Paul and Paulette Take a Bath
Odd Couple in Paris
One reviewer of the indie film Paul and Paulette Take a Bath, written and directed by Jethro Massey, called it “twisted,” but it seems to me that it is not the film itself but the main characters – and, by … Read More
Mantra Restaurant
Meditate on This
A mantra is supposed to be kept secret, but Paris is home to one mantra whose existence should be broadcast far and wide. I’m referring to the new (five-month-old) restaurant Mantra in Paris’s 9th arrondissement. Mantra, with chef Manogeran Shasitaran … Read More
Madame de Sévigné: Lettres Parisiennes
Lasting Letters
The 400th anniversary this year of the birth of that great letter-writer, the Marquise de Sévigné, afforded me the opportunity both to visit the wonderful new exhibition “Madame de Sévigné: Lettres Parisiennes” at the Musée Carnavalet (located in a building … Read More
Monaco Restaurant
Café Life Renewed
I am here to testify that there is more to the gastronomic offerings of the 13th arrondissement than Asian restaurants of various stripes. One non-Asian gem is Monaco, once a venerable but declining café, now a spacious, light-filled café/restaurant with … Read More
Orangutan Playground
Man of the Forest
The five orangutans who live in the Ménagerie in Paris’s Jardin des Plantes have a new outdoor playground. Formerly confined to a glassed-in enclosure, they can now make their way across an elevated bridge to a triangular structure entirely enclosed … Read More
Photo of the Month
Colorful Canal Saint Martin. Photo: Ron Fox
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).
May 20-25
Go outdoors!
Guided walks, exhibitions, open gardens and more will take place across the country for Fête de la Nature.
Various locations, France
May 26
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents La Femme de L’Aviateur.
Lucernaire, Paris
May 28
Street food
The barbecue version of the street-food pop-up, Le Food Market: free entry and food stands a-go-g0..
Boulevard de Belleville between Métro stations Couronnes and Ménilmontant, Paris
May 29
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents C’est Quoi L’Amour?
Balzac, Paris
May 1-30
Celebrating cycling
Mai à Vélo celebrates and promotes all things cycling. Events in Paris include tours and cycling challenges.
Worldwide
May 30
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Juste une Illusion.
Luminor Hôtel de Ville, Paris
May 25-31
Brewer’s bash
Local bars will feature craft beers throughout the week, and the Paris Beer Festival will take place at Ground Control on the weekend.
Various locations & Ground Control, Paris
May 28-31
Studio-hopping
Some 150 artists open their studios to the public for Portes Ouvertes des Ateliers d’Artistes de Belleville, an occasion to discover not only artworks but also hidden gardens and courtyards in this lively quarter of Paris.
Various locations, Paris
May 28-31
Free performances indoors and out
The Festival Onze Bouge presents free concerts, theater, dance performances and street art.
11th arrondissement, Paris
May 29-31
Gallery walks
Explore dozens of modern and contemporary art galleries during Paris Gallery Weekend.
Various locations, Paris
May 31
Festival of Colors, Love and Spring
Celebration of the joyous Fête de Holi. Don’t wear your best clothes in case you are caught in a shower of color.
Jardin d’Acclimatation, Paris
May 27-June 3
Local literature festival
The libraries, bookshops, museums and universities of Paris’s literary fifth arrondissement open their doors for Quartier du Livre, a week-long celebration of the written word. Meetings with authors, conferences, concerts and more.
Various locations, Paris
June 5
Mandela onstage
The Life of Nelson Mandela follows the South African leader from youthful resistance to imprisonment, and from imprisonment to statesmanship and reconciliation. More than a historical account, it is a vivid theatrical portrait of a figure whose legacy still speaks powerfully today.
Alhambra, Paris
June 6
Midnight culture
Art of all types will be on display in the streets of Paris late into the night during the annual Nuit Blanche festivities.
Various locations, Paris
May 29-June 7
Cello festival
Concerts, dance and more at the Beauvais International Cello Festival.
Beauvais, France
June 4-7
Charity fashion sale
Hundreds of fashion brands have donated clothing to be sold at a 70 percent discount at the Grande Braderie de la Mode de AIDES.
Magasins Généraux, Pantin
June 5-7
Green music festival
We Love Green, an eco-friendly outdoor festival with concerts, DJ sets and more.
Bois de Vincennes, Paris
June 5-7
Gardens galore
For the Rendez-vous aux Jardins, public and private gardens all over France open their gates and offer educational tours, concerts, tastings and more. This year the focus is on views.
Various locations, France
June 6-8
Art & history in Fontainebleau
The annual Festival de l’Histoire de l’Art is a weekend packed with free activities, including exhibitions, films, a book fair, conferences, debates and guided tours celebrating art new and old, all in the gorgeous setting of the Château de Fontainebleau.
Château de Fontainebleau
June 5-7
Street art festival
Over 40 street art companies, including circus performers, dancers and puppeteers gather in the center of Nanterre for the three-day Parade(s) festival.
Nanterre Centre-Ville
June 5-7
Stimulating books
The Paris Ass Book Fair gives “an important place to marginal and untimely sensibilities, desires and aspirations, and to affirm a joyful approach to art and publishing, a taste for provocation and the absurd, an urge to stimulate minds and bodies.”
Palais de Tokyo, Paris
June 6-7
Lively literary festival
The festival Mots pour Mot offers free encounters with authors as diverse as Alain Finkielkraut and Riad Sattouf. Reservations recommended.
La Villette, Paris
June 7
Giant bike rally
La Convergence brings together riders from all over the Île de France, who converge on avenue de Saxe in Paris for a group picnic. See website for routes.
Île de France and Paris
June 3-13
Short films
Côté Court presents all kinds of short-form art: videos, films, essays and fiction.
Ciné 104, Pantin
March 20-June 21
Drawing season
Le Printemps du Dessin presents exhibitions and workshops highlighting this accessible art form across the country.
Various venues, France
June 5-21
June 5-21
Meet the trees
The festival Les Nuits des Forêts draws visitors into French forests with exhibitions, shows and immersive events, by day and by night.
Various locations, France
May 28-June 23
Classical music festival
The Festival de Saint Denis features both stars and young talents. Many concerts are held in the Basilique Saint-Denis
Various locations, Saint-Denis
June 6, 20 & 27
New music
ManiFeste, IRCAM’s international festival, presents three concerts.
Centquatre, Paris
May 21-June 28
Outdoor cultural markets
The Foire Saint-Sulpice brings week-long markets – featuring rare books, antiques, stamps, ceramics, contemporary prints and poetry – to the Place Saint-Sulpice. Free admission.
Place Saint-Sulpice, Paris
May 22-September 2o
The world as we know it today
The wonderful Musée Albert Kahn, whose founder’s aim was to create ““a vast photographic inventory of the Earth’s surface … as it appeared at the beginning of the 20th century,” brings that goal up to date with Mondes en Commun, a festival of contemporary photographs of our world.
Musée Départemental Albert Kahn, Boulogne-Billancourt
May 16-September 26
Candlelit château
Every Saturday throughout the summer, the Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte and its grounds will be lit by 2,000 candles for the Soirées aux Chandelles.
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, Île-de-France
April 3–December 31
Art indoors and out
Contemporary art exhibitions on the Île Seguin and in the Seine Musicale for the Extatiques festival. Free admission,