November 4-12
The 42nd annual Salon Marjolaine, the largest organic fair in Paris, takes place this week at the Parc Floral (Bois de Vincennes) with 550 stands selling everything organic you could imagine: produce, meats, cheeses, artisan oils, wines, essential oils, herbs, teas, cosmetics, beauty products, household cleaning products, clothing, shoes, accessories, home decor, books, gardening supplies, as well as stands for environmental tourism, different green activist groups such as Greenpeace, etc. There are also plenty of food stands for lunch onsite, a vestiaire, and a little shuttle from the metro Château de Vincennes to the entrance of the Parc Floral. Open 10:30am-7pm. Entry €10, but you can get a €3 discount voucher on the website to print out in advance. You can also see my article and video from my visit in 2010.
November 11 Armistice Day (Bank holiday)
November 14-20
The Blue Note Festival is one of the most prestigeous jazz festivals in Paris (and that’s saying a lot in the city that loves jazz!) takes place this year in the Salle Pleyel (including Van Morrison), the New Morning jazz club, and the Flow péniche. Tickets starting at €25.
Through November 15
The famous street artist Thoma Vuille, aka Monsieur Chat, has an exposition of his smiling yellow cat artworks at the Hotel Molitor lobby (13 rue Nungesser et Coli, 16th). Free entry.
November 16
Although it’s rather low-key in France compared to the hype it gets in America, the annual Beaujolais Nouveau festival takes place in wine bars throughout Paris today. Read all about the history and the different varieties (good, bad, ugly) and where to celebrate in Paris in this excellent article by Aaron Ayscough, The Redemption of Beaujolais Nouveau (read the 2014 update here and his current on-location exploration of the Beaujolais region here). And for fun, here’s a link to the little video I made at the Beaujolais dinner I attended in 2010 with Meg Zimbeck of Paris by Mouth and Bryan Pirolli.
November 16-26
Looking for locally-brewed beer? The Brasseurs de France are selling their “Made in Paris” beer brewed from hops grown in the Bois de Vincennes. Find it for just 10 days at the Chai de Bercy (41 rue Paul Belmondo, 12th, Bercy Park). Open Thursday-Sunday 10am-5pm.
November 18
The charity thrift stores Emmaüs are holding their annual Brocante Solidaire & StreetArt expo, noon-7pm at L’Aérosole (54 rue de l’Evangile, 18th). In addition to some great clothes, furniture and bric-à-brac, there are also food trucks, street art demos and DJ’s for a festive atmosphere.
November 18-19
La Cité de L’Architecture at Trocadéro is celebrating its 10th anniversary with Portes Ouvertes alll weekend (free entry).
November 19 & 25
Twice a year the Paris municipal gardens sell their surplus seedling plants to the public for just €1 each. The next two are November 18th from 10am-2:15pm at the Arènes de Lutèce (5th), and November 25th from 10am-2:15pm at the Parc Monceau (8th). From experience, I recommend getting there at 9am and bringing a friend so you can tag-team bathroom breaks and coffee runs. And bring something sturdy to carry them home! Ten plants per person while supplies last.
November 23 – December 28
The Marché de Noël La Défense opens in late November for its 23rd year in a row with 250 chalets featuring gifts, food and Christmas decorations. Since the Champas-Elysées fair was cancelled (the contract for the company running it was not renewed by the City Council), this is the largest Christmas MArket in the Paris area (reachable on Line 1 of the metro). Free entry, open Mon-Thurs and Sunday 11am-8pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm. More markets will open around Paris in December.
November 25
Tonight the city is hosting the Course des Lumières, an after-dark 10k run and 4k walk to benefit the Curie Institute (cancer research). If you’d like to participate (need to raise €200 minimum), it’s not too late! Check out their website to sign up or support one of the runners/walkers by making a donation here.
November 26
Author, poet and presenter of the popular Canadian travel TV show, “Next Stop Paris”, Lisa Pasold will be reading from her latest novel The Riparian tonight at Berkeley Books in Paris (8 rue Casimir Delavigne) from 7:30pm. All welcome, libations and musical entertainment included, free entry, buy a book (or five).
December 2
The 41st annual AAWE Bazaar at the American Church of Paris (65 Quai d’Orsay, 7th), a giant second-hand sale of quality clothes, jewelry, handbags, accessories, English books, toys, children’s and baby clothes, white elephants, and baked goods. The Bazaar also continues the long tradition of American women coming together once a week to create and craft hand-made items, for sale at the Handicrafts table. Open 9:30am-5pm. Entrance €2, free for kids, proceeds go to charities in France and abroad helping women and children.
Other Official Paris Calendar Links
▪ For general events around Paris: Que Faire à Paris?
▪ For mainstream events visit the: Paris Office of Tourism
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