“Now They Call Us “”The Frenchies”””

It’s the strangest thing…I hear everyone speaking English around me
and I think I’m in a foreign country. When I leave a shop, I’m still
saying “Merci, au revoir.”

Culture shock continues as I trek through my own homeland discovering
what an alien I have become after living in France for so many years.

In Central Park during a gloriously beautiful Sunday, I was the only
one dressed for “Sunday Dinner.” The rest of New York as in shorts and T-shirts. In my mind, I compared their casual and comfortable appearance with French families enjoying their Sunday afternoons in the manicured Paris parks, dressed in their “city clothes”…women in tight short skirts and little heels, men in dark slacks (in even the warmest of seasons) and daughters in smocked dresses. Clearly, I was the odd woman out.

On our car trip out to Long Island, we stopped at a Kinko’s to make copies and print something from a diskette. It was self-service…computers, printers and fax machines everywhere — many of which weren’t working very well, and a little machine next to each that eats your credit card, charges you a large amount of money for each copy, then spits it out with a digital thank you. I couldn’t help but think of friendly Edouard at the Copy Store on rue de Bretagne who helps me manage every copy I make.

The dollar isn’t stretching as long as one might think, coming from the land of the strong Euro. In fact, sales tax and service tips add up and get expensive very quickly. Room rates and meals compared to Paris are about equal in value. In fact, if you compare a vacation in Paris to one in New York (and especially London), you’d find Paris to be a big bargain.

Last night at dinner at The Country House of Stonybrook (Long Island), a very posh and lovely continental restaurant, the waiter told us his name, that he’d be our waiter for the evening. I wondered if I had ever learned the name of a waiter in France. Then, after giving my meal order, I ordered a glass of Cabernet. He asked if I wanted it with dinner. Mais oui! Long after the entrée came (first course American), he still hadn’t brought the glass of wine…”Oh, I thought you wanted it with ‘dinner.'” I asked, “Isn’t this dinner?” He was a young, pleasant and good looking man and I was sure that waiting tables would not be his ultimate profession.

Old friends run a B and B in Stonybrook on the North Shore of Long
Island in a huge old white wood house on a hill (The Bayles Estate Bed
and Breakfast — http://www.baylesestate.com). Built more than a
century ago by D. T. Bayles, one of Long Island’s premier
shipbuilders, it has several lovely gardens surrounding the main house
and a great barn. There are six beautifully decorated bedrooms open to guests…it’s Americana at its finest. They have guests who come from all over the world…particularly every spring (as they fondly call them) “the
Italians.”

Guess they’ll be calling us “the Frenchies” now that we make a more
regular appearance, too.

As we tour slowly and caressingly down the north shore of Long Island, admiring the beautiful old cottages, homes and estates made of wood slats painted white or shades of pastels, shuttered windows in contrasting colors, their garden azaleas in full bloom, the old trees thick with fresh foliage, I am reminded of the pristine French countryside and how similar the two are, too. The architecture isn’t the same, but the attentiveness to tending their towns with loving care is the same.

A la prochaine…

Adrian Leeds
Editor, Parler Paris
E-mail: [email protected]

P.S. As I’m writing, I’m overlooking the Long Island Sound near Greenport (a particularly beautiful and sleepy colonial town), I’m also thinking about the best lemonade I’ve ever had in my life — fresh made in each glass much like a “citron pressé” — at the Hellenic Snack Bar and Restaurant in East Marion.

********************
Further resources:
********************

* Practice speaking French and English with people from all over the
world! Open all Summer long! (P.S. Parler Parlor is seeking data entry
work in exchange for free membership! — write
[email protected])
http://www.parlerparlor.com/

* Paris Confidential — our newest book for those who want to know the
real Paris.

* We’re meeting in Paris this June for three power-packed days to
learn how to make your dream come true!

********************

If you wish your community announcement to be listed in the Parler
Paris Previews, please provide the text in ENGLISH just as you’d like
it to appear and send it to [email protected]
We reserve the right to edit as necessary. Thank you, Adrian

********************
Strictly Entertainment
********************

LAUGHING MATTERS

* Simon Munnery
Hôtel du Nord
102 quai de Jemmapes, Paris 10th
6,

7 & 8 June 8-30 pm

Tickets 20 Euros (17 Euros students)
Pre-paid tickets 17 Euros
Send a check + stamped addressed envelope to
Beer Necessities
104 quai de Jemmapes
Paris 75010 (don’t send them to Hotel du Nord!)
check must be received at least one week before date of show….
students get a 2 Euro refund on the night upon presentation of their
student cards.

