Muguet de Paris

This is the week of the rentrée, that time of year that includes back to school and the resumption of  activities after the summer. This year, it’s back to school for me as well. I’ve signed up for a couple of decorative arts courses at the Sorbonne (shown at right), one on the history and architecture of Versailles, the other on cabinetmakers of the 18th century, specifically those who used precious materials in their work. Those are my first choices; the alternates look promising as well. I’m pretty excited, as this is my first time taking courses there.

August has been, as usual, pretty calm in Paris, but, like many of my neighbors, I’ve learned to take advantage of the feeling of tranquility in the neighborhood. I have been taking a sort of vacation while remaining in place. It’s a time to organize, to plan, to just kick back sometimes and smell the flowers.

Miranda was two years old last week. We celebrated by taking a long walk, and she had three slices of ham in her favorite café. The next day, we went to her second favorite, where she had her buttered tartine. Life is tough for a Parisian dog. She seems to have calmed down finally, and she lets me work. 

The rentrée promises to be stimulating, to say the least. The invitations are starting to come in. So far, I am particularly looking forward to the Salon des Antiquaires et des Arts Contemporains (inaugural cocktail party the 10th of September) at Pont d’Alma and the Biennale des Antiquaires, which will take place again this year under the nave of the Grand Palais (shown above).

There are exhibitions that are not to be missed — Picasso et les Maîtres (Picasso and the Masters) (right) at the Grand Palais; Bonaparte et l’Egypte (Bonaparte and Egypt) at the Institut du Monde Arabe (and, of course, the Napoléon exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs continues until 5 October); Dufy, whose work always cheers me, at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris; and Monet, l’Oeil Impressionniste (The Impressionist Eye) at the Musée Marmottan, just to name a few.

In the performing arts there are all sorts of offerings, as well. The Opéra de Paris welcomes the New York City Ballet this month for a series of works by Balanchine and Robbins (Sérénade, shown at left, was Balanchine’s first ballet in the United States) , and Lorin Maazel will be at the Salle Pleyel for two nights, the 8th and 9th of September. For those whose taste runs more to popular music, there will be Madonna, Elton John and Joan Baez. One never runs out of things to do in Paris. The hard part is making the choice.

I hope your rentrée will be happy, healthy and full of interesting things to do, wherever you spend it. I’ll keep you posted.

(Photo Credits: 1 and 2 – Wikipedia; 3 and 4 – Figaroscope)

Jan del Monte, blogging from the rue du Cherche-Midi, Paris, France.

© 2008 Jan del Monte

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