Around Paris

FREE every day:

Paris City Museums

Musées de la Ville de Paris

In English: http://www.paris.fr/portail/english/Portal.lut?page_id=8229

The impressive and excellent permanent collections of the museums owned by the city of Paris can be seen for FREE on ANY DAY the museum is open (most are usually closed on Mondays and national holidays.) Note: special and temporary exhibits are NOT included in the free entry. Municipal museums in Paris also endeavor to make collections accessible by the handicapped.

The participating Paris City Museums with daily free entry to permanent collections are:

Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is the citys museum of modern art, and not to be missed. Its collection rivals that of the Pompidou Center. Here you will see Raoul Dufys gigantic La Fe Electricit, one of the biggest paintings in the world at 10 m x 60 m (about 33 ft. x 197 ft.) The museum also has an inexpensive coffee shop with a wonderful, large terrace off the street which anyone can visit without paying entry to the museum. www.mam.paris.fr

Musée Carnavalet has over 100 rooms devoted to the rich and varied history of Paris. www.carnavalet.paris.fr

Musée Cognacq-Jay - This collection of 18th century French art and objects was amassed in the early 1900s by the founder of the Samaritaine department stores. www.cognacq-jay.paris.fr

Musée de la Vie Romantique - artifacts from the era of the Romantics of the 19th century are shown in the quaint house of painter Ary Sheffer, whose frequent visitors included Chopin and novelist George Sand. Sheffer's ateliers house the temporary art exhibits. There is a tiny tea shop with tables in a lovely little garden off the street. www.vie-romantique.paris.fr

Musée Bourdelle - Sculptor Antoine Bourdelle was a student of Rodin. The permanent collection is huge, and the atelier and gardens are fascinating and charming. www.bourdelle.paris.fr

Musée Zadkine - This is the atelier and garden in Montparnasse where Russian sculptor Ossip Zadkine worked and lived for nearly 40 years. www.zadkine.paris.fr

La Maison de Balzac was the house of Honore Balzac and contains his personal momentos and literary artifacts. www.balzac.paris.fr

Memorial du Marchal Leclerc de Hauteclocque et de la librationde Paris/ Muse Jean Moulin is the museum of the WW2 French resistance and a memorial to its leaders. The building is located in the park constructed on top of the Montparnasse train station. Avoid visiting after dark, when the park is difficult to navigate; exits are poorly marked and there are several floor levels which are hard to see. www.ml-leclerc-moulin.paris.fr

La maison de Victor Hugo is on the famous place des Vosges.
www.musee-hugo.paris.fr

Le Petit Palais - The citys fine art collection is in a gorgeous building which hides a great caf on an inner courtyard. www.petitpalais.paris.fr

Musée Cernuschi - This collection of asian arts is located adjacent to the lovely Monceau Park. www.cernuschi.paris.fr

EXCEPTIONS: The following Paris Municipal Museums and heritage sites do NOT have free entry:

Locations such as the Catacombes, and the Crypte of Notre-Dame

Museums and locations which are used only for temporary exhibits, such as the Pavillon des Arts and the fashion museum Galliera.

http://www.paris.fr/portail/Culture/Portal.lut?page_id=4693

In English: http://www.paris.fr/portail/english/Portal.lut?page_id=8229

Films

Jane's Speedy Guide to the Movies

My latest film reviews are now found on my Pinterest  page.

Film reviews from 2011 and earlier are found here.

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Paris Resources

Health and Well-Being

Alison Benney generously gives tons of information about keeping fit in Paris on her comprehensive website in English, Paris Fitness.  Read Alison's blog on Paris culture.

Paris Therapy Services website lists 30+ English-speaking therapists and counselors by arrondissement and speciality. 