* Eddie Brill
Hôtel du Nord
4 & 5 July 8-30 pm
Tickets 20 Euros (17 Euros students)

New Yorker Eddie will be celebrating a highly personal day of
independence in Paris…. apart from being an acclaimed comedian in
America he is also very highly rated by almost every single comedian
in the English speaking world. The fact that he books comedians for
the David Letterman show in no way influences the opinion of his
peers.

Book all shows by calling 01.53.19.98.88 or by email
[email protected] or http://www.anythingmatters.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MOVING PARTS PLAYS IN ENGLISH

Carr’s Pub & Restaurant
1 rue du Mont Thabor, 75001 Paris
Métro: Tuileries
Sundays 7:30 p.m.

30th May Ken Mackenzie “Is there Free Will in Hell?”
13th June Tom O’Brien “Who Killed Dmitri?”
27th June Mary Bruton Sandifer “Hunting Season”
12th September Barratt Walton “Buddha’s Aunt”

For more information, contact Stephanie Campion at: 06 14 67 18 58

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* The Improfessionals at Les 7 Lézards
http://www.improfessionals.com

Thursday 27th of May, 19h30
Les 7 Lézards
10 rue des Rosiers
75004 PARIS – M° Saint Paul
01 48 87 08 97
Ticket prices: 10 euros and 8 euros (tarif réduit)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The International Players present in English

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By William Shakespeare

Directed by Graham Bushnell who has also directed “Twelfth Night” for
the Jardin de Shakespeare in Paris. The original music is composed by
John Dawkins, musical director and conductor of the Melo’men choir and
the Symphony Rainbow Orchestra.

The production will be part of the festivities to celebrate the 1300
years of the town of Le Pecq and also the centenary of the Entente
Cordiale.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream occupies a special place in the works of
Shakespeare: its contrasting worlds of dream and reality, its mixture
of high and low comedy and its lyric beauty give it a timeless appeal.
This production never loses sight of Shakespeare’s original intention:
to tell a good story and to entertain.

A teacher’s pack and the complete script of the play

Thursday 3rd June, Friday 4th June, and Saturday 5th June at 20h30
Sunday 6th June at 15h00

Salle des Fêtes
Quai Voltaire , 78230 LE PECQ
RER line A: Le Vésinet-Le Pecq

Online reservations:
http://www.internationalplayers.info
or phone: 06 76 27 11 07

15 euros (adults) 10 euros (students)
Reductions for groups: [email protected]

********************
Literarily Speaking
********************

The Minority Caucus of Democrats Abroad France presents a
Cocktail, Book Reading and Signing
with Jake Lamar

Jake will read from his novel Rendezvous Eighteenth
and discuss the political aspects of his writing

Tuesday, June 1st. 7:00 p.m.
At the home of Carol Polakoff
25 quai des Grands Augustins
75006, 5th floor left

Suggested donation – 10 euros.
Minimum donation (Students, Seniors, etc.) – 5 euros

To RSVP and get the code, email Zachary Miller
[email protected]

Jake Lamar is the author of the acclaimed memoir Bourgeois Blues and
four novels: The Last Integrationist, Close to the Bone, If Six Were
Nine (translated into French as Le Caméléon Noir) and his latest novel
Rendezvous Eighteenth.

Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, he graduated from Harvard
University and then spent six years writing for Time magazine. Ten
years ago he came to Paris intending to stay for a year; he now lives
here full-time with his wife.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK SIGNINGS AT “FOOD”

Rue Charlot at the facing rue du Forez, 3rd Arrondissement

Wednesday, May 26th, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Nicole Seeman and Raphaële Vidaling signing three first books of a new
collection from TANA Editions.

EXPOSITIONS at “FOOD”

Photos by Daniel Jouanneau for FRENCH VOGUE from the ’80s
Thursday, June 3, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Exhibition of “SEA,” photos by Tan Kadam, June 3 – 29, 2004

********************
Musical Interludes
********************

LAUGHING MATTERS CONCERTS

*Clive Gregson + Clare Muldaur
Sunday 30 May 8 pm
Hôtel du Nord
22 Euros
Pre-paid tickets 20e send a check + stamped addressed envelope to
Beer Necessities
104 quai de Jemmapes
Paris 75010 – check must be
received at least one week before date of show.

