Heidi Ellison
L’Opéra
Backstage at the Opera (And the Ballet)
The Opéra National de Paris is a big, unwieldy machine that encompasses not only the French national opera company but also the national ballet. Jean-Stéphane Bron’s new documentary, L’Opéra, like Frederick Wiseman’s recent documentary on the National Gallery in London, … Read More
Paris Update Events 12.04.17
Take home a winemaker > Winemakers from Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux come to Paris to offer tastings of their products in wine bars and private homes for the event J’Irai Déguster chez Vous. Various venues, Paris, April 20-22. Polaroid pix … Read More
Dilia
Gourmet Musical Chairs For Talented Young Chefs
The tiny corner restaurant in the 19th arrondissement that used to be the super-hip Roseval is now the domain of Italian chef Michele Farnesi, who used to work at the wonderful, now-defunct Rino. Rino’s chef, Giovanni Passerini, now at Passerini, … Read More
Pissarro in Éragny: Nature Regained
Impressionist and Gentle Anarchist
I have often been struck by the luminous beauty of a painting by Impressionist Camille Pissarro (1830-1904) when I come across his work in a group show, but “Pissarro à Éragny: La Nature Retrouvée” at the Musée du Luxembourg is … Read More
Tintamarre! Instruments de Musique dans l’Art
If Music Be The Food of Art...
Every year, the Musée des Impressionnismes puts on two interesting exhibitions that give people another reason to visit Giverny during the spring and summer – the other one being, of course, Monet’s garden. This year’s first show is “Tintamarre! Instruments … Read More
Paris Update Events 05.04.17
Through June 30 Virtual reality > Drop in on Saturday or Sunday from 2pm to 8pm for a free virtual trip at the VR Express festival. Forum des Images, Paris. Through Oct. 21 Dance in historic sites > Monuments en … Read More
Tous
Good Cheer, Good Chow
“Tous,” the name of a new restaurant in the ninth arrondissement, could mean “everything,” but I think in this case it means “everyone,” as in “everyone feels welcome here.” The greetings are friendly from both the easygoing young couple who … Read More
Dans le noir
Taste-bud Testing
Everyone has heard of Dans le Noir, the restaurant where diners eat in total darkness with guidance from blind servers, turning the tables on the sighted. Now the concept has been expanded to include a tasting experience in a fine … Read More
Le Secret de la Chambre Noire
Creaky Vehicle for Ghost from the Past
Le Secret de la Chambre Noire (Daguerreo-type; misspelled as Daguerrotype), the first movie by Japanese horror film director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (no relation to the great Akira Kurosawa) to be made outside of his country, in France, is basically an old-fashioned … Read More
L’Office
All in a Working Day
I keep going back to the Office because this little restaurant in the ninth arrondissement changes chefs occasionally, not by plan like Fulgurances, but in the way of an ordinary restaurant not owned by its chef. The Office is owned … Read More