Bastille Day Sensations

The sun was pouring in through the windows, this morning’s military parade was playing on the TV at my right, the British guard in their tall black fur hats and bright red uniforms were marching ever so perfectly down the Champs-Elysées, the roar of the jets was co-mingled with the music in the background. From my desk looking up out the windows past the geraniums and over the rooftops, I could see the planes in formation without even moving from my seat. It’s a Bastille Day experience of a multi-sensory kind!

The shops along rue de Bretagne weren’t all open, but those that were very busy. At noon I bought the last remaining “coquelet” from my favorite “rotissier” for tonight’s picnic on the Champ de Mars to view the fireworks. The sun was too inviting, so I took a small round table at Au Petit Trou de Bretagne (the tiniest and most authentic neighborhood café on the street) to enjoying the strong rays we’ve so badly missed. A few army tanks drove by and there was a stream of good-looking young uniformed men, some with their families, wives, girlfriends and lovers. (What is it about a man in uniform that is so appealing?) Mayor Pierre Adenbaum and his family passed by, also…everyone is out on this glorious holiday.

Yesterday was a marathon day worth reporting on. About 35 friends of Parler Paris came to Parler Paris Après Midi filling almost every table upstairs at La Pierre du Marais. It was a record turn-out and the din from the group (I was told) could be heard all down rue de Bretagne. To read all about the goings-on and see the pictures, visit /parlerparis/apresmidi.html For those of you planning on coming to the next one, make note that in August we’re taking a break, but we’ll be there September 14th. I’ll be just stepping off the plane returning from the Living and Investing in France Conference in Washington, DC.

From there, a few of us headed over to Parler Parlor to improve our French. Next Tuesday is the last week we’ll be meeting at Coprom Langues — our new location at Berlitz Opéra begins on July 27th — and we’re very happy to be “Back to Berlitz” after a hiatus of several years. Still, we’ve adored our stay at Coprom whose management (Director Valerie Grauer) couldn’t have been more wonderful. Co-coordinator Marie-Elisabeth Crochard and I send a special thank you to Valerie and her staff.

We left Parler Parlor promptly at 8 p.m. to hightail it to the Bals des Pompiers, an event I try not to miss every year. With Pascal Fonquernie of Paris Marais Apartments and his current month-long tenant and principal creator of “Mister Biscuit” from Los Angeles, Helena Tammearu, we hustled over to rue de Sévigné to the firehouse and barracks in the Hôtel Bouthillier de Chavigny where the brother of Saint Louis, Charles d’Anjou, the king of Sicily, lived in the 13th century. In 1635 Bouthillier, the Count of Chavigny, acquired the house and several other properties along rue de Sévigné. During the Revolution, the building was confiscated and became the headquarters of the “Pompes funèbres” (undertakers). Then it was purchased by the city in 1813 to open as a firehouse. There are three courtyards surrounded by 13 apartments housing more than 100 firemen who work and live there.

An International Living press pass and Pascal wearing a New York City Fire Department T-shirt (a gift from a past renter) got us in without waiting in the long line to the last and largest courtyard where a band was playing, people were dancing, drinking and socializing. By 10:30 p.m., the courtyards were all body-to-body with young Parisians ready to party and “schmoozing” with the firemen who were manning the drink and food stands.

It was at that point we turned back toward the Mairie of the 3rd arrondissement where an even better band was playing to an older and more animated crowd on the temporary wooden dance floor in the courtyard of the Mairie littered with confetti. Two big screens out on the street enabled more dancers to take advantage of the party outside the small courtyard, many of whom were clearly ballroom dancing aficionados, very skilled and great to watch.

Tonight we’ll be picnicking on the Champ de Mars to wait for the fireworks set off behind the Eiffel Tower and to salute yet another passing of Independence Day in France. Anyone who wants to join us is welcome…look for the happy group of Americans about center.

A la prochaine…

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

P.S. While I’m the US in September for the Living and Investing in France Conference, my 17th-century Marais apartment is available for rental in its entirety (September 4th to the morning of September 14th). For details, visit /parlerparis/apartments/rentals/leeds.html And for other IL apartment rentals, visit /frenchproperty/insider/rentals

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Further resources:
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* Though France might seem as familiar as any other Western country, the truth is, from paying taxes to having a baby — things are done differently in France. Read the stories how other people maneuvered the system.

