Newly Rennovated Orsay Museum Opens

The Orsay, with its stunning collection of impressionist painters, sculptures and decorative arts from the turn of the (20th) century era, has reopened after a thorough renovation. The art is now displayed against a soft grey background, a color palette carefully chosen to highlight the tones within the paintings. The cafes and restaurants have all been redone to improve the visitor experience. It will be wonderful to be able to re-visit all our favorites in this stunning rehab of a grand old train station once again!

And a little further afield, be sure to catch the exhibition of the Stein family private collections at the Grand Palais. Rich in Picasso's, Matisse, Braque and so much more, this private collection is a lovely compliment to the works in the Orsay.

Dancing the NIght Away

Summer in Paris is full of festivals and great opportunities to get out into the summer days and nights and enjoy this great city. Here's one for dancers. "Dancing in the Open Air" is a daily event that takes place along the left bank's Quai St. Bernard, roughly between the Gare Austerlitz and the Institut de Monde Arabe. From 9 to midnight people gather to samba, tango, do folk dances, swing and jazz dancing. No partner needed! It's free and alot of fun.

Very Modern Art At Gallerie Jocelyn Wolff

If you love modern art, specifically edgy conceptual art, head up to Belleville and visit the Gallerie Jocelyn Wolff. Belleville is a fascinating Paris quarter with excellent small bistros and cafes, lots of artists, and a multicultural population. Gallerie Jocelyn Wolff has been one of the leaders in the Belleville gallery scene for the past few years. Have lunch at Le Baratin just up the street...

January 8-March 5 see 08.01.2011-05.03.2011

Billy Apple, William Anastasi, Ben, Katinka Bock, George Brecht,
Robert Filiou, Ludwig Gosewitz, Tomas Schmit, Franz Erhard Walther

Exhibition at Galerie Jocelyn Wolff
78, rue Julien-Lacroix
F-75020 Paris

Curated by Erik Verhagen and Jocelyn Wolff
Opening: January 8, 2011, 2 PM
Exhibition: January 8 through March 5, 2011


08.01.2011-05.03.2011 is the second chapter of an exhibition that focus on artistic
proposals that prefigure the conceptual phenomenon as it developed in 1966-1967.

A Holiday Gift to You.. Give Trip Advising and Get A Great Discount

Need a personal and perfect gift for your France-bound friends? Your Great Days In Paris is offering our new and returning clients a healthy discount on Trip Coaching and Advising Services (now including Istanbul), up to four hours per client. Price: $50 not $70 per hour. We'll get you and your Francophile friends to the best in Paris, carefully considering your budget, interests and your preferred travel style. Happy Holidays!

Or, for a BIG and wonderful gift, present your friends with the opportunity to join me on a culinary or cultural tour in Paris, Turkey, the Pays Basque or Lyon in 2011.

Finding Out What's 'On' In Paris

Sometimes you just want to read what’s ‘on’ and dream, even better, other times you want to know what is happening so you can actually take advantage of the abundant Parisian cultural riches during a visit.

Once you are in Paris, the best deal in town has to be Pariscope. Published on Wednesdays and available in all the newsstands, this little TV-guide like booklet is the go to source for seemingly everything that is going on. Love movies? Check. Concerts ranging from techno music to jazz to classical or world music? Check. Walking tours and special festivals? Yes. Brocantes, Art and Antiques shows? Marionette shows for the kids? Absolutely. Pariscope will be the best .60 euro cents you’ve ever spent. Sit in a café and get out your highlighter and check off far more things than you will ever realistically do. Always good to have options!

For up to date events, news about city wide and arrondissement-specific initiatives (for example, where you can find free wifi spots, or cultural development of the Parc de la Villette area) you should definitely check out and bookmark the excellent e-zine called À Paris that the Mairie de Paris publishes. Full colour, loads of content and wonderfully useful, this publication is not skewed by for-profit interests, it is simply published to promote and encourage access to all that Paris has to offer. www.paris.fr/portal/publications/

The latest issue outlines all there is to do in Paris during the summer months. Indeed, www.paris.fr is the city of Paris’ newly renovated website and this excellent resource is available in French and English.