Paris in Early January
Christmas Markets at Disneyland
The Disneyland Resort Paris is now celebrating its 15th anniversary and with many special offers abounding, there is no better time to go than Christmas time. Disney Village is filled with twinkle lights, which emit a soft glow as visitors browse Christmas Market, filled with overflowing stalls and chalets.
The Disney Christmas Market is free, aside from what you purchase of course! Please see the Ile de France website or the Disneyland Paris website for more information on this fun festival event.
Correspondances: A Cinematic Event at the Pompidou
Based on eight short films, the Correspondances exhibit is a collection by lifelong friends Victor Erice and Abbas Kiarostami. The pair shares more than their passion for cinema, such as their shared birth date. This closeness shines through in their shorts about ordinary life.
Correspondances runs until January 7, 2008. Admission is 10EUR. Visit Pompidou’s website for more information.
Diaspora
During its season long African Autumn celebration, the Musee du Quai Branly is currently presenting the exhibition entitled Diaspora. Diaspora takes visitors on a trip through the country of Africa through staging by top cinematographers, choreographers and musicians.
The exhibition runs through January 6, 2008 with an admission cost of 8.50EUR. 18 and under can view for free. For more information, visit the Musee du Quai Branly website.
Die Frau Ohne Schatten
Opera national de Paris has re-released the colorful artist Robert Wilson’s 2002 rendition of Strauss and Hofmannthal’s Die Frau Ohne Schatten, which translates to The Woman Without Shadow. Featuring a fine cast of stars including Eva-Maria Westbrek, Jon Villars, Jane Henschel, Franz Hawlata and Christine Brewer, this new romantic interpretation is not to be missed!
Cost is anywhere from 5 – 130EUR and dates range from January through February. Please see the Opera Bastille website for more information.
Fete des Rois
Although we don’t normally promote after holiday cake binges, France’s Festival of Kings is a worthwhile exception. The city of Paris celebrates the first Sunday after Epiphany with tasty little pastry’s known as King’s Cake. They start popping up in bakeries around the city after the Christmas holiday and continue to thrive through February.
These delightful confections cost about 10EUR and serve approximately 5 adults. Please see the Ile de France website for more information on where to find King’s Cake in Paris.
Jean-Jacques Henner’s collection
Romantic painter Jean-Jacques Henner’s collection of nearly 100 works, titled Le Dernier des Romantiques, is being showcased at the Musee de la Vie Romantique. This beloved French painter, who lived from 1829-1905, went to and worked for the Romantic School of Painting during his lifetime and it clearly shows in these fine works of art.
Henner’s collection shows through January 13, 2008 with the ticket price of 7EUR. Please see the Musee de la Vie Romantique website for more information.
Jean-Honore Fragonard
In order to celebrate the artist Jean-Honore Fragonard, fifty years after his death, the Musee Jacquemart-Andre has gathered an extensive collection of nearly 100 works, some of which are showing their faces in public for the very first time. Titled Les Plaisirs d’un Siecle, the exhibition showcases the 19th century artists best works, the same ones that regard him as one of the best painters of his time.
The beautiful exhibition runs through January 13, 2008 and costs 9.50EUR per ticket. Please see the Musee Jacquemart-Andre website for more information.
Les Sapins de Noel des Createurs
Each year top notch designers create their own Christmas tree, which are put on display and then auctioned off for charity. The annual event is being held this year in the Ministry of Culture and is donating to SIDA, a charity that helps youth affected by the AIDS virus. Participants this year include Jean-Paul Gaultier, Christian Lacroix, Sonia Rykiel and Paul Smith among others.
For more information on this charitable event, which is being showcased through January 2, 2008, log onto to Paris Mode TV website or SIDA website.
Odilon Redon
The Musee d’Orsay in Paris is currently holding an exhibition of the eerie yet captivating drawings, engravings and most notable, charcoals, from artist Odilon Redon. The artist’s son has also donated some rare pieces from the late 19th century.
The exhibit runs from now through January 6, 2008. Tickets are 7.50EUR and under 18s are free. More information is available at the Musee d’Orsay website.
Paris Dog Show
Paris is known for their infinite love for man’s best friend. Le Bourget’s Expo helps to further that love with the annual Paris Dog Show. Dogs from around France come to compete here. This year’s dates run from January 5-6 and the cost is 8EUR; 12 and unders are free.
For more information on this cuddly event, please see the Paris Canine Society website.
Picasso Cubiste
Although Paris’ Musee National Picasso is full of the artist’s works, its new exhibit, Picasso Cubiste, strives to take a look at some of the early works when the artist first delved into this new style of art. The room also holds some of the most excellent examples of Cubism that Picasso ever brushed onto canvas.
The exhibit runs through January 7, 2008 and has an admission fee of 7.70EUR. Please see the Musee National Picasso for further information on this fine exhibition.
Taoub
Taoub means “fabric” in Moroccan and fabric there is at the Parc de la Villette for the circus group Le Groupe Acrobatique de Tanger’s show Taoub. The enter venue is swathed in striking, exotic threads, which are the comely back drop to this spirited circus show.
The show runs through January 6, 2008 and costs 18EUR. Please see the Parc de la Villette’s website for more information on this lively Moroccan circus production.
The Big Wheel
Each year Paris sets up a big, beautiful feris wheel were children come during the day to squeal with delight at the sweeping views of Place de la Concorde and lovers come at night to kiss and cuddle under the stars during a romantic spin on the Big Wheel.
One ride costs 8EUR and the Big Wheel will stand in Place de la Concorde through January 20, 2008. You can visit France’s tourist website, Ile de France, for more information.
The Louvre Presents Dessins Francois
As always, the Louvre strives to keep the culture of France alive and the collection Dessins Francois does no less. This collection of 60 some pieces are being held in the Hessisches Landesmuseum houses in the Louvre. As if the Hessiches house did not already hold many of the best French works from the 16th through the 18th centuries, it has clearly added onto the exquisiteness of its exhibitions with these new works, which are French works that belong to private collections outside of France. Some of the fine artists presented here are Poussin, Watteau and Callot to name a few.
Dessins Francois is at the Louvre until January 14, 2008. Admission is 9EUR and more information can be found on the Louvre Museum website in regards to this exhibition.
Vers le Reportage
The Musee d’Orsay is currently housing a collection of photographs entitled Vers le Reportage. The museum strives to examine the origins of photo journalism from the years 1843-1933. Although it was not planned this way, the photos also document poverty during the 1800s via captured moments such as Napoleon III’s bespoke photos of families caught in the Rhone floods.
The interesting Vers la Reportage runs through January 6, 2008 at the museum and costs 7.50EUR to get in. For more information on hours and concession, please see the Musee d’Orsay website.