* Learn how to live and invest in France! Meet with us in Washington, DC this September.

* Immerse yourself in French for two to three days with past director of Berlitz at her country home.

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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

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Strictly Entertainment: Comedy, Plays, Movies
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MOVING PARTS PLAY READINGS IN ENGLISH

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

12th September Barratt Walton “Buddha’s Aunt”
3rd October Lance Tait (tba)
7th November Linda Healey “Masks”
21st November Jon Allen Russo “Farce Noir”
5th December Shena Wilson (tba)

To receive the monthly mailings email [email protected]
For further information contact: http://www.scamparis.com or call Stephanie Campion on: 06.14.67.18.58

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Musical Interludes
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AT THE HOTEL DU NORD
102 quai de Jemmapes
Paris 10th

Paul Kelly
Sunday, August 29th, 8 p.m.
http://www.paulkelly.com.au

Reservations for all concerts 01.53.19.98.88 FNAC/VIRGIN etc.
Book all shows by calling 01.53.19.98.88 or by email
[email protected] or http://www.anythingmatters.com

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Bonnes Soirées and Great Gatherings
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Parler Paris Après-Midi
/parlerparis/apresmidi.html

NEXT MEETING: No Après Midi Meeting in August. September 14th, 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

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PARIS SOIRÉE DINNERS EVERY SUNDAY

Patricia Laplante-Collins has international dinner parties on the Ile St-Louis. She hosts a 21st Century Paris Salon where you meet interesting people in Paris and have a lot of fun. There is always a Guest speaker, perhaps a Writer, Actor, Historian — you name it, Patricia hosts them all. For reservations or to be on the mailing list: call 01 43 26 12 88 or write [email protected]

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Knowledge is Power — Conferences, Workshops and Seminars
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THE WORK
By Byron Katie

Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Paris, France
7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Cost: No charge; Contributions welcome

For thousands of years we’ve been told not to judge, but we still do it all the time — how our friends should act, whom our children should care about, what our parents should feel, do, or say. In The Work, rather than suppress these judgments, we use them as starting points for self-realization. By letting the judging mind have its life on paper, we can discover through the mirror of those around us what we haven’t yet realized about ourselves.

French Translation Provided

For Additional Information:
Byron Katie International
310-760-9000 Ext. 100

Location: Maison de la Mutualité
24, rue Saint Victor
75005 Paris, France
Web: http://www.fmp.fr
Email us with questions

Contact: Frank Kane, +33-1.42.43.27.66, [email protected], [email protected]

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Workshop in Executive Presence
with Madeleine BARCHEVSKA
BioArt Theatre Labs, Inc.
http://www.bioarttheatrelabs.com

“You can rapidly improve your personal and professional life by clarifying the signals you send out to the world. This learning will bring you to that capacity.” — Madeleine Barchevska, M.A.

Inviting You to Explore … “Behind the Mask”

Increased business effectiveness, confidence, clarity and impact are the results of this training. Designed for executives and top management, this is a high-performance learning experience which enhances personal impact, accelerates development of personal style, and minimizes stress.

The mask is an ancient tool of liberation. It magnifies perception and puts us in direct contact with the flow of our nervous system and our impulse to respond to life. Knowledge from both life sciences and theatre arts fuel this training. It is both direct and indirect, deep and engaging, and contributes immediately to success at a dynamic executive level.

Madeleine Barchevska has developed an award-winning approach to training which is profound, accelerated, fascinating and which gives immediate results in all areas of life. Barchevska takes the essence of artistic and scientific knowledge and custom-designs training for the specific needs of each individual within the group. This can be a memorable learning experience for each participant.

When: Monday, July 19, 2004, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Where: Atelier 44, 159 rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris

Course Price: 85 Euros per participant
Course Limit: 9

To Reserve Your Place: 01 47 57 70 86/ 06 18 98 95 20, [email protected]

About Madeleine BARCHEVSKA
Madeleine Barchevska, M.A., is an award – winning international executive coach and trainer. She is a specialist in teaching communication skills and public speaking. Each client learns through the wisdom and skill of her evolved educational methods and practices. Barchevska’s vision is to create “sustainable personal development” for each client.

