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Blue Velvet Christmas in Paris
Three Paris monuments are wearing Blue Velvet this year. La Ville de Paris theme this year is “Paris Scintille” (Paris sparkles). Until January 3, Paris sparkles with white drops of light dripping down the façade of the Hôtel de Ville (City hall) and the Luxor Obelisk on Place de la Concorde. The Bastille Colonne de Juillet (July column) has no white drops but was my first dramatic glimpse of the blue velvet. What You Will See The Hôtel de Ville plaza is an illuminated, enchanted, fairy-tale forest with two free merry-go-rounds, including a double-decker. There are wood chalet kiosks with various treats. One kiosk is selling spiced wine, pretzels, waffles,…
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Paris Begins Another Fresh Air Tradition
Currently, Paris closes particular neighborhood streets on Sundays. The Paris City Council has now added a famous avenue to the list. Below you will find links to maps of those neighborhoods, information on new neighborhoods being added this summer and details about the Champs-Elysées. The exclusive Avenue des Champs-Elysées receives a breath of fresh air when certain dignitaries visit or during a special event. Beginning May 8.....
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Paris Scenes – A Rainy November Night
A week after the Paris attacks I went out to see if anyone else was out. Along the Champs-Elysées the cars were moving along as usual, the Ferris wheel was turning. They switched on the lights along the avenue a day later than planned. Not many wandered the the Village de Noël Christmas market lanes and sidewalks. Walking toward the Seine, Dior along the Avenue Montaigne had the most spectacular decoration among illuminated trees. Catching the bus from Alma-Marceau to Trocadéro, the Eiffel Tower ...
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Puppets And Marionettes In Paris
Children may not understand French, but visual art is multi-lingual. Below is a list of ideas for Marionnettes, Guignols, Theatre, Magic and Circus. Some theaters close for the winter. For additional information on these entertainment venues, buy either of two weekly, small-format magazines at any newsstand: l’Officiel des spectacles or Pariscope. I recommend th l’Officiel (website). Pariscope is available on Twitter @Pariscope. Under the heading “pour les jeunes” in l’Officiel des spectacles, the categories are: -classic plays -other spectacles (theatre) -talks and workshops -marionnettes/guignols -circus -zoos/aquariums -theme parks Use Google Translate for translations into English of the following Web sites. The Paris mayor’s office has a few guignol/marionette/puppet shows listed…
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Champs-Elysées Lights Up
The plans for the actress Melanié Laurent to light up the Champs-Elysées at 6 p.m., November 22, 2010, was on “French Time”. They threw the switch at 6:20 p.m. After rushing out of the metro stop, Clemenceau, thinking that I had missed it all, in a blink of an eye, the dark trees began dripping their energy-efficient drops of light through the leaves. The lights cost about one million euros and are financed by the merchants, commercial sponsors and the city of Paris. The city, having its own financial difficulties, reduced its share this year. The Holiday lights on the Champs-Elysées are lighting the 2.2 kilometer avenue and 415 trees.…
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Champs-Elysées-One Big Garden
The Champs-Elysées will be transformed into one big garden on May 23 and 24, 2010 for an event called Nature Capitale. It is to celebrate World Biodiversity year (2010) and World Biodiversity Day (May 22). Nature Capitale is “a jubilatory creation, a sensitive and popular artwork…” – Gad Weil, street artist (Créateur d’art de rue) Watch the video (adjust settings to 480p) on YouTube during the set up and activities May 22, 23 and 24. The photo is from the hydraulic lift looking toward the Arc de Triomphe. The Jeunes Agriculteurs (Young Farmers Association) and the inter-professional organization France Bois Foret will do the “planting”. With the aid of contributions…