* Rare appearance in Paris by highly acclaimed Mancunian singer
songwriter who now lives in Nashville, who has performed with Richard
Thompson, Nanci Griffith, Boo Hewerdine and Christine Collister….
sharing the bill is Clare Muldaur daughter of highly esteemed
musician, Geoff. This will be a night to remember… there is magic in
the air.

j2999h Rouse
(+ special guest Tim Keegan)
in concert acoustic
Monday 14 & Tuesday 15 June 8 pm
Hôtel du Nord
104 quai de Jemmapes
Paris 10th
24.20 Euros
Pre-paid tickets 20e send a check + stamped addressed envelope to
Beer Necessities
104 quai de Jemmapes
Paris 75010 – check must be
received at least one week BEFORE END OF MAY.

* Erin McKeown
In concert à La Java (+ special guest)
105 rue du fbg du Temple
Paris 10th
Wednesday 7 July 8pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE AMERICAN LIBRARY IN PARIS PRESENTS
AMERICAN CULTURAL EVENINGS

SPONSORED BY THE ANNENBERG FOUNDATION

Sunday, May 23, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. (17h)
Chamber Music Concert
A varied selection of solos, duets, and trios will feature in this
program interpreted by prize-winning, internationally-acclaimed
musicians:

Naaman Sluchin, violin
Bertrand Raynaud, cello
Primor Sluchin, harp

Program:
P. Cassado — Suite for Solo Cello
E. Ysaye — Sonata no. 4 for Solo Violin
Z. Kodaly — Duet for Violin and Cello
Parish Alvars — Introduction and Variations on the T
he

me of Norma de
Bellini
J. Ibert — Trio for Harp, Violin and Cello

Tickets available in advance or at the door (€ 15), on a space-
available basis. Reservations accepted via phone, e-mail, or at the
library circulation desk.

American Library in Paris, 10 Rue du Général Camou,
75007 Paris
Métro : Ecole Militaire , Alma-Marceau, RER C Pont de l’Alma
Bus: 42, 63, 69, 80, 82, 92

For reservations or more information, please call 01 53 59 12 63 or e-
mail [email protected]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HEAR ONE OF THE BEST COLLEGE CHORUSES IN THE USA…

Southwestern Missouri State University Concert Chorale
Under the direction of Guy Webb

Thursday, May 27, 2004, 12:45 p.m.
Eglise de la Trinité
Metro la Trinité
Free Entry
For more information, email Andrea Rose at mailto:[email protected]

May 25, 2004,
Eglise Saint-Sulpice
Métro Saint-Sulpice

********************
Bonnes Soirées and Great Gatherings
********************

Parler Paris Après-Midi
/parlerparis/apresmidi.html

NEXT MEETING: June 8th, 2004 AND EVERY SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

This is your opportunity to meet every month, often with local
professionals who can answer your Working and Living in France
questions. You are invited to come for drinks and share your questions
and comments about what it takes to create a life here, own property
and enjoy what France has to offer. It is also an opportunity to
network with other Parler Paris readers.

Upstairs at La Pierre du Marais
96, rue des Archives at the corner of rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris
Métro Lines 9, 3 et 11, stations Temple, République or Arts et Métiers

********************
Knowledge is Power — Conferences, Workshops and Seminars
********************

The American Library in Paris and the
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) France
Present:

HEARING THE BEAT — MAKE YOUR WORDS SING!

A Two-Part Writing Workshop with poet/author/editor BOBBI KATZ*

Two Tuesdays: May 25th & June 1st 2004
Time: 19:30 to 21:30
Place: The American Library in Paris
10 rue du Général Camou
75007 Paris

All inclusive price :
Library or SCBWI members: 25 Euros
Non-members:35 Euros

Bring notebook and pencil or pen.
Contact [email protected] for more information and/or
registration.

Attendance is limited. First come, first served. Please note:
Payment is non-refundable.

*Bobbi was an editor at Random House for many years. She is the
author of POCKET POEMS (Dutton, March 2004), A RUMPUS OF RHYMES: A Book of Noisy Poems (Dutton), WE THE PEOPLE (Greenwillow), and the
story, “Betrayal” in PERIOD PIECES: Stories for Girls (HarperCollins).
She has also published adult poetry, and was one of forty American
poets invited to submit poetry for the (adult) anthology Heart to
Heart: Poems Inspired by Twentieth Century Art published by Harry N.
Abrams and edited by Jan Greenburg.

The workshop is open to ALL writers, not just children’s writers, and
will be helpful for both fiction and nonfiction writers alike.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paint or Draw Portraits and Self Portraits with American Portrait
Artist Kathy Burke in her beautiful Marais atelier…

245 Euros 3-hour private session
490 Euros 3-hour session with 2 to 6 people
Includes all materials.

For more information, [email protected]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WRITING YOUR MEMOIRS CREATIVE WRITING SEMINAR
in the South of France
June 13th – 18th, 2004

Join us for a fun-filled week of creative writing in the South of
France…

Harriet Welty Rochefort, author of “French Toast”, the successful
memoir about her life in France and her reaction to mind-boggling
cultural differences, will help you shape your thoughts and buckle
down to put them on paper in a writing workshop devoted to getting the
best out of yourself and your memories and experiences.

