Something for the Weekend (November 18th - 20th )

There are 38 days left until Christmas - which means there's still plenty of time to enjoy a relaxing weekend in Paris! Here are a few suggestions.

Activities

Nuits Capitales
Paris is celebrating the fact that its nightlife is still alive with a week-long festival of concerts and clubbing, often in places that are more than off the beaten track. You can find more information on the main event here, but here are a couple of my suggestions for the weekend:

• Soiree bus: for those with a pass for the Nuits Capitales festival, make sure you get on the 'Soirée bus' - a kind of mobile nightclub - that will be doing the tour of the principal sites on Friday and Saturday night.
  



• Petites balades sonores: A festival 'des nuits' need not only concern the night-time. Event organisers Les Boutiques Sonores have lined up for the weekend a series of concerts in a variety of unusual places (flower shops, galleries, tea shops..) from early afternoon on Saturday and Sunday.

Portes Ouvertes in Montmartre
Around studios will be opening their doors this weekend between Anvers and Abesses on the Montmartre hill. As usual, go for the opportunity it gives to explore behind normally closed doors into unseen courtyards, and hope to find something interesting in the studios.

More information here: http://www.anversauxabbesses.fr/


Fooding
The organisation may have a ridiculous name, but its goal - to make good food more accessible - and its always original events always seduce. To celebrate the latest edition of their guide and the recent Fooding award winners, this weekend two boats will sail up and down the Seine, serving dishes designed by some of the leading chefs of the moment - with all proceeds going to charity.

Full information on tickets and access here: http://www.lefooding.com/evenements/2011/cambuse-effervescente/


An undercover brocante
Wandering around a brocante is always an interesting experience - unless it rains! You can be sure to avoid this problem by taking a tour round the covered event in the Passage des Panoramas this Sunday.

Passage des Panoramas, 75002, M° Grands Boulevards
Sunday November 20th

Take a Break from Paris

The Beaune Wine Auction
The third week of November is associated with Beaujolais Nouveau, but it need not just mean poor quality wine! Celebrating its 151st edition, the Beaune Wine Auctions brings wine connaisseurs from around the world to this attractive Burgundy town, but even if you can't afford to bid, there are many other events and activities organised, and tasting is always free!

More details: http://www.beaune-tourism.com/burgundy-news/wine-auction-festivities.asp