Atelier Mala & Xi’an
Stay Off the Streets!
On the strong recommendation of a friend, I ate recently at the Sichuan “street food” restaurant Atelier Mala. I put “street food” in quotes because it seems to me that street food is food sold in the street, not in … Read More
La Petite Périgourdine Restaurant
Keeping It Classic
You may have noticed that we’ve been reviewing a number of traditional restaurants here lately (Au Moulin à Vent, À La Renaissance, etc.). That’s mostly a coincidence, but in fact these types of restaurants are currently à la mode, not … Read More
Playing with Fire
Now You See Her ...
The room is empty, with only a Steinway Spirio grand piano in the center. Don your virtual reality headset, however, and suddenly the famed pianist Yuja Wang, dressed in a chic black-and-white-striped gown, is seated at the keyboard playing Maurice … Read More
Eva Jospin: Grottesco & Claire Tabouret: D’un Seul Souffle
Pagan vs. Christian Iconography
French museums are brilliant at putting on mega exhibitions like the current “1925-2025: 100 Years of Art Deco” (through April 26) at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs or “Sargent: Dazzling Paris” (through January 11) at the Musée d’Orsay, both of … Read More
L’Engloutie
The Dark Magic of the Alps
Louise Hémon’s first feature film, L’Engloutie (literally meaning “The Engulfed One” but due to be released in the Anglophone world with the title The Girl in the Snow), is inspired by her great-great aunt, Aimée Bigalet, who wrote of her … Read More
Les Marmottes Restaurant
Alpine Cheesefest
If you are longing for a few runs down the glistening slopes of the Alps, followed by a warming fondue, but are stuck in Paris, not to worry, you can at least have a good cheesy fondue or one of … Read More
L’Étranger
The Scent of Alienation
Some well-known and/or much-loved novels have proved notoriously difficult to portray onscreen. Books, for example, that rely on the internal thoughts of their heroines or heroes, such as Jane Austen’s Emma or Madame de Lafayette’s La Princesse de Clèves rarely … Read More
Photo of the Month
La Villette dressed in holiday red. © Paris Update
What's Happening in Paris This Month
For full details about an event, click on the title to visit the official Web site (in English when available).
February 2
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Un Conte de Noël.
Cinéma du Panthéon, Paris
January 7-February 3
Bargain hunting
The official government-sanctioned winter retail sales period.
Paris & most of France
February 6
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Ma Frère.
L’Entrepôt, Paris
February 7
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Les Choristes.
L’Epée de Bois, Paris
February 1-8
The Sun King’s carpets
Once upon a time, the young Louis XIV commissioned 92 carpets for the Grande Galerie of his palace, the Louvre, but then he decided to relocate to Versailles and build a new palace. The 92 magnificent handwoven carpets were never installed. Some were preserved or used for various purposes (e.g., decorating the office of the French president until Emmanuel Macron arrived), while others were cut up and sold and resold at auction. For one week only, some 30 of these pieces are on display in the nave of the Grand Palais, along with 12 tapestries from the series The History of the King. Photo: Manufacture de la Savonnerie d’après Charles Le Brun (1619-1690), Tête d’Apollon, détail du 6e tapis de la Grande Galerie du Louvre, 1679. © Mobilier National-Isabelle Bideau
Grand Palais, Paris
February 7-8
Branded dinnerware
Impress your friends with the same tableware used by renowned restaurants like Lucas Carton, on sale at the La Vaisselle des Chefs. Part of the proceeds will go to help train young people in need to work in the restaurant business.
Césure, Paris
January 29-February 14
World music
The Festival Au Fil des Voix presents concerts by musicians from around the globe.
Various locations, Paris
February 13-15
Massive art show
Some 3,000 artists show their work at Art Capital.
Grand Palais, Paris
February 18-19
Choose science
The slogan of the Paris-Saclay Summit, which brings together Nobel Prize winners and leading scientists from around the world, is “Stop talking, start acting: choose science!” Topics range from AI to ion beams. Click here to sign up for free.
EDF Lab Paris-Saclay, Palaiseau
January 19-February 20
Dance festival
Performances by dancers of all ages, professional and amateur, all over Paris and its suburbs for Faits d’Hiver.
Various venues, Paris & suburbs
February 18-22
Literary festival
Festival Effractions brings together 40 writers to discuss the relationship between fiction and reality.
Various venues, Paris
February 18-22
Move your body
The Festival Everybody celebrates every body type with five days of dance classes, performances and more.
Carreau du Temple, Paris
February 13-March 1
Emerging artists
Forty contemporary artists from 15countries exhibit their art at the 68th Salon de Montrouge.
Beffroi de Montrouge, Montrouge
February 21-March 1
A barnyard in Paris
The Salon International de l’Agriculture brings the best of the country’s livestock and crops – and the products made from them – to Paris. Sadly, there will be no cattle at the fair this year because of the danger of spreading lumpy skin disease.
Porte de Versailles, Paris
Through March 8
Light in the darkness
Light Cycles immerses visitors in magical light shows amid the shadows of the park.