Location: Le Bois des Dames located in the Rhone Valley.
Limited to 10 participants
Cost: 2,295 Euro (with early bird special)

Lodging and meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks and wine)
included (double occupancy). Early bird special: A 200 Euro discount
will be applied for registration before April 30th, a 50% deposit is
required at this time. See registration form for refund info.

For more information and registration please visit
/parlerparis/travelwriters/rochefortmemoirs/index.html
or contact:

Jane Malleval
Bois des Dames
[email protected]
+33 (0) 4.75.98.56.05

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL WRITER’S WORKSHOP

This Summer Join Us in Chicago to Discover the Secrets to Becoming
a Successful Travel Writer!

Learn how you can earn extra income traveling the world as a VIP,
meeting new people and enjoying the freedom and independence of a
writer’s life…

June 17-20, 2004
InterContinental Hotel
Chicago, Illinois

Sponsored by The American Writers & Artists Institute
Hosted by the International Living Paris Office

http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/workshop/pp/

or contact Agora Travel and Conference Services (On behalf of AWAI)
Phone: (800) 926-6575 and (561) 243-6276 Fax: (561) 278-8765
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.agoratravel.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The International Living Paris Office Presents Our Upcoming
Conferences to Make Your Dream to Live in France Come True…
/frenchproperty/conference/index.html

If you’ve always dreamed of moving to France, starting a new life in
Paris, enjoying a “pied-à-terre” of your own part of the year or
investing in property in France, these power-packed conferences are a
MUST. Hosted by the International Living Paris Office and Adrian
Leeds, Editorial Director and Editor of the Parler Paris daily
newsletter, these few days will arm you with all the information you
need to make it happen! The line-up for the conferences include
seminars, discussions, dinners, cocktails — with well-known Paris,
Europe and U.S.-based experts.

Choose the one that’s right for you!…

Working and Living in France
Paris, France
Home Plazza Bastille
June 18 – 20, 2

004
For more information:
/frenchproperty/conference/wlif/wlif_home.html

Living and Investing in France
Washington, DC
September 10 – 12, 2004

Working and Living in France
Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Fall 2004

Read what our past participants have to say about our Paris Office
Conferences and Tours…
/frenchproperty/conference/conferencements.html

Reservations and information:

If you’d like to know more about the conferences or reserve your
place, visit /frenchproperty/conference/index.html or
email Schuyler Hoffman:

U.S. OFFICE
Schuyler Hoffman, Special Conference Coordinator
Toll Free in the U.S. 1-877-457-2747
Email: [email protected]

********************
Learning la Langue Française
********************

SURVIVAL FRENCH WORKSHOP

Need to know just a few basics to get by while you’re here in Paris?
This 9-hour intensive workshop is OPEN TO EVERYONE
(You do not need to be participating in the IL workshops or
conferences to attend!!!)

Taught by French language expert Marie-ElisabethCrochard, former
director of Berlitz Champs Elysées and co-coordinator of Parler Parlor
French-English Conversation Group!

/frenchproperty/conference/wlif/wlif_french.html

DAY ONE — JUNE 21, 2004:
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

DAY TWO — JUNE 22, 2004:
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Includes nine hours of classroom instruction. Learn how to survive on
your own in Paris, master the basics — greetings, learn how to order
your croissant, ask for the check, the price of an item, sizes,
colors, numbers, asking for the time and all the key questions: who,
what, where, when, how…, the use of the 10 basic verbs and where the
Musée d’Orsay is located. Also, become skilled at exchanging
pleasantries with the French — learning about the social protocols
most often misunderstood by tourists.

Location:
EUROCENTRES
13 Passage Dauphine (entrance at 30 rue Dauphine), 6th Arrondissement
Métro Odéon or Pont Neuf

$195 Workshop/Conference Participants
$245 Non-Travel Workshop/Conference Participants

TO RESERVE CONTACT:

Adrian Leeds 01.40.27.97.59 or
[email protected]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Parler Parlor French-English Conversation Group
http://www.parlerparlor.com

*Special Holiday Closings: May 22

YOUR FIRST TIME IS FREE!

Join us at the Parler Parlor conversation group in Paris France for
free-form conversation with native French and English speakers.
Practice speaking 45 minutes in French, 45 minutes in English. Make
friends, discuss interesting topics, learn about other cultures,
progress in understanding and speaking, naturally and easily, in
groups of six to eight, each in its own acoustically sound private
room.

