Easing The Pain Of Re-Entry

Larry Frame was walking on a narrow street near the Opéra Garnier two weekends ago when he came across a blocked sidewalk, and was forced to walk in the street. The driver of the “HumVee” went past him at 40mph at least and missed hitting him by less than two feet. About 15 minutes later, he took this photo. “The arrogant lout parked his ‘war machine’ in the middle of Avenue de l’Opéra, partially blocking the inside lane in both directions. He came out of Starbucks about the time I took the picture.”

When I landed in Florida two weeks ago to relax a couple of days in the Florida sunshine after a long, cold, gray, damp, Paris winter and to attend the IL Live Overseas Conference in Delray Beach, I discovered that not only is Starbucks absolutely EVERYWHERE, but all over Florida, gas stations no longer have gas pumps — but instead have tables and chairs under their expansive flat roofs and young people are drinking the Seattle brew in styrofoam cups. My father ran a gas station in New Orleans for 47 years. I wonder if it’s been converted, too?

Back in Paris, the mailed piled up and I see that there’s an awful lot of cultural events in English going on to ease the pain of re-entry and reverse the culture shock quickly. Some quick highlights include:

* Parler Parlor French-English Conversation Group is celebrating their 6th Year in Paris with a HOT CHILI LUNCH Saturday, April 3, 11 a.m. at Eurocentres, 13 passage dauphine, 6th. Come for conversation at 11 a.m. then stay at 12:30 p.m. for lunch! 5 Euro contribution. Take 10 euros off a 10-session card and 20 euros off a 20-session card that day! For more information, visit http://www.parlerparlor.com/

* Théâtre Les Déchargeurs is showing “Talking Heads” (four monologues in English) now through May 1, Tuesdays through Saturdays, written by Alan Bennett and directed by Judith Burnett. Call 01.42.36.00.50 for reservations.

* Jim Hightower, former Texas Commissioner of Agriculture (http://www.jimhightower.com) “Speaks His Mind” Sunday, April 25th, 2004 at 6:45 PM at the home of John Morris, sponsored by Democrats Abroad, contribution 20 euros. RSVP by return email: [email protected]

* Moving Parts Plays in English:

4th April Thomas Dooley, “Tangled Love”
18th April, Jonus, “Clobbering John”
25th April, Michael di Antonio, “Epideo”
16th May, John Ireland, “The Magic Hour”
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”

7:30 p.m. Sunday Evenings
Carr’s Pub & Restaurant
1 rue du Mont Thabor, 75001 Paris
Métro: Tuileries
For more information or to receive their mailings: http://www.scamparis.com, Stefanie Campion: [email protected] or 06.14.67.18.58 or 01.44.93.59.72

* ONE WORLD ACTORS PRODUCTIONS presents A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare in English, directed by Kim-Michelle BRODERICK, Mondays at 8 p.m. April 12, 19, 26, May 3, 24, 31 and June 14, 21 at Studio-Théâtre de la Comédie Française, Carrousel du Louvre, entrée 99 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, Métro: Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre and Thursdays at 8 p.m. at UNESCO, 7 place de Fontenoy, 75007 Paris, Métro: Cambronne/Ségur March 15, 18, 22, 25, 29, April 1 and 5. Tickets range from 15 to 40 euros. By reservation only: phone 01.48.28.09.26 or by email at [email protected] For further information and to become a sponsor, visit their Web site http://www.oneworldactors.com

* Jazz with Joe Makholm on piano, Peter Giron on bass, John Betsch on drums, Friday, March 26, 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. at aux 7 Lézards, 10, rue des Rosiers, Paris 4th, Métro: St-Paul, for more information phone: 01.48.87.08.97

A la prochaine…

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

P.S. And for those of you who dream of the Euro and the Dollar on an equal par, The Paris Saint-Ouen Flea Market is inviting you to “Opération Parité 1 EURO = $1!” March 27 – 29 and April 3 – 5, 2004! For more information, click here