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Paris Events Calendar

Paris Events Calendar – August 2014

August 2, 2014
Heather Stimmler

Outdoor Entertainment

August 3
Are you pretty fast on a pair of rollerblades? Today’s 6h Roller de Paris is open to teams and solo participants competing to see how many laps around the Bois de Boulogne they can complete in six hours.  If you’re more of a leisurely skater, don’t forget the weekly Sunday skate with Rollers & Coquillages starting at the Place de la Bastille from 2:30pm until 5pm. Wear your own skates or rent them from “Nomades“, at 37 Boulevard Bourdon (just off the square). 

August 2 -September 14
The bandstand of the Parc Floral botanical gardens in the Bois de Vincennes (12th, M° Chateau de Vincennes) hosts the Festival Classique au Vert  classical music concerts by international musicians every Saturday and Sunday from 4pm-6pm (open stage for amateur musicians at 11am). Entry to the gardens €5.50. The gardens also have playgrounds, a butterfly house, photo exhibits, and gorgeous floral displays, of course! 

August 9
Join The Chamber for a gourmet picnic 7-9pm in the Jardin d’Eole (near the Buttes Chaumont). Cocktails, bubbly, and a gourmet picnic provided by Paris Picnic is included in the €28 price (€48 for non-members). 

Through August 10
The Clair de Lune open-air cinema festival takes place in a different location around Paris each night, with mostly French classic like Madame De, Les Aventures Extraordinaires d’Adèle Blanc Sec and the animated Une Vie de Chat. Free entry, starts 9:30pm, some shows have chairs (reserved for the elderly and handicapped). 

Through August 17 (24th)
Paris Plages: sand, beach trees, volley balls and bikinis — on the Seine! This year’s edition of the Paris Plages will feature many fun activities. The 2014 schedule will be up here on opening day. The water sports and activities will be open on the Basson de la Villette through August 24th.

August 19
The Chamber is hosting their next pop-up event “Apéro on a Boat” on the Canal St Martin today at 6:30pm, just for 8 lucky guests!  Wine and snacks and an electric boat ride…bring a cozy scarf to stay warm and enjoy the sunset in style. €30 for Chamber members, €50 for non-members. Sign up ASAP. http://www.thechamberparis.com/ 

August 23-24
The Château de Chantilly is hosting the annual Triathlon de Chantilly in its magnificent grounds August 23-24 (access to the castle is free for the weekend). They’re always in need of volunteers if you’d like to participate without training, English spoken. 

Through August 24
The Paris Fun Fair (Fête Foraine) is open in the Tuileries (Louvre Gardens), daily 11am-11:45pm (until 12:45am on Friday and Saturday). Free entrance, but you’ll need to buy tickets for each ride on the usual carnival attractions, or have cash for cotton candy and the games where you can win prizes. The Ferris Wheel has excellent views over Paris! 

Through August 24
The annual Open-Air Cinema Festival takes place Wed-Sun nights at the Parc de la Villette’s Triangle Prairie (M° Porte de Pantin), starting at sunset (around 10pm), free entry. This year’s theme is Adolescence, including films such as Moonrise Kingdom, Scream 4, and American Graffiti.

August 22-25
There are many events for the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris (August 1944), including a free sound and light show commemorating the historic events followed by live dancing and a Bal Populaire (dance party) on the esplanade of the Hôtel de Ville on August 25th

Through September 20
Looking for an alternative to Paris Plage? Glazart (near Parc de la Villette in the 19th) has it’s own version, La Plage, with free live music, techno parties, a huge sand “beach” with terracecocktail  bar, food trucks, Sunday flea market, and even pétanque. See the entire schedule of concerts here. 

Through October 4
Don’t miss one of the most magical events of the summer, the Candlelit Evenings at the Château Vaux-le-Vicomte, just an hour south of Paris by RER and shuttle. Visit the family-owned palace and gardens that inspired Versailles by candlelight, including dinner in the gardens (or bring your own picnic) and a fireworks finale. Every Saturday evening, entry €19.50. 


Through October 12
The ground level of Les Docks en Seine has been converted into a sort of alternative/grunge/skater hangout called Ground Control with bar and bistro snacks (beware: that hot dog is spicey!), fussball, pingpong, art expo, live concerts, and some arthouse cinema projected on the walls. “It looks like the setting for a One Direction video,” said a 20-something fan (I have to take her word for that). Very laid back, no entry fee,  open daily 11am-2am.

Exhibits & Cultural Events

Through August 4
Fields of Battle-Lands of Peace 14-18 is a free photo exposition on the eastern end of the wrought iron fence around Luxembourg Gardens of 79 striking contemporary images by Irish photographer (and battlefield guide) Mike Sheil. The photos are taken of World War I battlefields in Europe, eastern Africa, Israel and Turkey, with captions in French and English. Inside the gardens there’s also a large walk-on map of the battlefields just in front of the Senate building.  

August 30
Tous à Table is a very special food and music event at the trendy new Carreau du Temple bringing together top French chefs and musical artists for three events: the Brunch des Patissiers (€49), an Apéro Bistronome (€59), and a Dîner des Etoilés (€99), all with live entertainment. You can attend all three for €199. The idea is that 500 places are open to the public whose tax-deductible fee pays not just for their meal, but also the meal of someone who normally can’t afford gourmet cuisine. But the money doesn’t just go to charity; the 500 recipients of the “sponsored” meals actually attend the event and enjoy the meals and entertainment as participants. Everyone together (kids, too). Book your spot now before they run out!

 

Through August 31
Between the Lines and the Trenches, a very intimate collection of personal letters, notebooks and photos from the trenches, many never published before. At the Museum of Letters and Manuscripts (222 Boulevard Saint-Germain), through August 31st, entry €7. 

Through August 31 
Il était une fois: L’Orient Express (Once Upon a Time on the Orient Express) at the Institut du Monde Arabe (1, rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, 5th) presents a historic look at the Orieint Express and its link between Europe and the Middle East. There are three luxury passenger cars and a dining car you can walk through on the esplanade outside, followed by the exhibit inside the museum of vintage promotional posters, luggage and items including Graham Greene’s typewriter and Agatha Christie’s hat and coat, staff uniforms, as well as films and photos. Entry €8.50-€10.50, free under 16.

Through November 3, 2014
The Grand Galerie d’Evolution at the Jardin des Plantes (Natural History Museum) is hosting a fabulous new exhibition, Nuit, an exploration of the night in all its aspects from scientific to imaginary, presented in four sections: the night sky, noctural life in the natural world, a night of sleep, and myths and monsters of the night. Open daily except Tuesday from 10am-6pm (nope, not open at night). Entry €9, €7 for kids and students 4-24 years.

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