June Holidays
June 8
Today is Pentecost, a religious holiday (Monday is the bank holiday for many businesses).
Exhibits & Cultural Events
Book NOW for September 5-6
The American Church of Paris is hosting A Prarie Home Companion radion show with Garrison Keillor for two dates, September 5th at 8pm and September 6th at 4pm. Tickets are €31, book as soon as possible, space is limited.
May 25-June 8
Time for the annual French Open at Roland Garros to see the international tennis stars duke it out on the clay courts. Don’t have tickets? Get info on last-minute Roland Garros tickets here online. You can also watch the matches on the big screen at the foot of the Eiffel Tower (picnic on the Champ de Mars!).
June 7
Pastry chef and cookbook author (and Paris Pastry Guide author) David Lebovitz will be signing books today at WH Smith from 3:30-5pm.
June 13-15
The Portes d’Or is a chance for all the artistic workshops in the Goutte d’Or (18th arrondissement) to open their doors to the public. Over 80 painters, sculptors, jewelery-makers and many others who live and work in the Goutte d’Or wish to share their creativity. Please come support the community and experience these unique productions.
Through June 15
Comic book fans, take heed! New exhibit Superheroes: the Art of Alex Ross at the Mona Bismarck American Center for Art & Culture brings to us the work of a groundbreaking comic book artist, who has worked on the likes of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Wednesday to Sunday, 11 AM-6 PM at 34 avenue du New York, Paris 75116.
Through June 15
For those looking for events commemorating WWI (1914-1918), the Galerie des Bibliothèques de la Ville de Paris (Municipal Libraries Gallery, 22 rue Malher, 4th) is hosting a fascinating exhibit, Paris 14/18, la Guerre au Quotidien. It includes over 200 photos and films, never shown in public before, documenting the life of Parisians during the war years, and how the city and the country were forever changed. Watch the trailer for the exhibit here (en français). The expo is free, open Tues-Sun 1-7pm (Thursdays until 9pm).
June 19
The American Library in Paris (10 Rue du Général Camou, 7th) is hosting author Karen Karbo who will be presenting her books “Julia Child Rules” and “The Gospel According to Coco Chanel” (part of her Kick-Ass Women” series) from 7:30-9:30pm, free entry, books available for purchase.
July 3
My favorite English book store, Abbey Bookshop (29 rue de la pArchiminerie, 5th), is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a street party featuring authors Stephen Clarke (Year in the Merde and his new book Dirtie Bertie) and Heather Stimmler-Hall (with the first new copies of Naughty Paris!) today from 7pm until we run out of sangria. Free entry. RSVP on Facebook.
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.
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.
Food & Entertainment
May 31 -June 1
The music festival We Love Green is back at the Parc de Bagatelle, 75016 Paris after 2 years, with Foals and London Grammar heading the line-up! Musical acts are accompanied by a children’s space, festivities and organic restaurants for the tired concert-goer. Enjoy previews of the songs by following We Love Green onFacebook and reserve tickets online before they are snatched up. Tickets for May 31 are sold out, but 2 day passes and tickets for June 1 are still available as of April 3.
June 14, 17 & 28
Looking to mingle with the locals at an exclusive pop-up cocktail club known as The Chamber? There are three different events open to non-members this month, including a Private Rosé-tasting class on the 14th, a Boozy Book Club featuring “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” on the 17th, and Tea & Tipples on June 28th with Afternoon-appropriate cocktails, pastries and tea in a private location. Tell the organizer Forest that Heather sent you, and RSVP ASAP to get one of the few spots!
June 18 & 19
Enjoy world-class classical music with socializing at this month’s Sinfonietta Paris Cocktails & Conversations, classical music performances by the up-and-coming young stars of the music world at the beautiful Finnish Institute – just behind the Musée National du Moyen Âge in the 5th (60 Rue des Écoles). The program will feature Schubert’s Nocturn for Piano trio and the thrilling First Piano Quartet by Johannes Brahms. After the performance, enjoy an excellent presentation of wine and mingle with musicians and fellow culture lovers. From 8-11pm. Tickets €25 (wine and hors d’oeuvres included). Register on the website; places limited.