SOS Help is the telephone listening hotline in English in Paris.        Anonymous, confidential and FREE. There's a trained listener available between 3pm and 11pm every day. Telephone 01 46 21 46 46

Recommended Resources in FRENCH

The world-famous Silva Method (also known as Silva Mind Control) is presented regularly in Paris (in French) by Lee Pascoe.
Full information on the website: www.lamethodesilva.com
You can also read about Lee's classes on her website and blog:
www.leepascoe.com

Children and Parenting

MESSAGE is an English-language non-profit organization in Paris for parents of all nationalities. It is full of support, resources and connections for parents, particularly young mothers. I recommend MESSAGE frequently to my clients and they have found all kinds of benefits, including friends for themselves and their children.
http://www.messageparis.org/

British boarding school and summer camps:
Choose the best one with the help of an expert in Paris

Olivia Bédier is English, married to a Frenchman and a long-time resident of Paris, is an expert in British boarding schools and summer camps, having guided her four teenage children through the English system after they attended French grade schools. Now Olivia helps you find the right school or camp in the UK for your child.
School Britannia:
http://schoolbritannia.fr/?lang=en

College in the US and UK:                                         How to get into the best school

Caroline Bouffard is the founder of A+ College Coaching, and is an expert and coach to families in France on how to apply to and get accepted by colleges and universities in the United States and United Kingdom. Save yourself time and tears by letting Caroline guide you every step of the way to finding the best schools and submitting a successful application. Visit:  www.college-coaching.com

Creativity and Culture

Words Alive O holds theatre classes and workshops in English, shares information about anglophone cultural events in Paris and beyond, and organizes evenings to see performances in English. Visit the website to discover the many latest offerings:  www.wordsaliveo.com 

Recommended workshops held en français:

Stage Photo pour maîtriser les réglages des appareils Photos Numériques. Stages individuels ou en petits groups comprennent en alternance des "cours théoriques en studio" et des "cours pratiques sur des sites" dans les Landes, les Pyrénées Atlantiques, ou bien à Oloron Sainte Marie. Formateur: Alain Nunez passionné et diplomé Cinéma et Photo. http://www.stage-photo-piemont-pyreneen.com/  

Le sumi-é ou aquarelle japonaise, est un art pictural d'origine chinoise et introduit au Japon au XVIème siècle. Le sumi-e est pratiqué avec un seul pinceau et une seule couleur sur du papier du riz. Myriam Jeanne, diplomée en arts graphiques, étude du sumi-é en Corée du Sud et au Japon, donne des stages d'initiation à sumi-é dans son atelier dans les Pyrénées Atlantiques. www.stage-sumi-e-pyrenees.com/

Paris Insiders

French Property Consultation – Find your dream home in Paris or in the French countryside with the help of The Adrian Leeds Group who will save you a ton of time and hassle.  Adrian and her team of property professionals will guide you through the entire process with ease and peace of mind. http://www.frenchpropertyconsultation.com/

Full disclosure:  Although I receive a commission on referrals to Adrian’s property consultation services, I only affiliate myself with people and products I know and believe in. I’ve known Adrian for years and she is very savvy, a true professional and sharp as a tack.  Highly recommended!

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52 Martinis

Forest Collins blogs 52 Martinis, all about the best cocktails in Paris. She is by far the leading English-speaking cocktail authority in town.

52 Martinis
http://www.52martinis.com/
 

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Literary Paris

Author and doctoral candidate Jennifer K. Dick publishes monthly literary and cultural listings at http://parisreadingsmonthlylisting.blogspot.com/

Read Jen's blog at http://jenniferkdick.blogspot.com/

Paris for Seniors

A guide to getting around Paris
for English-speaking senior citizen
residents and visitors can be found on
the great new website "Paris for Seniors"
created by Genevieve Spicer.
www.parisforseniors.com

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The Parler Paris website’s calendar lists lots of up-to-date English-speaking events.  
http://www.parlerparis.com/calendar.html

Beyond Paris

UK

Healer, author, celebrant

Allegra Taylor is a best-selling author, holistic healer and gifted celebrant. She teaches creative writing at workshops in the UK and around the world. Allegra was my co-facilitator at Skyros in 2006 and she is a gorgeous person, inside and out. Visit  web.mac.com/brightfeathers/Site/Home.html

Classified Ads in English

FUSAC  — English-speaking resources and classified ads www.fusac.fr

PARIS VOICE — the webzine for English-speaking Parisians www.parisvoice.com

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 The seasons in Paris

Springtime in Paris

Cherry trees blossom in mid-April

Pink cherry trees,

Parc de Sceaux

photo by Jane Grey



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosariums in Paris

 



Parc de Bagatelle

The rosarium is pictured at left and below.

