Cool Paris
THINGS TO DO IN THE CITY OF LIGHT
- Nuit du Feu at Palais de Tokyo Saterday 29th
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- 26
- Jan
- 2011
I read this at Vingtparis and wish I would be in Paris next Saterday, I’ll tell my friends.
Text: Jennifer Choi
Images: Olivier RobertIn Paris, whether you want to be fed, watered, culturally educated, entertained, or even simply sound asleep, there is almost always a trade off.
Great shows are pricey, decent yet affordable hotels are 20 minutes walk from the metro and just outside the Périphérique, restaurants where you can eat well without a second mortgage are booked up ’til next year and closed during weekends, and anything convenient is a tourist trap. It’s a common rant, and if it’s getting a little tiresome, it’s because it’s very often true.
But not always. This Saturday, there is an open invite to a night of fire breathing at the basin of Le Palais de Tokyo. It’s the 7th anniversary of the first Saturday gathering organised by the Burn Crew Concept, back in 2004. Performers will ribbon dance, juggle flames and create fireworks amongst other pyrotechnic hijinks from 21h. Magical? You bet. And amazingly – the cost? Gratuit.
What’s more, for this somewhat underground hobby that is mixing up and playing with heady chemicals, the organisers are very straight-laced when it comes to being good neighbours. Volunteers are recruited to clean up after every event and courtesy notices, dotted around forums and featuring alongside the event announcements, are never an after-thought. It might not be rock and roll, but it’s what makes the Nights of Fire possible, Saturday after Saturday, year after year. Vive le feu! - Sales for fashionistas until 15th of February
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- 25
- Jan
- 2011
In Paris, creativity is a way of life, reinvented every day. The city is the capital of style and fashion in every form – timeless, fleeting or current. Betrand Delanoë, Mayor of Paris.
Fashionistas from all over the world are expected on the 5th edition of the Big Wintersales. What’s your style ? Sélects, Trendys, Créatifs, Bobos Chic or Ethic etnic.
The Paris Shopping Book 2011 does select adresses of little boutiques, cultural places and tips for “tasty” places. Where should we start ? For this event they do suggest 7 fantastic shoppingwalks. You can pick up The Paris shopping Book 2011 at the info places all over the city or in the shops. They made an iPhone application that you can download for free in the Apple Store. Have a look at the website : www.shoppingbyparis.com
- Paris’ Alternative Nightlife II
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- 22
- Jan
- 2011
Text: Rooksana Hossenally for Vingt Paris
Needless to say that Paris doesn’t quite have a bustling nightlife to rival London or New York, but it does have its fair share of quirky and traditional bars, restaurants and cabarets, as well as a number of alternative arty music events in venues all over the city. Popular with the capital’s ‘in’ crowd, venues like La Bellevilloise and La Maroquinerie in the 20th, Point Ephémère in the 10th, Glaz’Art in the 19th and Mains d’Oeuvres at Porte de Saint-Ouen are experiencing a rise in popularity, and it’s not hard to see why. The events held at these venues often combine art and music in quirky unusual spaces that have quickly become the place to be seen, especially for those of you dying to be part of the Paris Boho scene!
Neighbour to La Bellevilloise, La Maroquinerie is a quaint, charismatic and intimate bar/restaurant that also works as an exhibition space, and a 500 capacity concert hall. The small garden that links the two spaces is lit up with lanterns and furnished with picnic tables in the summer, which makes for a popular haven before going to see a gig either downstairs in the venue or next door at La Bellevilloise. Opened in 1997, La Maroquinerie, which literally translates as ‘leather goods maker’ in English, is renowned for its eclectic range of concerts and music festivals. A top-notch, lively and very laid-back venue, La Maroquinerie is one of our favourites, but do get there early as the restaurant and concert hall work on a first-come, first-served basis.
La Maroquinerie, 23, Rue Boyer, 75020 Paris, tel. 01 40 33 35 05, M° Père Lachaise
- Paris’ Alternative Nightlife
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- 18
- Jan
- 2011
Text: Rooksana Hossenally for Vingt Paris
Needless to say that Paris doesn’t quite have a bustling nightlife to rival London or New York, but it does have its fair share of quirky and traditional bars, restaurants and cabarets, as well as a number of alternative arty music events in venues all over the city. Popular with the capital’s ‘in’ crowd, venues like La Bellevilloise and La Maroquinerie in the 20th, Point Ephémère in the 10th, Glaz’Art in the 19th and Mains d’Oeuvres at Porte de Saint-Ouen are experiencing a rise in popularity, and it’s not hard to see why. The events held at these venues often combine art and music in quirky unusual spaces that have quickly become the place to be seen, especially for those of you dying to be part of the Paris Boho scene!
La Bellevilloise boasts a 2000m2 surface area divided up into five different spaces: the Loft and Forum, used for art exhibitions; La Halle aux Oliviers (The Olive Tree Hall), the venue’s restaurant, where art is also displayed and where concerts are held; the Club, which welcomes a range of bands from both ends of the spectrum and anywhere in between; and the Screening Room, where films and video installations are projected. You could easily see anything from a Jazz sound system to a band of musicians dressed like Canadian gypsies banging out Irish folk music.
Not only is the Bellevilloise always hosting unusual events and concerts by bands you have never heard of and will probably never hear of again, but the venue itself is a landmark to the spirit of freedom and creativity. Founded in 1877, the Bellevilloise was Paris’ first ever cooperative, with the aim of rendering politics and culture available to people with smaller means. Indeed back then it was known as ‘The house of the people’. The venue was set to become an “independent, artistic and festive space”. The Bellevilloise was reopened as we know it today in 2005 by three culture enthusiasts. Today, it is one of the most versatile and innovative places in the city, with a vibrant yet unpretentious atmosphere.
La Bellevilloise, 19, rue Boyer, 75020 Paris,tel.01 53 27 35 77, M° Père Lachaise