June 19-September 20
Missing the beach this summer? Stop by Glazart to enjoy La Plage, a pleasant beach atmosphere + sand, all inside you favorite 19th arrondissement bar. Free entry and free music most days.
June 20-29
It’s time for the annual Semaine Italienne at Place d’Italie (13th), a small festival celebrating Italien culture, with food, music, art and language stands outside the Mairie du 13ème, free entry.
June 21
The Fête de la Musique is one of those rare annual events when Paris gets to turn itself inside out and blow off some steam. Music lovers, professional and amateur musicians alike, will pour into the streets for one long night of festivities. Be sure to check the schedule of spectacles and events online before heading out, because the streets are going to be full of people celebrating, and if you don’t plan ahead, you might never get to the concert you wanted to see. This is a free event.
June 22
This summer, Pixar in Concert comes to Paris! The Sinfonia Pop Orchestra will be playing musical themes from 13 movies, from Toy Story to Ratatouille, for only one day at the Palais des Congres, Porte Maillot, 75017 Paris. Tickets are available online, but will no doubt sell out very quickly – so buy now to watch excerpts from your favourite Pixar films accompanied by a live musical performance.
July 6
From 8:15 to 11 PM, enjoy the Once Upon a Table dinner at 59, Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 75005 Paris. For only €130, you have the chance to eat a five course French meal, drink local wine and immerse yourself in Paris’ stellar food culture. Register on the website.
Flea Markets & Shopping
May 31- June 1
The 7th annual Ceramics Festival takes place this weekend from 10am-7pm in the Mouffetard district (rue de Bazeilles and rue Censier, 5th), free entry.
June 22
Le Salon Emmaus is a gathering of “restoration artists” and their wares. Vintage clothes, furniture, decorative objects, antique telephones — you name it, someone from the Emmaus community has found it and restored it! A great place to find good deals, with all proceeds going to a good cause (Emmaüs helps bring marginalized adults back into the work force). Adults €3 entry, free for kids under 12, open 9:30am-7pm.
June 25 -July 29
Les Soldes! The annual summer sales take place this year for five weeks throughout France, primarily in clothing stores, but pretty much everything is on sale now.
July 5
Stock up on cheap used books in English while helping out the SOS Helpline at today’s “Bag of Books” Sale. A whole bag of books for just €5, what a deal! Swing by St Joseph’s Church (50 avenue Hoche, 8th), the book sale will be set up on the steps outside from noon-3pm. Note that they are not accepting any donations, they’re trying to get rid of books during this sale!
Outdoor Fun
June 7-July 27
20th anniversary of the Paris Jazz Festival: come enjoy traditional Parisian and international jazz music in the Bois de Vincennes’s Parc Floral. Tickets are 5.50 €.
Through June 9
From noon to midnight every day is theFoire du Trone, an open air fair with rides, food and perfect for a family outing. Watch the teaser video and head on over to the Pelouse de Reuilly, 92 boulevard Poniatowski, 75012 Paris. Keep in mind the firework show on May 1 and the grand carnival on May 11.
June 15
Get out your fancy hats and picnic baskets for the annual Prix de Diane races at Chantilly Hippodrome (just 45 minutes north of Paris from Gare du Nord). Read more about the event here. It’s Father’s Day in France, too, so be prepared for enormous crowds like last year!
June 27-29
Solidays is one of the best summer music festivals in France. This event unites more than 150 musicians and 160,000 attendees every year in the fight against AIDS, and this summer is expected to be bigger and better than ever, dedicated to Nelson Mandela. Day passes starting at € 39.
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.
Other Paris Calendar Links
- For literary events, readings, and classes: Monthly Paris Listing and American Library in Paris.
- For indie/alternative music concerts see Gigs in Paris
- For art exhibitions, museum news and openings see Paris Muse.
- For mainstream events visit the Paris Office of Tourism.
- For naughty events, see the Naughty Paris Guide.
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