Bois de Boulogne,
Sèvres-to-Neuilly road

Paris 16e

4 euros entry
Metro/Bus: Porte Maillot + Bus 244
or Pont de Neuilly + Bus 43

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely rosariums can also be found in the following

gardens:

Jardin de Plantes

Jardin Albert Kahn

Jardin du Musée Rodin



The Plums of France

 

The pleasures of late summer

 

Did you know that France grows 17 varieties of plums?

 

Now I can't remember where I read this factoid but come late summer, plums of all colors, called prunes, in French dominate the produce stands and pies in France.

 

Here's the short guide:

 

The Quetsche, right, is the classic dark blueish-purple plum, for eating out of hand.

 

The Reine Claude, below left, is a small, sweet green plum,

excellent for pies and jams.

Reine Claudes are called greengage plums in English.

 

 

The Mirabelle, right, is a tiny, sweet golden plum

which makes delicious jam and is also wonderful and pretty in fruit salads.

 

The small, round, sweet Prune Rouge, below, is what we could call a Sugar Plum.

 

It is divine in a fruit salad, and makes beautiful jam.

 

By the way, both plums and prunes (pruneaux in French) can be laxative.

Try peeling plums to help reduce this effect :-)

Autumn

 

There is a harmony in autumn, and a lustre in its sky,

Which through the summer is not heard or seen,

As if it could not be, as if it had not been!

– Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

 

 

SOS Help's Annual Used Book Sales in Paris

are the main fundraising event for the SOS Help

charity.

http://www.soshelpline.org/



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of Luxembourg Gardens by Jane Grey

 

 

 

 

 



  

Christmastime in Paris

Five ways to see the Christmas lights

on the Champs Elysées
Tree lights go on at 5pm every day.


1. Bus N 73
Duration: 5-20 minutes depending on traffic.
Cost: 1.70 euros
A full bus trip includes thrilling rides around the
Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde.
The 73 runs Monday through Saturday until about 9pm, between La Garenne Colombes and
Neuilly to the Musee dOrsay.

For a map of the 73 bus line, go to
http://www.ratp.info/orienter/bus.php

2. On foot
Estimated duration, not including pit stops,

window shopping and rubbernecking:
20-30 minutes
Cost: FREE

The Galeries Lafayette department store

puts on a spectacular Christmas light display.

It is located on boulevard Hausseman,

Metro Hausseman-St.Lazare or

Chaussee d'Antin La Fayette

3. The Ferris Wheel on the Place de la Concorde

La Grande Roue
Through January 20
Metro: Concorde
Duration, not including the wait in line:
according to reports the ride lasts
3 to 4 full turns around the wheel,
depending on the mood of the operator.
I would plan on about 10-15 minutes.
Cost: 10 euros / 5 euros for children under 10

4. From the top of the Arc de Triomphe

Duration: 45-60 minutes including the climb
up the 234 steps (approximately 10 flights.)
Open til 10:30pm. Arrive by 9:45pm.

Closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day.
Metro: Etoile
Cost: 9 euros

5. From a café or restaurant on the avenue

The big Italian chain restaurants

offer moderately-priced, decent meals,

a lot more than just pizza,

and have tables upstairs next to big windows

with views of the lights.

Pizza Pino
33 avenue des Champs-Elyses
Tel. 01 40 74 01 12
Metro FDR

Pizza Vesuvio
144 avenue des Champs-Elyses
Tel. 01 43 59 68 69
Metro Etoile or Georges V

Bistro Romain
122 avenue des Champs-Elysées
Metro Georges V

Cheapest café with the best view:
McCafé at the McDonalds,
140 avenue des Champs-Elyses.
Metro Etoile or Georges V.
There's a counter upstairs along a plate glass window

for a front row seat overlooking the lights.

Classy expensive café:

Fouquet's, on the corner of the Champs and avenue Georges V,

Metro Georges V, has big windows which let you see the lights

from the front terrace. Only dinner is served there from 7pm.

Trendiest craft café:

The Nespresso cafe bar at 119, av. des Champs Elysees,

Metro Etoile. Open til 10pm. A gourmet coffee with a square

of chocolate is 4.50 euros.



Winter in Paris

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuileries Garden in Winter

photo by Jane Grey

 



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