PARLOR TIMES — 3 TIMES A WEEK IN TWO LOCATIONS

Tuesdays 6:30 to 8 p.m.

AT COPROM LANGUES
14 rue Lafayette, 4th Floor
9th arrondissement, Paris
Métro Chaussée d’Antin, Opéra,
RER A Auber

Wednesdays 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

AT EUROCENTRES
13 passage Dauphine (entrance between rue Dauphine and rue Mazarine),
6th arrondissement
Métro Odéon, Saint-Michel

MEMBERSHIP AND GENERAL INFORMATION
http://www.parlerparlor.com
Email: [email protected]
Elisabeth Crochard, Tel: 01 44 19 76 61
Adrian Leeds, Tel: 01 40 27 97 59

********************
What’s On in The City of Light
********************

Fête de la Musique June 21, 2004
http://www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paris Jazz Festival – Program 2004
http://www.paris.fr/fr/environnement/jardins/animations_jardins/paris_
jazz_festival2004/default.asp

June 5 – July 25, 2004, 3:30 p.m.
Entrance to Parc Floral: 3 euros
Parc Floral de Paris – Esplanade du Château de Vincennes – 75012
RER Vincennes / M° Château de Vincennes

********************
Special Announcements
********************

Norma Barzman and Betsy Blair
talk about
Hollywood and the Blacklist….
and the NEW American Blacklist

Screenwriters Norma Barzman and her husband Ben were driven from
Hollywood during the post-war McCarthyite witch-hunt into a 30-year
exile in France. Her story is recounted in “The Red and the
Blacklist” released last year, a chilling story with a star-studded
list of characters.

Betsy Blair, blacklisted American actress and Oscar winner for her
role in “Marty,” and former wife of Gene Kelly, tells her story in
“The Memory of All That: Love and Politics in New York, Hollywood and
Paris.”

There¹s a new blacklist afoot in America, censorship in the form of
corporate media. Norma and Betsy will help us connect the dots.

Thursday, June 3 At 7:00 PM
Upstairs at the Café Flore

172 Bd St-Germain, 75006
(Metro St-Germain-des-Près)

15 euros contribution for DAF + your drinks at the Flore
RSVP necessary, places limited

Send checks made to Democrats Abroad France to
Jason Levin
15-17 rue des Mathurins
75009 Paris
(no money at the door; you must RSVP)
and email [email protected]

********************
Classified Ads
********************

SPECIAL LAST MINUTE IL LUXURY PARIS APARTMENT RENTAL BARGAINS —
OFFERS YOU CAN’T REFUSE!…

* 20, rue du Cherche-Midi in the 6th arrondissement, just down the
street from the world famous Poilâne bakery. Métro: St. Sulpice. 45
square meters: bedroom, bath with tub/shower, kitchen, dining room and
living room area with trundle bed (2 twins). Fully and elegantly
furnished. Cable TV. Sleeps 4. Fully furnished. Decor composed of 18th
century oak paneling. 2 flights up.

Last Minute Bargain Price: 150 Euros a night.

AVAILABLE MAY 25TH UNTIL THE MORNING OF JUNE 4TH
AVAILABLE JUNE 23RD UNTIL THE MORNING OF JUNE 26TH
AVAILABLE JULY 8TH UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST

* 23, rue Mazarine in the 6th arrondissement. Métro: Odeon

45 square meters: bedroom,

bath with tub/shower, kitchen & dining
area, living room with bed/couch. Sleeps 4. Fully furnished. Cable TV.
Beautiful restored stone wall, beams, charm of 17th century building.
3 flights up, no elevator.

Last Minute Bargain Price: 150 Euros per night.

AVAILABLE JUNE 2ND UNTIL THE MORNING OF JUNE 11TH
AVAILABLE JULY 20TH UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST

* 41, rue Mazarine in the 6th arrondissement. Métro Odeon

40 square meters: bedroom, bathroom with shower. Kitchen.
Dining/Living room with bed/couch. Sleeps 4. Fully furnished. Cable
TV. Restored interior brick wall. 2 flights up with elevator.

Last Minute Bargain Price: 155 Euros per night.

AVAILABLE MAY 19TH UNTIL THE MORNING OF JUNE 10TH
AVAILABLE JUNE 17TH UNTIL MORNING OF JUNE 24TH
AVAILABLE JUNE 28TH UNTIL THE MORNING OF JULY 3RD
AVAILABLE AUGUST 18TH UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST

To book any of these apartments, contact Porter Scott at
[email protected]