A Passport for Fun

And Lots To See

Paris:– Saturday, 5. February 2005:– The city is getting in the swing for having the Olympics here in 2012, even though it has not sewed up its candidature yet. One sign of increased visitor friendliness is the early return of the Batobus shuttle service on the Seine, mentioned at the end of this column.

I am not sure if the new 'Paris City Passport' for 5€ is a wonderful deal, but it's new and seems to offer a lot. You get a brochure that is a city guide and it includes '300€–worth' of reductions, good for discounts at some museums and monuments, for some excursions, for shopping, services, and some high–life locations.

For an extra 5€ you can have a one–day two–zone transport ticket. This sounds identical to the RATP's 'Mobilis' ticket, but is 30 cents cheaper. This ticket is good for one day only, but the 'Passport' is good for a year, and you can pass it along to friends to use up. You can buy the 'Passport' online or pick one up at any of the city's tourist information locations.

• This Week's 'Openers'
• Major Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• More Events, Exhibitions, Salons
• Photo, Cinema and Multimedia
• Culture, History, Science
• Some Kid Stuff

• Coming Events, Exhibitions
• Coming Salons
• Last Chances

Richard Linder – Adults Only – celebrate the reopening of this museum with an exhibition of the works of this Euro–American artist, having his first show since his retrospective in 1974. To begin on Tuesday, 15. February, to last until 12. 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.

Mario Giacomelli, Photographer – the néo–réalist of the 20th century, in the photographer's unmistakable style. This continues until Sunday, 24. April. Except Monday, from 10:00 to 19:00, and from 12:00 to 19:00 on Sunday. At the Richelieu branch of the Bibliothèque Nationale, 58. Rue de Richelieu, Paris 2. Métro: Bourse. InfoTel.: 01 53 79 59 59.

Irene Benavente, Art Photographer – does award–winning photos of flowers so real that they look like paintings, as you will see in her first exhibition in Paris. Beginning on Tuesday, 1. March, until Tuesday, 15. March. Except Sunday and Monday, from 14:30 to 19:00. At the Galerie Arcade Colette, in the Jardins du Palais Royal, 155. Galerie de Valois and 17. Rue de Valois, Paris 1. Métro: Palais–Royal. InfoTel.: 01 42 86 05 38.

Pierre Choumoff – born in Russia, Pierre Choumoff set up his photo atelier in Paris in 1911, and photographed Prokofiev, Foujita, Bourdelle, Kessel, Léger as well as Rodin. Until Sunday, 3. April. Open in winter from 9:30 to 16:45, but closed on Monday. Open to 17:45 after 1. April. At the Musée Rodin, 77. Rue de Varenne, Paris 7. Métro: Varennes. InfoTel.: 01 44 18 61 10.

Claude Rutault – takes over from Luciano Fabro to show a contemporary exhibit of works, around the theme of 'definition.' On view until Sunday, 15. May. Except Monday, open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. At the Musée Bourdelle, 18. Rue Antoine–Bourdelle, Paris 15. Métro: Montparnasse or Falguière. InfoTel.: 01 49 54 73 73.

Like Dreams, Drawing – an exhibition that confronts modern and contemporary drawings with the 16th and 17th century works of the Italian school, therefore divided between the Louvre's Arts Graphics and the Centre Pompidou's Galerie d'Art Graphique. Set to start on Wednesday, 16. February and continue until Monday, 16. May. From 11:00 to 21:00 daily except on Tuesdays, and on Thursdays until 23:00. At the Centre Pompidou, Place Georges Pompidou, Paris 4. Métro: Rambuteau. InfoTel.: 01 44 78 12 33.

Les Juifs dans la Grande Guerre – a historical look back at the Jewish presence in World War 1. This begins on Wednesday, 16. February and continues until Sunday, 29. May. Except Saturdays, from 11:00 to 18:00, and on Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00. Closed 1. May. At the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme, Hôtel de Saint–Aignan, 71. Rue du Temple, Paris 3. Métro: Rambuteau. InfoTel.: 01 53 01 86 60.

Trésors de Ferveur – beginning in the 17th century nuns began creating elaborate papers for decorating shrines. Largely ignored, these rare treasures are on view in this exhibition. This continues until Saturday, 16. April. From Tuesday to Saturday, from 13:20 to 20:00. At the Bibliothèque Forney, Hôtel de Sens,1. Rue Figuier, Paris 4. Métro: Pont–Marie InfoTel.:01 42 78 14 60.

Affiches de Festivals – this interesting poster gallery starts the new year with a collection of high quality festival posters. This expo–sale continues 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 worth a glance.

Jean Gourmelin – is always seeking the perfect pencil, a super–pencil. This expo shows what he found to use. From now until Monday, 28. February. From Tuesday to Friday, from 13:00 to 19:00. On Saturday, per request. At the Atelier An–Girard, 7. Rue Campagne Première, Paris 14. Métro: Vavin or Raspail. InfoTel.: 01 43 22 01 16.

Yann Lestrat – an exhibition of paintings with installations, inviting you to plunge in. Until Sunday, 13. March. Open from Tuesday to Friday from 12:00 to 19:00, and on weekends from 14:00 to 19:00. At the Criée, Place Honoré Commeurec, Halles Centrales, in Rennes. InfoTel.: 02 99 78 18 20.

30 Masterpieces – on exceptional loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this exhibition of Islamic arts should not be missed. Continuing until Monday, 25. April. Open from 9:00 to 17:30, and until 21:30 on Monday and Wednesday. 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 50 50.

Psy(k)é – is an exhibition of 200 psychedelic posters, dating from the '60s and '70s that sum up a generation jolted by rock and individual liberty. This continues until Sunday, 27. March. Except Mondays, from 11:00 to 18:00 weekdays, from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekends and from 10:00 to 21:00 on Wednesdays. At the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, 107. Rue de Rivoli, Paris 1. Métro: Palais–Royal–Louvre. InfoTel.: 01 44 55 57 50.

Pharaoh – is an exhibition about who the Pharaohs were, with material from the Palazzo Grassi in Venice, and from the Louvre's collections. On view until Sunday, 10. April 2005. Except Mondays, open from 10:00 to 19:00. At the Institut du Monde Arabe, 1. Rue des Fossés–Saint–Bernard, Paris 5. Métro: Jussieu. InfoTel.: 01 40 51 38 38.

Trésors de la Fondation Napoléon – classic art from Napoleon's private collection at the Imperial court. Continuing until Sunday, 3. April 2005. 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.

Napoléon – of Propaganda and Legend – this is about Napoléon arranging his own legend, for his time and ours. To continue until Monday, 6. June 2005. Except Tuesdays, open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 17:30, and from 14:00 to 17:35 on Saturday and Sunday. At the Musée de l'Histoire de France, Hôtel de Rohan, 87. Rue Vieille du Temple, Paris 3. Métro: Rambuteau, Hôtel de Ville or Saint–Paul. InfoTel.: 01 40 27 60 96.

Bartholdi, and the Builders of Liberty – for the centennial of Bartholdi's death, an exhibition about the building of the Statue of Liberty, placed in New York's harbor in October of 1886. Continuing until Sunday, 6. March. Open daily except Mondays and holidays, from 10:00 to 18:00, on Thursdays until 21:30. At the Musée des Arts et Métiers, 60. Rue Réaumur, Paris 3. Métro: Arts et Métiers. InfoTel.: 01 53 01 82 00.