Anthologie de l’Humour Noir

Tonight we're off to the Vingtième Théâtre to see Odile's cousin, Bernard Menez (here in the photo at left) in this play based on the work of André Breton (who said «L'esprit, mis en présence de toute espèce de difficulté, peut trouver une issue idéale dans l'absurde.»)

UPDATE: Afterwards we joined our Greek friends, Dimitiris & Babis, at the Eglise de Saint Constantin et Sainte Hélène, just down from Pigalle, for the candlelight ceremony celebrating the Greek Easter and the resurrection of the Christ. Their friend, Gina, joined us somewhat before midnight and we set out (on what turned out to be quite a trek through Montmartre) to find a place to have drinks (easy) and a bite to eat (amazingly difficult - at that hour). We lucked out at Au Rendez-vous de Montmartre where at first there was nothing to eat off the menu but, where finally, it turned out we could have omelettes, fries and ( minuscule) salad. Afterwards a winey strol to Le Progrès and finally La Fourmi to close the night around 3am.

Hand in hand

Jacques, who is in town up from Lyon for a colloquium of Le Réseau Asie at the French Sénat on "Founding texts of today's New Caledonia" came to dinner tonight - joined by Flo & Anne ... for much good talk, music (maracas - "Santiago" has the rhythm! - and güiro) and excellent food (merci Odile!).

We did a little YouTubing for music and here is one by Leonard Cohen (with Sonny Rollins) that you may like. And, of course, the incomparable Israel Kamakawiwo'ole with his rendition of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". So you get a feeling for the ambiance last night.

We also stopped by the European Tribune ... on the lighter side a look at an old friend, Mr. Natural!

All in all a fun and interesting evening.

Go with the flow

We went over to the Baron Rouge planning to meet Alain (who'd slipped over to lunch with the Brittany crowd at Les Crocs) so we changed plans (flowingly)and went to help Alison "break out" of the hospital (well, at least until 6pm), jumped in a cab, returned to our 14th and we ended up mid-point on rue Daguerre at Plakias' (for some tasty food from Crete - I has some excellent Spanakopita) with her and Benj. Thanks also to Ioannis for the running commentary of food, drink and phone calls.

Cookery Snookery

Today we're off to A.Simon (el paraíso de los utensilios de cocina) - established in 1884, this large kitchenware shop supplies restaurants and professional kitchens ... and now supplies us! Came home with a gaggle of glasses (wine, naturally) and unfulfilled desires to buy every other utensil in the place. See also here for other shops in Paris if you are a cookery freak (or geek), too.

Lunch afterwards at Gourmet d'Asie on rue Saint Denis (known for other delicacies).

[Some reference info: A. Simon is among a cluster of cooking stores on the rue Montmartre once frequented by restaurant professionals drawn to the nearby (but now defunct) wholesale food market of Les Halles. It still stocks merchandise… geared toward restaurateurs in its two stores (one devoted to cookware, the other to dishes and glassware), but the amateur chef is also welcome. Among its many useful and beautiful items for sale, its selection of professional knives is especially noteworthy.]

Fangs?

This afternoon an after-hours incursion at Les Crocs where Alain was having a late lunch with the propriétaire, Luc - who stood us all to some excellent rouge ... and shots of Mirabelle plum eau-de-vie.

Followed by a visit to our still-hospital-bound friend Alison (your well-wishes are welcome) then home for an evening of CSI Miami (our guilty pleasure).

Zig Zagging

PLANNED: Zig Zag, d'atelier en atelier

Les 12 et 13 mai 2007, de 14h à 20h, portes ouvertes des ateliers d'artistes !

Les artistes gentilléens ouvrent les portes de leur atelier. Vernissage le vendredi 11 mai, à partir de 18h, au Service culturel. Avec la fanfare Baracouda Nymphonic orchestra.

Art Day

We're heading over to La Défense later this afternoon - our friend Jean-Philippe Richard has his sculptures at the Le Grand Marché d'Art Contemporain (through Saturday).

Tonight our friend from Uzès, Iva, has her vernissage at l'atelier des Casalis in Paris - join us if you're in town!

Kany

A "slow news day" so I'll leave you with these Kany García videos:

Documental = http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=Grftr2KTmFE

Amigo en el baño = http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Cu76VwpI0

Hoy Ya Me Voy = http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=w7gw-Iz8K8M

Enjoy!

Inork ba al daki ingelesez?

This evening we met Bruce at the (almost) world-famous Baron Rouge for a couple of nice bottles of red wine (Ardèche) - well, two bottles minus the two glasses I catastrophically spilled all over the place!

Afterwards, on a spur-of-the-moment inspiration, we ended up for dinner at La Plancha where Hervé still remembers us (despite the fact it'd been four years - way too long - since we'd been here) - it's always a fun (and very tiny) place and his tapas are truly excellent (to say nothing of the double Manzanita shots Hervé served us to close). As Hervé told Bruce, "You won't get THIS tapas in San Francisco!"

Try it - see video recipe for steak tartare!

We went over to in the charming and lively Montorgueil area where we hooked up with Bruce and his friend Larry (and his friend Karen) at the Jet Lag bar (well named in the case of the two guys as they just flew in from San Francisco yesterday).

After drinks we headed for dinner to Le Tambour nearby. As always a fun ambiance and very good food. Three out of the five of us had steak tartare (I opted for the spareribs basted with honey - excellent).

Spring around the corner

Having lunch with Joel today at Le Buci - it is on an ancient intersection that has seen so much history in Paris. One of the early gates to the medieval city of Paris was right near here, when the old Louvre palace was still a very fortified place and Paris was inside its first walls. Buci is named after a count who owned property right next to the ancient gate. He was also the first president of the parliament of Paris that convened in 1341. And the name has endured over the centuries. Hopefully ancient history and future history-making will convene here today as we map out possibilities for simulation collaboration!