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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]

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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, 2004
For more information:
/frenchproperty/conference/wlif/wlif_home.html

*** Living and Investing in France
Washington, DC
September 10 – 12, 2004
Washington, DC
For more information:
/frenchproperty/conference/LIF_DC/LIF_DC_home.html

Plus…
Dinner and Virtual Tour of Paris with Thirza
/frenchproperty/conference/LIF_DC/LIF_DC_dinner_tour.html

Plus…
Walking Tour of French-Speaking DC
/frenchproperty/conference/LIF_DC/LIF_DC_walking_tour.html

Plus…
Single in the City of Light
(And Loving It!) with Adrian Leeds
/frenchproperty/conference/LIF_DC/LIF_DC_single.html

*** Working and Living in France
Provence/Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Fall 2004
/frenchproperty/conference/index.html

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

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Learning la Langue Française
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Parler Parlor French-English Conversation Group
http://www.parlerparlor.com

YOUR FIRST TIME IS FREE! OPEN ALL SUMMER LONG. CLOSED JULY 14TH AND AUGUST 14TH FOR HOLIDAYS.

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

NEW TUESDAY LOCATION! BACK TO BERLITZ!
EFFECTIVE JULY 27TH

BERLITZ OPERA
38 Avenue de l’Opéra
2nd arrondissement, Paris
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

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What’s On in The City of Light
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BASTILLE DAY JULY 14TH
FIREWORKS
July 14th, 2004
Theme: Fraternité et Olympisme”
JARDINS DU TROCADERO
Between the Palais de Chaillot et l’avenue de New York
Paris 16th
http://www.paris.fr/fr/actualites/14_juillet_2004/Bal_13_juillet.asp
Information: 08.20.00.75.75 (0,13 EUR/mn)

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Paris Plage
July 21 – August 20, 2004
http://www.paris.fr/fr/actualites/ete_paris_2004/Paris_plage_2004/default.asp

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

Till 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

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Paris Quartier d’Eté
July 14 – August 15, 2004
249 events in 45 different places around the city
http://www.quartierdete.com

22/07 City of Twist – Danse (Jardins de Tuileries 1st)
27/07 Projet de la Matière – Danse (Jardins de Tuileries 1st)
02/08 Solo -Philippe Decouflé – Danse (Jardins de Tuileries 1st)
04/08 Walk Man. 3 (at N° 32 quai Henri IV 4th)
05/08 Tao of Martial – Spectacle Musical (Jardins de Tuileries 1st)
12/08 Le Vif du Sujet – Danse (Arènes de Montmartre 18°)
14/08 Entre Chiens et Loups – Cirque Pocheros (Cour du Maroc 18th)

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Sous la Plage
June 20 – September 19, 2004
Four Sundays and so concerts on the lawns of the Parc André-Citroën
http://www.soulaplage.com

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Cinéma en Plein Air à la Villette
July 16 – August 29, 2004
14th edition of free films in the open air on the big inflatable screen at Parc de la Villette
http://www.villette.com

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Cinéma au Clair de Lune
August 4 – 26, 2004
Free films in the open air set in appropriate spots in Paris
http://www.forumdesimages.net

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Special Announcements
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FIRST ANNUAL WICE BOOK FAIR BENEFIT
In conjunction with Studio Arts Open House

Do you have books to donat

e? Contribute your books to the Fair and we will pick them up!
Please contact John Baxter at 01.43.54.25.74

Biggest English-Language Weekend Book Fair in Paris
Thousands of Books — starting at 50 centimes
Signed first editions, paperbacks, rare books, children’s books, DVDs, CDs, including books from the libraries of Diane Johnson, Mavis Gallant, C.K. Williams, E.L. Doctrow, Carolyn Kizer, Robert Harris and many more. Not to be missed!

Saturday, October 16th from 2:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. (auction at 6:00)
Sunday, October 17th from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

WICE
20 bd du Montparnasse
75015 Paris
Métro Duroc