Exhibitions
Le hall de la Chanson pays tribute to Edith Piaf
December 19th next, Edith Piaf would have turned 100 years old. To celebrate this anniversary, Le hall de la Chanson thought up the Festival Piaf (Piaf Festival): musical shows staged on her repertoire.
Instead of coming back to the most famous songs, this event is about the love and the prostitute’s image. This is thus a modern vision of the artist’s songs which is here proposed, far away from the traditional homages which are usually dedicated to her. The show is divided in four presentation forms: sight singing with “Putains de chansons!”, blues with “Inédite Piaf”, two “Cafés-Conservatoires” with young artists from national superior conservatories, and the “Cabaret d’Amour”. Performed by Laura Clauzel at singing and Yuta Masuda at piano, the latter explores the less well-known love songs of the “Môme Piaf”, in an original and burlesque theatrical genre.
Festival Piaf (Piaf Festival), from November 7th to December 20th 2015.
Full rate: from €10 the seat.
Le hall de la Chanson
211, avenue Jean Jaurès
75019 Paris
Tél. : +33 (0)1 53 72 43 00
Metro: Porte de Pantin (line 5).
www.lehall.com (in French)
Crédit photo : Festival Piaf – Hall de la Chanson – © Nicolas Grandi
Karl Lagerfeld at the Pinacothèque de Paris
For its new exhibition, the Pinacothèque de Paris hosts the photographic work of Karl Lagerfeld.
“A Visual Journey” takes an interest in the fashion designer’s many areas of interest, from architecture to landscapes, from fashion photography to portraits and self-portraits, not forgetting Paris by night. We also discover that abstraction is a recurrent topic of his work, as the graphic arts characterise a large number of his shots. Through this retrospective, the public is invited to discover numerous photographic techniques used by the artist: digital prints, screen prints, polaroïd transfers, Fresson prints, platinotypes, resinotypes and daguerreotypes. Indeed, he adapts his photographic style to his subject, as he likes to explain: “I don’t have one style, but several, or none. You mustn’t stay motionless, neither in life, nor in fashion or photography.” This event at once enables to know more about photography, but also about Karl Lagerfeld’s personality.
“Karl Lagerfel, A Visual Journey” exhibition, from October 16th to March 20th 2016.
Open daily from 10:30am to 6:30pm.
Nocturnal every Wednesday and Friday until 8:30.
On December 25th 2015 and January 1st 2016, from 2pm to 6:30pm.
Full rate: €13 / Concession: €11.
Pinacothèque de Paris
28, place de la Madeleine
75008 Paris
Tél. : +33 (0)1 42 68 02 01
Metro: Madeleine (lines 8, 12 and 14).
www.pinacotheque.com Crédit photo : Karl Lagerfeld – Pinacothèque de Paris – © 2015 Karl Lagerfeld
Louis XIV: the death of the king on display at Versailles
For the first time in France, the Château de Versailles devotes an exhibition to the funeral of the Sun King, on the occasion of his death’s tricentennial.
It is on September 1st 1715 that Louis XIV passed away in Versailles. This retrospective, whose scenography has been entrusted to opera producer Pier Luigi Pizzi, highlights the funeral rites from the Revolution to the contemporary era. Many masterpieces and historical documents are here presented: medals, gravestones, ornaments, furniture of funeral liturgy, ceremonial portraits etc. Divided in nine sections, the exhibition also enlightens us about the importance of a king’s death, whose role is primordial in the construction of the monarchy. Indeed, the king both represents the Man and the institution. “The King is dead!” can be visited in the Africa rooms in the north aisle of the building.
“The King is dead!” exhibition, from October 26th 2015 to February 21th 2016.
Open Tuesday-Sunday, from 9am to 6:30 pm.
Full rate: €15 / Concession: €13.
Château de Versailles
Place d’Armes
78000 Versailles
Tél. : +33 (0)1 30 83 78 00
Access: Versailles Château Rive Gauche (RER C) or Versailles – Rive Droite (line L).
www.chateauversailles.fr
Crédit photo : The King is dead – Château de Versailles – The king is dead! - ©SDP
Best places
La méduse: the gourmet bistro of the Canal Saint-Martin
Nestled just nearby the Canal Saint-Martin, La méduse is a new Parisian spot which serves as a bistro, cocktail and wine bar.
We appreciate its warm decoration with its large counter; its wooden seats brighten up with pretty patterns cushions a little ethnic. The restaurant has several windows which offer a great view on the street. La méduse has been opened by several friends, from the Mary Celeste and O Divin, who propose “things to eat” full of originality. In this way, while sipping one of the varieties of the suggested Japanese whisky, you can savour a grilled octopus tentacle, a marinated raw skipjack tuna, or a fillet of duck breast and its swede mousseline. This place should be trying with friends, before a stroll in this picturesque district of Paris. Not insignificant bonus: the low prices of La méduse, to treat yourself without feeling guilty!
Open Monday-Sunday from 12pm to 4pm and from 6pm to 1am.
Lunch: €18 and €22.
La méduse
177, quai de Valmy
75010 Paris
Metro: Louis Blanc (lines 7 and 7bis).
www.lameduseparis.com
Crédit photo : La méduse – Bistro and bar – © Douglas Bergossi
Uptown restaurant: this winter’s hotspot
Uptown is the story of three friends who have decided to reawaken the north of the 18th, a district quite residential.
Their new concept consists in sharing dishes, far away from the traditional Parisians bistros. In the kitchen, Chef Fabrizio Guerrini makes these dishes with a presentation worthy of the greatest Michelin-starred tables, but at low prices. The menu changes each month according to the seasonal products and the cook’s wishes, and proposes about ten plates. In December, you will thus savour the soy-marinated beef and its burnt aubergine caviar, foie gras low cooked served with black olives and herbs, or a crunchy bass with hazelnuts and a fresh herbs mix. Concerning the decoration, the three partners wanted a raw and simple place, which invites to meet up with friends to have a good evening. As a bonus, Uptown is renowned for its cocktails and imported wines, from California or South Africa. This place definitely gets everything right.
Open Monday-Friday from 7pm to 1am, and on Saturday and on Sunday from 11:30am to 1am.
Brunch on Sunday from 11:30am to 6pm, €30.
Uptown
18, rue Francoeur
75018 Paris
Tél. : +33 (0)1 84 05 62 79
Metro: Jules Joffrin and Lamarck-Caulaincourt (line 12).
www.uptownresto.com (in French) Crédit photo : Uptown - Restaurant – © DR
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