Category: Paris

Where else is the audience invited for a drink and snack at intermission? Where else does the audience vote on the best short film (court-metrage) shown that evening? Only at the Escurial. Bd. Port Royal, Paris 13. M° Gobelins.

Once a month, a dozen shorts are shown on a given theme.

L’Escurial Panorama est la seule et dernière salle indépendante classée Art et Essai du 13ème Arrondissement et aussi l’une des plus anciennes (création en 1911).

Ce lieu est né sous une bonne étoile : dans les années 1980, après avoir longtemps été la propriété du cinéaste Jean Gourguet, il est sauvé de la transformation en supermarché grâce à la volonté de jeunes fous de cinéma. Cette équipe, qui ne connaît rien à l’exploitation mais tout sur les films, fait de cette salle le lieu du cinéma à la carte avec vingt films par semaine et des nuits entières consacrées aux stars que sont Brigitte Bardot ou Marlon Brando. La fréquentation est multipliée par trois et le succès est si rapide qu’une deuxième salle est construite dans l’ancien balcon.

La programmation de l’Escurial permet de faire découvrir au public un cinéma de qualité soutenu par une politique d’animation très forte. Depuis 2002, ” les soirées courts-métrages ” de l’Escurial vous permettent de voir des chefs d’œuvre au format court, dans une ambiance bon enfant et décontractée, le dernier mardi de chaque mois. Deux fois par mois sont également organisées des projections de documentaires le dimanche matin, suivies de débats.

Ce cinéma au destin étonnant incarne la persistance des salles de quartier à la programmation exigeante. Pour ceux qui ne le connaissent pas, l’essayer, c’est l’adopter !

Link to the Escurial.

If you like the cinema … subscribe to the Paris Savannah Connection!

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This sign has intrigued me for quite a while. It’s posted, as you can see, in the middle of the Boulevard Montparnasse.  Not exactly in the midde. A third of the way across.  What’s curious is that there are several but none are “signed” so we don’t know who put them there. The city? The police? The RATP? An NGO? A neighborhood association?

Here’s a close-up. As it isn’t legible at a distance equal to the width of the two traffic lanes separating the pedestrian on the sidewalk from the sign, I had to stand in the middle of the street to read it.

It could be translated into English as “Careful Pedestrians.” Though, I suspect it’s to be interpreted as : “Pedestrians: Be Careful!” Or maybe it’s to warn pedestrians to be wary of other pedestrians. The small print explains it clearly. If you turn your head to a 90° angle, you can read “BUS.” Then you’d have to do another 180° from there to read the other side … Anyway, the idea comes across that a bus lane (singular) runs in dual directions on either side … of a thin black line. …  Or does “double sens” really mean “double meaning” ? I had to stop reading because the 91 was approaching. Too bad, because I was just about to decipher what the other arrows meant…

It was driving slowly in case there were bicycles. Bikes have the right of way in bus lanes. We encourage ecological solutions to the world’s problems. That’s why we group bus transportation and no-pollution bicycling in the same lane.

It was following the rules.. The arrow was pointing the direction in case the driver was distracted

and though I didn’t realize it at the time, bus drivers are multi-tasking folk.

Once the bus had passed … this couple decided to cross … They must have read the sign because they are looking out for buses.  Even if they are looking in the wrong direction. Fortunately, there were none. What they missed were the red lights.

But they weren’t the only ones …

people of all ages cross at the crossings …

and most manage to get to the other side.

It must be thanks to “Maréchal Ney” who directs traffic at the intersection.

He cautiously stands in a safe, protected place.

Understandably.

You’d think that all of this might be a little risky. In fact, if you do successfully cross, there is a reward.  Because if you do, you can just sit back and relax in one of the most beautiful places man has created: Le Jardin de Luxembourg … or “Le Luco” as it’s known in the neighborhood …

(post dedicated to Henrik, Anne, Rasmus and Johann)

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Je travaille à peindre Paris en ce moment, et quelques photos me parlent de la saison.

A l’entrée du jardin des plantes, on
Es accueilli en ce moment par cet arbre magique, discret et présent
Rose parme au parfum subtil.

photos by Ishtar Jaulin, artist, photographer, art therapist.

Thank you, Ishtar!

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Not so long ago, I mentioned some of my favorite movie theaters in Paris. One of them is the Balzac … for cinema off the beaten track, sometimes low budget masterpeices … this is one of the spaces.

Right now, the Balzac is showing “New York I love you.”  And I give it plenty of  ***** !

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Going to a breakfast presentation entitled

Georgia: Gateway to the Southeast USA

in Paris.

and out for a walk after dinner …

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One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is HOW to improve language skills. Language is a skill, sometimes elevated to an art. But like every skill, practice makes perfect. You won’t be a good swimmer … unless you swim. You can’t be a good negotiator if you don’t negotiate. The same goes for photography and cooking. You need to maintain and to acquire. You need a little, just a little vitamin R every day … And that’s one of the reasons for … The Paris Savannah Connection.

Vitamine R

• Reading of course. And reading often. Daily.

Improving your language skills means both input and output. By reading you open yourself to others’ ideas, others’ words, others’ ways of thinking. And it’s a pleasure.

What should you read? Read what interests you. Read for your pleasure. Read for entertainment. Read to learn. Here are some suggestions:

• Read the press. There’s something there for you. Whether you’re in business or the arts;  whether you love sports or fashion, you will improve your vocabulary. You’ll read better. Faster. Think better, too. Often assimilating without even realizing it,  without even being aware of it.

• Read short stories. Read about people, places, and things. Read a few minutes a day. Like about 15 … ? There are numerous bilingual editions and I especially recommend the Folio series.

• Read what you enjoy reading.

• Reading reinforces what you already “know.”

When I’m in Savannah, I LOVE spending time in the big – and smaller – bookstores. The choices are infinite. So I usually end up spending not only lots of hours but also lots of …

Paris has half a dozen or so incredibly fine English language bookstores for both new and used books. Galignani’s and WH Smith on the rue de Rivoli near Concorde, Brentano’s avenue de l’Opéra, The Village Voice on rue Princesse at Mabillon and on rue Monsieur le Prince, the San Francisco Bookshop.  Shakespeare and Company in the Latin Quarter across the Seine from Notre Dame, and there are others too as well as …  hundreds of other booksellers and bookshops dealing in, as is said, la langue de Molière … I think that part of the city experience is just that: being in touch with the people who love what they’re doing. Paper. Print. Ink.

And … of course… if you ever have a hard time going to sleep … the very best remedy is … a book! Either to fall asleep or to stay awake!

• If you’re interested in reading … just subscribe to the Paris Savannah Connection!

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Paris – Le Languedoc – 64 bd. du Port Royal Paris 5.  This is France. Traditional French Cuisine & Style. Excellent local wines. Honestly priced.  Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Lunch from 12 to 2. Dinner from 7 to 10. Reserve. 01 47 07 24 47.

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here’s where a writer meets a painter and each goes their own way.

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Even if winter days are often wet and the low grey skies prevent the sun from shining through, well, there’s plenty of light at night at the ice-slating rink in front of the city hall. That one reason. But there are many more.

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