Going Out
Special events Find restaurants Paris by night How to find what's on in Paris
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Time to Write to the North Pole – Père Noël (Father Christmas) is Back in Business
Don't complain about a full email inbox. Last year, Père Noël (Santa Claus) received around 91,000 emails once the season opened. And it is that time again. Madame and Père Noël's post office opened November 9. This year, you can email or send a colourful paper letter. Get out the crayons and colourful ideas. The secretariat is part of la Poste France. The elves are working in Libourne in the Gironde region. According a LaDepche.fr, 1.2 million children from over 140 countries wrote paper wish letters addressed to Père Noël".
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Champs Elysées Christmas Market No More
Two events will effect somebody this latter part of 2017. Planning on the Champs-Elysées Christmas market? Stuck in traffic? It's like a soap opera or a custody fight in a divorce. Whose side will you be on? Every year Christmas markets attract 30 million people visitors in France. Fifteen million of those visit one or more of the 250 chalets along the Champs-Elysées for the Paris Christmas market. If you are stuck in traffic this week, the carnival operators are conducting an "escargot" (snail) slowing down and blocking traffic with their semi trucks on the expressways. They want to set up their chalets on the Champs-Elysées.
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Art de la Table and On the Wall at M&O
A chance Estonian Internet encounter in table arts gave me an idea: Visit a professional trade show for the first time. Arro Keraamika arranged a pass for me and off to the exhibition halls in Paris Nord Villepinte I went. Originally my quest was to find all the products Made in France. In eight giant halls that was a bit too overwhelming a task! I changed my focus to tableware that you keep on your wall as art, use it for dining, put it in the dishwasher and then back up on the wall.
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Foire de Paris Finding Tickets
The Foire de Paris (parts of website available in English) always has something new to discover. To enjoy a day’s activity, especially if it’s a cloudy day, plan on at least 4 1/2 hours of walking, escalator and people mover riding, eating, drinking and gawking. Be tempted to try a product or the food. Be careful though; you could be sucked right in and buy something you might not need so make sure it’s not too expensive in the first place: At the Foire, it’s a “you buy it, you own it, no return” policy. (Foire de Paris 2017) How do you get in expensively for all this fun? Planning ahead Planning ahead…
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Foire de Paris 2017-Successful Treasure Hunt
Each year it seems I have a list of items to look for at the Foire de Paris (Paris Home Show) until May 8. This year was no different. I list of treasures to hunt for. Every year nine out of ten of the 500,000 visitors buys something from one of the 1,700 stands. One third of the visitors have a home improvement project in mind when they walk through the entry gates. This year my list included: A new shopping basket because my handles pulled away from the threads. Found it in the Madagascar
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Something Different for Christmas in Paris
Looking for something out of the ordinary as you prepare for Christmas in Paris? A reader asked me this question, so here are a couple of ideas: the Swedish Church (Svenska Kyrkan), Affären (the Swedish shop and café) and the AAWE bazaar: Sankta Lucia (Sainte Lucie, Saint Lucia, Santa Lucia, etc.) is a choral presentation and procession filled with candlelight. In the procession, the church choir holds candles and sings; the Lucia wears a crown of candles her head. It is a tradition that I experienced when I lived in Stockholm and one that continues here in Paris. The Swedish Church (Svenska kyrkan) (église suedoise) holds this event every year…
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Children and Teens, Events and Trade Shows, Food, Drink & Health, Life in Paris & France, Museum exhibitions
Salon du Chocolat Junior is New Addition
On Sunday evening, the opportunity arose to visit the last opening hours of the Salon du Chocolat. The show continues through November 1 in Pavilion 5, Porte de Versailles and is a five-day event that began the 27th of November. My goal this year: See what is happening at the Salon du Chocolat Junior on the main level. For the first time in 2016, the Salon du Chocolat Junior, gives young chocophiles the chance to sign up for pastry classes, Choco-Tours of the salon wearing cooking toques, workshops, visit the beauty boutique with delicious chocolate treatments, enjoy cultural heritage and entertainment activities with African cocoa-producing countries and watch the production…
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Paris Cinema Festival from Lost in Frenchlation
This is a summer invitation for the event La Chaise et l’Écran cinema festival “cinéma dans nos rues” (on the Paris streets) from Manon at “Lost in Frenchlation“. Here’s hoping for a warm Friday, August 19, 12 Place Léon Blum, Paris 75011 (metro: Voltaire – line 9). Although walking distance from my apartment, my feet will be walking in Washington DC that night. Lost in Frenchlation screens current French films throughout the year. Here is your chance to enjoy French culture in the open air for free with seating provided; another opportunity to watch French films with English translations. Enjoy! “Bonjour ! Lost in Frenchlation is proud to be working together with La Mairie…
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French Theatre in Paris & English Surtitles
Have you ever wanted to go to the theatre in Paris, but thought it would be hard to understand? Understanding French is now secondary to enjoying the theatre. Theatre in Paris is "opening the doors to French theatre" with surtitles to enjoy some top-rated shows in iconic Parisian theatres. Read the surtitles from a balcony seat in a prime location, watch the actors simultaneously and then impress your friends with your experience. You have attended a potentially unknown Paris tourist attraction in French culture. Surtitles are above the stage on a screen barely visible or invisible to the audience below.