It's Party Time

Stands set up for performances of Figaro in the
Luxembourg garden.

For Residents and Visitors

Paris:- Saturday, 5. July 2003:- There are two 'Scene' columns in this issue because all of the extra summer items wouldn't fit in just one. To help your planning, some special events are included below, such as the Fête Nationale - Bastille Day.

What you don't find on this page, will be on the 'Scene I page. This page should have many special and summer items, while the 'Scene I' page has the typically current 'Scene' items.

As of this moment, the issues causing strikes by performers and stagehands have not been satisfactorily settled. Some events, such as the open-air movies at the Villette park may be affected. Or, everybody may decide that the 'show must go on,' and there will be no problem. But there are other issues coming along, and the tendancy to shove today's problems into the future may not come into play this time.

If the festival season turns into a total shambles, there is always Paris Plage to fall back on. This year it will even have 'siesta' areas for this 'falling back.'

• Summer Stuff
• Fête de la Bastille
• Summer 2003
• Paris Pools
• Some Kid Stuff
• Unclassifieds + Bikes
• The 'Nuit Blanche'

• 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
• Commercial Salons

90th Tour de France - this bicycle classic started in 1903 so this is its centennial year. This year's 'tour' started from Paris on Saturday, 5. July, 'Le Tour' runs around France for three weeks before returning to the finish line on the Champs-Elysées on Sunday, 27. July. Paris 8. InfoTel.: 01 41 33 15 00.

Photography at the Turn of the Century - 'Du Pictorialisme à Engène Atget,' will be a major exhibition to watch for beginning Tuesday, 15. July, continuing until Sunday, 19. October. Big names as well as unknowns are represented. From 10:00 to 18:00, until 21:45 on Thursdays and from 9:00 to 18:00 on Sunday. Closed on Mondays. At the Musée d'Orsay, entry Quai Anatole France, Paris 7. Métro: Solférino or RER Musée d'Orsay. InfoTel.: 01 40 49 48 14.

Vivre C'est Habiter - is a 'big show' lacking details other than the dates, from Thursday, 17. July until Saturday, 8. November. From Tuesday to Saturday, from 12:00 to 18:00, in summer possibly until 21:30, and on Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00. At the Parc de la Villette, 211. Avenue Jean-Jaurès, Paris 19. Métro: Porte de Pantin. InfoTel.: 08 03 30 63 06. ResaTel.: 08 92 68 36 22.

L'Incroyable Rallye - starts at 11:00 on Saturday, 12. July at the Mairie of the 11th, and resumes on Sunday at 10:00 at the same place. A reception follows between 17:00 and 19:30, and the awards are given out from 19:30 until 02:00 on Monday, followed by a 'Grand Bal' the same day. Check out L'Incroyable Rallye if you don't believe this. 12. Place Léon-Blum, Paris 11. Métro: Voltaire. InfoTel.: 01 43 57 49 85.

Les Sapeurs-Pompiers - have a tradition of opening their firehalls for celebrating the Fête de la Bastille. The 'bals' will be held on the evenings of Sunday, 13. July and Monday, 14. July. At various locations in Paris and throughout France. Initially held in 1937, the first 'bal' lasted until the afternoon of the next day, and everyone at it missed the Champs-Elysées parade.

Mairie de Paris - the city hall organizes its Bastille fête at the Place de la Bastille, because there's enough room for it. During the evening of Sunday, 13. July. Paris X. Métro: InfoTel.: 01

Place Maurice Chevalier - why this 'bal populaire' gets a special mention I know not. On Sunday, 13 July, from 19:00 to 23:00. Paris 20. Métro: Ménilmontant. InfoTel.: 01 40 33 50 50.

Military Parade - this always takes place on the whole Champs-Elysées, from Etoile to the Place de la Concorde. The parade begins at 10:00 and will last until about 11:30. This is a rain or shine affair, so be prepared. To be on Monday, 14. July. The official viewing stand is usually set up at the Place de la Concorde. Paris 8. Métros: count on the métro stops at Etoile, George V, Franklin Roosevelt, Clemenceau and Concorde being closed - arrive by foot or from the next nearest ones.

Fireworks - fans will have their night on Monday, 14. July, beginning about 22:30. The rockets will be fired off from the Trocadéro's gardens, so the best place to be is across the Seine on the Champ de Mars, with possibly 350,000 other Fête Nationale fans. The show usually lasts about 40 minutes, and is held rain or shine. Paris 7. Métros: Alma-Marceau, Ecole Militaire, Bir Hakeim or La Motte-Picquet- Grenelle - also the RER 'C' line stops of Pont de l'Alma and Champ de Mars.

