Heidi Ellison
Les Beaux Mecs
GOOD FRENCH TV: NO LONGER AN OXYMORON Tony le Dingue, played by Simon Abkarian. The French love American TV series, whether schlocky or great. There used to be a regular TV show devoted to American series, and the cable channel … Read More
Messiah
Bass Darren Jeffery surrounded by just a few of the many elements that went into a visually chaotic Paris production of Handel’s Messiah. I couldn’t contain my curiosity when I heard that Oleg Kulik, one of the most outrageously provocative … Read More
Pavillon des Lettres
The trend in Parisian luxury hotels these days seems to be to go to great lengths to achieve neutrality so as not to risk offending anyone’s tastes. Colors are neutral beiges, browns and grays, with the emphasis on rich materials … Read More
Online on the Rails
ONLINE ON THE RAILS France is famous for its excellent high-speed train service, but one high-tech feature has until now been conspicuously absent: the Internet. That will start to change now that a combined Wi-Fi/satellite service is being offered on … Read More
Mini Palais
Don't Judge a Menu at the En-Cas
THIS RESTAURANT IS NOW CLOSED Pros: Wonderful food, service, location. Low noise levels. Big outdoor terrace. Cons: Can’t think of any I was disappointed by my first glance at the menu at the Mini Palais, whose “consulting chef” is Eric … Read More
Une Poule sur un Mur
The gambas were served on a bed of fried risotto. Pros: Smiling service, quality food, quiet ambiance Cons: Food a bit too spicy Playing the game of Chicken can be extremely dangerous, but there is little risk involved in … Read More
Vanité. Mort, que me veux-tu ?
MORTAL REMINDERS Andres Serrano: “The Morgue (Killed by Four Great Danes),” 1992 © Andres Serrano Death never goes out of style, but right now it is trendier than ever, with death’s heads a must-have on all sorts of fashion items, … Read More
1000 Years of Annoying the French
Stephen Clarke, a British writer who lives in Paris, has built a successful career for himself by cleverly exploiting the long-standing love-hate relationship between the rosbifs and the frogs, to use each side’s slurring epithet for the other. After a … Read More
Copacabana
Copacabana, written and directed by Marc Fitoussi, is a fresh, completely absorbing little film about people – or rather, one person – you feel you might have known. Isabelle Huppert steps away from the tortured characters she often plays to … Read More
Maison Jean Cocteau
Dandy-Dilettante or Multifaceted Genius ?
Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) is a slippery character. It’s hard to get a grip on who he was and what he did, partly because he did so many different things – he was a poet, artist, novelist, playwright, filmmaker, screenwriter, set … Read More