10 Things to do in Paris – August 2017 by Hanna Gressler

August 8th, 2017
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Open-Air Cinema
Photograph by Marc Bertrand for the Paris Office of Tourism

Open-Air Cinema Festival
Until August 20th
Parc de la Villette
211, avenue Jean Jaurès
75019 Paris
Website: www.lavillette.com/en/evenement/open-air-cinema
Price: Free

This summer, as dusk falls, relax on the bright green lawns of the Parc de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement and enjoy the Open-Air Cinema Festival, where you can watch new releases, cult films from the past, and independent films, all on a giant outdoor screen.
 
 
Exhibition: Jamaica Jamaica!
At la Philharmonie de Paris
Until August 24th
Webiste: www.philharmoniedeparis.fr
Price: 5€ – 10€

This temporary exhibition at the Philharmonie de Paris presents the political and musical history of Jamaica. Pictures, paintings, rare films, and music are all on display to document the island’s extraordinary place in the history of music.
 
 
Tréteaux Nomades
August 21st to September 3rd
Website: www.treteauxnomades.com
Price: 9€ – 16€

Organized by the Compagnie du Mystère Bouffe, Tréteaux Nomades is a travelling festival that visits Paris’s most unusual venues, such as the Arènes de Montmartre, in order to give a series of shows including a variety of performing arts, burlesque theatre, music, poetry, and more. Check out their website to learn where to find them.
 
 
Exhibition: Olga Picasso
Until September 3rd
Musée Picasso
5, rue de Thorigny
75003 Paris
Website: www.museepicassoparis.fr
Price: 12.50€

Located in the heart of Paris, the Musée Picasso’s new exhibition draws focus on Picasso’s relationship with his first wife, the dancer Olga Khokhlova, and highlights the romantic perspective of his masterpieces.
 
 
Paris Plages – Pop-Up Beach on the Seine River
July 20th to September 3rd
Price: Free
Website: en.parisinfo.com/discovering-paris/major-events/paris-plages
Enjoy the beach in the middle of the city at Paris Plages, a full-fledged beach along the Seine with sand, games, cafes, and perfect tanning spots.
 
 
Festival Jazz à la Villette
August 31st to September 13th
Parc de la Villette
211, avenue Jean Jaurès
75019 Paris
Website: www.jazzalavillette.com
Price: 8€ – 40€

With a range of artists from jazz and blues to hip-hop and funk, the Jazz Festival at la Villette is providing all the good beats for those who can’t get enough of good music. This year’s edition of the festival presents up-and-coming artists, as well as swing bands and free jazz quartets.
 
 
Festival Classique au Vert
August 5th to September 17th
Bois de Vincennes
Route de la Pyramide
75012 Paris
Website: www.classiqueauvert.paris.fr
Price: 1.50€ – 2.50€

For its 19th edition, the Festical Classique au Vert is back at the Parc Floral in the 12th arrondissement, with the theme of Unexpected Journeys (“Voyages Inattendus”). Here, you can experience classical music in the sun and in all its forms, from symphonies to chamber music, and even some choir.
 
 
Portraits by Cézanne
Until September 24th
Musée d’Orsay
1, rue de la Légion d’Honneur
75007 Paris
Webiste: www.musee-orsay.fr
Price: 9€ – 12€
Although this impressionist artist is most known for his still lifes, Cézanne was also a gifted portraitist. All summer long at the Musée d’Orsay, the temporary exhibit of Cézanne’s portraits will allow you to discover the talents of the artist.
 
 
Summer House
Mona Bismarck American Center
34, avenue de New York
75116 Paris
Until September 30th
Website: www.summerhouse.fr
Price: Free

Welcome to the incredible hôtel particulier in the 16th arrondissment that unites Paris and the U.S. by dedicating itself to American Pop culture in all its forms: music, art, cinema, and the American way of life. Check out their website for the full list of open air concerts.
 
 
La Nuit aux Invalides
Hôtel National des Invalides
Place des Invalides
75007 Paris
Website: www.lanuitauxinvalides.fr
Price: 16€ – 19€

La Nuit aux Invalides presents an immersive and sensational 3D show that is projected along the façade of the grandiose Hôtel des Invalides. This sound and light show will take you through the history of Paris through the most lavish way possible, while you stand in the historic and monumental site of the Invalides courtyards.
 
 
About the author: Hanna Gressler is a Wells International Foundation summer intern.

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Our Weekly Restaurant Review – Café de la Paix

August 7th, 2017
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Café de la Paix
Photograph by Discover Paris!

“Glamorous” and “opulent” are words that will come to mind when you enter this famous restaurant located across the street from the equally famous Garnier Opera House.

Click here to read our review: http://www.parisinsights.com/restaurant.php?pid=424

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Finding True Love in the City of Light

August 6th, 2017
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Finding True Love in the City of Light
Photograph by Discover Paris!

With the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop, a couple finds an ideal spot to pose for a photograph.

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Sunday Morning on Rue Mouffetard

August 6th, 2017
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Sunday Morning Rue Mouffetard
Photograph by Discover Paris!

Seemingly oblivious to passersby on the busy rue Mouffetard market street, a man enjoys reading a book at the sidewalk terrace of a café.

