Something for the Holidays

Holiday time again in Paris (for me too, but far from the city!), and many things to see and do. Here are a few of my recommendations.

Journée du Disquaire/Record Store Day

Every weekend seems to bring some kind of new celebratory event, and the next two are no exception. Saturday 16th sees one that grows enormously each year (it only begun in 2007), and this year it is arriving in force in France.

With the music industry in crisis, Record Store Day is a nod back to the golden years of vinyl. It is not just a celebration of 33s and 45s though, but also a way for artists to thank true hardcore fans. Many artists produce special limited edition releases, and independant retailers are also the site of inpromptu concerts and signing sessions.

A full list of events can be found here - http://www.disquaireday.fr/calif.fr/Accueil.html

4AM Project

The small hours of April 24th are the moment for the following event, for this is when groups of people around the world will be exploring their local environments at an unusual time. The idea is a very simple one - what does your world look like at 4AM? Go outside, wander around, take pictures then upload them on the event website!

http://4amproject.org/

Les frères Dufy

There's definitely something of a theme developing this season in Paris. After the launch of an exhibition celebrating the Caillebotte brothers, this week sees the beginning of one investigating the Dufys. As with the Caillebottes, one is well-known (here Raoul), and the other a more mysterious discovery (Jean).

Full details here: http://www.marmottan.com/francais/expositions/exposition-raoul-jean-dufy.asp

Manet the Modernist

Perhaps the biggest exhibition of the year in Paris has now begun at the Musée d’Orsay, with the first Manet retrospective in Paris since 1983. His role as a precursor of future movements is celebrated in this show in which he is declared the ‘inventor of modernity’. See the video introduction for the exhibition here.

"Manet, l'inventeur du moderne"

Musée d’Orsay

Until July 3rd

Watchers

If you're still not sure what to do, rather than watch TV, why not go and see a photo exhibition of other people watching TV? The theme is an unusual one, but the results are fascinating, and the location of the exhibtion - the Carré de Baudouin - merits a visit in itself.

Watchers

Until June 11th

Pavillion Carré de Baudouin

121 rue de Ménilmontant 75020, M°Gambetta