor Hugo or Kléber. InfoTel.: 01 45 00 01 50.

Bohemia Magica - the Czech Republic has had its own special relations with Paris and these are celebrated this year, at the Musée d'Orsay, the Montparnasse Museum and elsewhere until the end of the year. Besides featuring 20th century Czech artists in Paris, the 'Bohemia Magica' program also offers a showcase for contemporary Czech artists, film makers and writers.

Lanterna Mgika - beginning in the 1920s Czech artists were mixing art with technology, and with a hop into 'Europe' in 1989 this multi-discipline was accelerated. The 'magic' part of the lantern was its technology, more ancient than the 19th century, now riding into the 21st. Here you will see neon, projections, video, interactive installations - from the past to the future. Until Sunday, 19. January, from 12:00 to 19:00, except Mondays and holidays. Free entry. At the EDF's Espace Electra, 6. Recamier, Paris 7. Métro: Sèvres-Babylone. InfoTel.: 01 53 63 23 45.