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Samantha John’s #ThisIs40Paris Crew Takes Our #JosephineBaker in Le Vésinet Tour

August 5th, 2017
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Samantha John’s #ThisIs40Paris Crew
Photograph by Discover Paris!

Our own Monique Y. Wells (kneeling) poses with Samantha John’s #ThisIs40Paris Crew in front of the #ArcDeTriomphe. The group, hailing from Washington DC, Maryland, Philadelphia, and New York, took our #JosephineBaker in Le Vésinet tour today just after this photo was taken. Samantha (third from right) is celebrating her 40th birthday in the #CityOfLight. Last night, the group dined at Les Ombres, a restaurant on the roof of the Quai Branly Museum with a fabulous view of the #EiffelTower.

A good time was had by all!

Traveling to #Paris soon? To learn more about our Entrée to #BlackParis walks, click here: http://discoverparis.net/entree-to-black-paris.

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Our Book – Dining Out in Paris

August 4th, 2017
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Our Book – Dining Out in Paris
Photograph by Discover Paris!

Our book Dining Out in Paris – What You Need to Know before You Get to the City of Light will give first- and even second-time travelers the knowledge and confidence that they need to enter into a Parisian restaurant to enjoy a fine meal. Dining Out in Paris helps prepare the traveler for a wonderful French dining experience.

Click here to learn more or to order! http://amzn.to/219LraJ

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The French Like to Read

August 2nd, 2017
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The French Like to Read
Photograph by Discover Paris!

A man reads a book while waiting in line at the bakery.

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For All of Your Chinese Food Cravings… by Samantha Gilliams

August 1st, 2017
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Right when I thought I’d never find decent Chinese food in Paris (after having visited countless épiceries where they kindly microwave plastic-wrapped Chinese food…), I discovered: Tang Frères and the treasures of the 13th arrondissement.

I was in heaven when I stepped out of the Porte d’Ivry metro stop. The plethora of authentic Chinese restaurants, grocery stores, and boulangeries chinoises, enticed me to eat and buy all afternoon.

However, one grocer I took particular liking for was Tang Frères. This Asian market has been around since 1981, when two brothers moved to Paris from Laos and decided to open up the first of their supermarkets on avenue d’Ivry (wiki).

Thirty six years later, the market is still running, providing authentic imported ingredients to hungry, customers, both foreign and French.

When I arrived at Tang Frères, with the help of iPhone Maps, I entered into the first of two grocery stores that are right next to one another.

Tang Frères N° 1
Photograph by Samantha Gilliams

After walking the aisles and observing the products of Tang Frères n° 1, I was slightly disappointed. Yes, they had ingredients for Asian cuisine, but it was not truly what I expected. Especially because I am familiar with Paris Store, another Asian market just next door to Tang Frères, which had a much larger selection of goods.

As I was leaving Tang Frères n° 1, I made a slight right and walked a bit down the street, past the produce vendors, where I discovered Tang Frères n° 2.

Produce Vendors
Photograph by Samantha Gilliams

Tang Frères N° 2
Photograph by Samantha Gilliams

When I entered this Tang Frères emporium that was endowed with a larger market, a food stand called “Tang Gourmet,” a refreshments stand, and a flower shop, I finally understood what people had been raving about.

The smell of the roasted Peking duck at Tang Gourmet alone instantly intrigued me and made me want to explore the rest of the market.

Tom left: Refreshment stand, Top right: Flower stand, Bottom: Roasted Peking duck
Photograph by Samantha Gilliams

Top: Main aisle, Bottom left: Frozen section, Bottom right: Vegetable aisle
Photograph by Samantha Gilliams

I was happy to see some of my Chinese food favorites, like frozen xao long baos (soup dumplings), fresh Chinese noodles, and pork buns that I hadn’t found since I’ve been abroad in Paris the last three years!

I was also pleased to see the variety of people who were shopping for, and are therefore fond of, Asian foodstuffs. I heard many languages being spoken in the market by people of all ages.

I would recommend Tang Frères, and more generally the 13th arrondissement, to anyone who is a fan of Chinese culture and Asian cuisine. A visit to this part of Paris will reveal a culture that travelers are initially unaware of in what sometimes seems, at first glance, to be a very homogeneous city.

Works Cited
Wiki: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_Fr%C3%A8res

About the author: Samantha Gilliams is a Wells International Foundation summer intern.

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Sunday Morning on Rue Mouffetard

July 30th, 2017
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Sunday Morning on Rue Mouffetard
Photograph by Discover Paris!

A little boy watches a jazz band from the shoulders of his father.

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University of Tennessee Knoxville Students Enjoy Our “Beauford Delaney’s Montparnasse” Walk

July 29th, 2017
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University of Tennessee Knoxville Students – Beauford Delaney Walk
Photograph by Discover Paris!

Our own Monique Y. Wells (first row, second from left) poses with a group from the University of Tennessee Knoxville just before setting out on our “Beauford Delaney’s Montparnasse” walk yesterday. A good time was had by all!

To learn more about our Entrée to Black Paris walks for your group or university, click here: http://discoverparis.net/entree-to-black-paris.

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