Soldes d'Eté - if there's anything left, buy your Summer 2003 gear at deep discounts, continuing with ever deeper discounts until Saturday, 2. August, probably long after nothing is left. 'First come' gets the best stuff. These dates are for Paris and may vary elsewhere in France.

Paris Plage - will be bigger and better replay of 2002's smash hit, to feature three kilometres of right-bank beach front beside the Seine especially for pedestrians, sunbathers, bikers, strollers, rollers - from Sunday, 20. July until Sunday, 17. August. There will be China palms and other plants, more sand, more striped deckchairs, more water, more entertainment and dance floors, with some pétanque players, and 'clubs' for kids, as well as refreshment kiosks. Fishing and tango lessons are also in the program. In principle, most everything is free and open 24 hours daily, but most entertainments will shut down by 22:30. InfoTel.: 08 20 00 75 75. See this week's Café column for further details.

Paris Jazz Festival - cool music in the park every Saturday and Sunday from 15:00, with this year's edition continuing until the last set on Sunday, 27. July. Major artists will be on hand, so the trip out east will be worth it. At the Parc Floral de Paris, Route de la Pyramide, in the Bois de Vincennes, Paris 12. Métro: Château de Vincennes. InfoTel.: 08 20 00 75 75.

Un Eté Russe à Montmartre - could produce all sorts of surprises, but I have no details yet. Continuing until Monday, 29. September - on Montmartre. Paris 18. Métros: Abbesses or Lamarck-Caulaincourt.

Musique Côté Jardin - are a series of free concerts performed on the bandstands in Paris' parks. Continuing until Sunday, 28. September. InfoTel.: 08 20 00 75 75.

Fête des Tuileries - sticky food and tricky rides with lots of boom-boom sounds. From Saturday, 21. June until Sunday, 31. August. Daily from 11:00 to midnight, and to 01:00 on Friday, Saturday and the eves of holidays such as Sunday, 13. July. In the Tuileries garden.Paris 1. Métro: Tuileries InfoTel.: 01 46 27 52 29.

Fête des Loges - is the same as above, but with more food on offer, and is set in the forest at Saint-Germain-en-Laye. From Friday, 27. June until Sunday, 17. August. Daily from 15:00. RER: Saint-Germain-en-Laye. InfoTel.: 01 30 87 20 88.

Paris Cinéma - in 34 cinemas spread thoughout Paris' 20 arrondissements. Films from Cannes 2003 and films not shown before are on the program. With a unique entry price of 4, this continues until Tuesday, 15. July. InfoTel.: 01 42 76 49 61 or 08 20 00 75 75.

Meet International Films - continues until Sunday, 13. July. InfoTel.: 01 42 76 63 24. This has been listed as a separate item, but may be related to the above 'Paris-Cinéma.'

Walk-In Outside Fresh-Air Movies - are now a roofless tradition at the Parc de la Villette, which has a big grassy place for you to watch movies projected on a huge inflated screen. High quality 'Monde d'Orages' films roll nightly except Mondays from Tuesday, 8. July until Sunday, 24. August; and start about 22:00, when it's dark enough. Deckchairs are also available. Prairie du Triangle, Parc de la Villette, 211. Avenue Jean-Jaurés, Paris 19. Métro: Porte de Pantin. InfoTel.: 01 40 03 75 75.

20th Chopin Festival - is for you if you feel like hearing a little music in a comfy park. Until Monday, 14. July. Times are in the afternoons and evenings. At the Orangerie de Bagatelle, Route de Reine-Marguerite, in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16. Nearest métros: Pont de Neuilly, and bus 43 or from Porte Maillot, and bus 244. Park entry - 1.50. InfoTel.: 01 45 00 22 19, Fax.: 01 40 67 70 08.

L'Octuor de France - offers chamber music concerts in the Orangerie in the Parc de Bagatelle with several concerts beginning on Thursday, 17. July and continuing until Sunday, 17. August. Calculate concert prices with the extra 1.50 for entry to the park. From Thursday, 18. July until Thursday, 15. August. I can't figure these dates out. In the Parc de Bagatelle, in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16. Nearest métros: Pont de Neuilly, and bus 43, or from Porte Maillot, and bus 244. InfoTel.: 01 42 29 07 83.