Gay Paree in a Gray Paree

Steve McCurry RetrospectiveLiving and Investing in France Mini-ConferenceGay Pride Route 2014

It wasn’t so easy to leave sunny, warm Nice for “Gray Paree” on Friday. It’s truly summer in the Riviera town, with the tourists in abundance wearing as little clothing as possible and thong sandals looking terribly tan. As the TGV sped down the tracks heading first along the coast before veering north at Marseille, I ogled the sunbathers with jealous eyes and vowed the next time when I return at the end of July to concentrate on beach time just like all the other vacationers.

It seemed like thousands of people attended the “Vernissage” of the Steve McCurry Retrospective at the Théâtre de la Photographie et de l’Image Charles Nègre Thursday evening in Nice. It was tough to worm one’s way through the crowd to see the photojournalist’s award-winning and arresting images up close — 127 of them. Being in their presence gave me goose bumps and having heard the story of how he managed to capture such breathtaking photos from his own lips here in Paris not so long ago, brought them all much closer to my heart. Fortunately, it’s on till September 21st, so there will be a chance to revisit it.

Just next door to the Théâtre, a visit was paid to the Hôtel Ellington where the meeting room was booked to make a special presentation on the evening of September 16th and offer a Q and A on the subject of “Living and Investing in France Mini-Conference: Nice and the Côte d’Azur.”

For those of you who missed last year’s three-day conference, this may be your opportunity to learn more about how to own your own “pied-à-terre” (on the Riviera, in Paris or a home in the countryside) that you can enjoy when you want…or profitably rent when you like…or just make a smart investment by owning property in France. Plus you’ll be able to ask all the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask.

It will take place Tuesday, September 16th from 6:30 p.m. (this is a gorgeous time of year in Nice!), starting off with cocktails on the patio, then moving to the meeting room for the presentation until 9 p.m., when the cocktails begin again! To learn more, see our Conference page or email [email protected].

Stepping off the train Friday at the Gare de Lyon, we immediately put on our sweaters and saw the news that rain was predicted for Saturday, putting a ‘damper’ on the annual Gay Pride Parade. If I ever missed a parade, I don’t remember — as it’s one of the highlights of the year when those who are gay can be as outrageous as they like and those who are straight can be humbled by being outnumbered by the gays and those who are bisexual can have it all! Let’s face it, it’s always fun and funny under any circumstances.

This year’s parade ended at Place de la République instead of Place de la Bastille, so I changed the venue for a meeting place and ‘prayed’ it would work out as planned. It did.

“Le Chai d’Adrien,” an adjunct to Chez Jenny owned by the Groupe Frères Blanc (proprietors of Au Pied De Cochon, Le Procope, La Fermette Marbeuf and other great Paris Grande Brasseries), was the perfect spot to have reserved tables outside. Under the glass awning, we were protected from the rain and as it sits up above the street, we had a great view of the festivities, both of the bandstand at Place de la République where a band played starting from 4 p.m. and the parade as it made its way down the boulevard ending at the Place.

Rainbow umbrellas were “de rigueur” as we huddled under them just like everyone else to be a part of the parade or be a spectator. Paraders were looking like wet rats as they approached the Place, but not without high spirits and good humor. There was a lot less nudity in this year’s parade — for good reason — but still lots of big feet in platform shoes that spell “P-O-D-I-A-T-R-I-S-T” and “C-R-I-P-P-L-E-D F-O-R L-I-F-E” to me!

Next on the horizon are our two Independence Days: July 4th and July 14th. I don’t know about you, but I like to eat a burger as a traditional gesture on July 4th…and where better than Joe Allen?

A la prochaine…

Adrian Leeds

Director of The Adrian Leeds Group, LLC

(in her spot for Gay Pride)

Respond to Adrian

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