Our Concierge Nicolas recommends this event and suggests you to discover it in the evening for a deeper immersion.
Open every day except Tuesdays: from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10.00 am to midnight from Thursday to Sundays.
Grand Palais, Nef – Porte Nord

Henri Matisse is well known for his systematic exploration of given subjects, sometimes with different techniques, from another angle, with other colours… The exhibition « Pairs & series » dedicated to him at the Centre Pompidou assembles until June 18th a selection of 245 works highlighting these variations. Book your visit in advance!

One of the masters of Venitian Renaissance is presented at the Musée du Luxembourg. Before or right after a walk in the wonderful gardens, discover the incredible meticulousness and brightness of works by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano (1459-1517), known as « Cima ». Many of them, including impressive altar paintings, are displayed for the first time out of Italy. Until July 15th.

There are plenty of good reasons to go back to the Louvre, but until June 25th, the prestigious museum offers you another one : Saint Ann, Leonardo Da Vinci’s latest work, is unveiled together with the sketches, preliminary drawings and landscape studies from which it was created. Not to be missed!

Restaurants

Semilla is the new sister-address of « Fish la Boissonnerie », at nr 54 Rue de Seine, in the heart of St-Germain-des-Prés. Apart from a superb wine list, you will enjoy : Tartare de Pierre (Gagnaire) mixing beef, calf-head and herring; pollock back with celeriac cream and its roasting juice, as well as good desserts : citrus fruit soup with orange blossom ice-cream. Half-portions are available. Count 50 to 60 € for a delicious meal surrounded by a « British » clientele. Tel: 01 43 54 34 50. Open daily, afternoon snacks and Sunday brunch from noon.

La table d’Aki : After 20 years spent with Chef Bernard Pacaud at « L’Ambroisie », Akihiro Horikoshi has opened a restaurant under his nickname : Aki,  at nr 49, rue Vaneau, 7th.   He works on his own and offers a light but luscious cuisine: rillettes of fishes ; cod with white butter and red cabbage ; beef cheek au vin, celeriac puree ; and as a dessert, a delicious apple tart. The wine list is outstanding. Count 60 to 80 € for lunch and at least 100 € for dinner. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Tel : 01 45 44 43 48.

At the Grand Palais, the exhibition Animal Beauty, through 120 masterpieces of the Renaissance to the present day, explore the relationship that artists sustain with animals. A marvelous menagerie with a taken part: showing animals only. From Duer to Jeff Koons trough Pompon, Goya or Van Gogh, this manifestation mingles wild and domestic beasts, the strange and the familiar. Wonderful and for all publics! Until July 16^th.

The Jeu de Paume dedicates a retrospective to Bérénice Abbot, a famous American photographer formed by Man Ray and engaged in the 20’s with “avant-garde” environment. With portraits, architectures pictures, as the famous ones of New York, but also scientific shots, this exhibition shows the many facets on this artist, too often reduced to well-known pictures. Until April 29^th.

Opera

The Théâtre du Châtelet welcomes Nixon in China, the first opera inspired by an event of contemporary history. Relating the visit of President Nixon to Mao in 1972, John Adams brought a new breath to the opera universe, abandoning the classical themes. Epic, satiric, as well as a parody and an analysis, this opera of 3 acts and 6 tables, referring to the Chinese music, highlights the ambiguity and the vanity of the greats of this world. From 10^th to 18^th April.

Restaurants

Inside the Mutualité that just has been renovated by Wilmotte, Yannick Alléno, 3-star Chef of the Meurice, has just opened Terroir Parisien, where he offers a beautiful cuisine made of products from the Parisian region. Enjoy his Billy By soup, his Bougival Matelote, his beef miroton, his stuffed cabbage or his blood sausage. Rates are affordable: count 30 to 50 Euro. Open every day. 24 rue Saint Victor, 5^th. Tel: +33 1 44 31 54 54.

New address for the Coste brothers: La Compagnie, in the 17^th district. A contemporary brasserie, with a little terrace, beautiful waitresses and simple food: fries squid, artichoke vinaigrette, ray wing with caper, lemon tart… It is trendy and good altogether! Count 50 to 60 Euro. Open every day. 23 avenue Wagram, 17^th. Tel: +33 1 42 27 16 38.

Exhibitions

The Orsay Museum presents Degas and the Nude, which explores Degas’ evolution in his practice of the nude, from academic and historical approach of his early years down to the inscription of the body in modernity. From March 13^th to July 1^st.

The Hotel de Ville welcomes Doisneau, Paris, les Halles: more than 200 prints show the excitation of the “belly of Paris” from 1933 to 1979 as well as the genius of the architect Baltard. They also reflect the incensed look Doisneau took  at this “hole” of les Halles. An historical and virtual visit of the district. Until April 28^th.

Dance

From March 7^th to April 15^th, don’t miss La Bayadère on the scene of the Opera Bastille. With Rudolf Noureyev’s great choreography, created at the end of both his career and his life, this ballet portrays a mysterious India and the impossible love between the sacred dancer Nikiya and the warrior Solor. A stunning work with beautiful sets and costumes. Note that the Opera de Paris in the sole legated of this ballet.

Restaurants

Antoine Westermann (Drouant, Mon Vieil Ami) has just opened Coq Rico, a bistro specialized in exquisite poultries. In front of the Moulin de la Galette and in a lively atmosphere, enjoy the chickens, farm hens, pigeons, but also the gizzards, the terrines, the vol-au-vent and the famous boiled chicken with vegetables.  For the desert, you will have to make a difficult choice between a floating island, an iced meringue and other delicacies. Count 60 to 90 Euro. Open every day. 98 rue Lepic, 18^th. Tel: +33 1 42 59 82 89.

The Michelin Guide 2012 has just been published. The new Parisian restaurants with one Star are: La Truffière (5^th), Kei (1^st), Le Quinzième – Cyril Lignac (15^th), Le 39 V (8^th), Les Tablettes de Jean-Louis Nomicos (16^th)… Do not hesitate to ask the Concierge the other ones.

Exhibitions

The Maison Européenne de la Photographie welcomes Eloge du Vertige, dedicated to the Brazilian experimental photography. Brazil has become one of the major centres of artistic creativity. An exciting visit, reflecting its very rich political history over the last half century. Until March 25^th. 

After long works, the Musée d’Orsay has just reopened its top floor dedicated to Impressionism and post-Impressionism. With a better display of artworks and a better circulation, the Nouvel Orsay is really worth a visit! 

Opera

Until February 23^rd, Verdi and his Rigoletto will dramatically put rhythm into the Opéra Bastille. As in all his highest works, Verdi took inspiration from the implacable machination of misfortune, here striking 3 characters: an immoral prince, his Machiavellian jester and an innocent young girl.

Restaurants

Open since last summer, the bistro L’Escient and its Chef, the owners’ daughter who worked with Ducasse, offer a good French cuisine with Asian flavors: beef maki with coriander, piglet loin glazed with soya honey, coffee tiramisu with Grand Marnier. Count 50 to 60 Euro. Closed on Sunday for lunch and Monday evening. 28 rue Poncelet, 17^th. Tel: +33 9 66 92 49 13.

Inventive cuisine again at L’Affable with a chef from Apicius: poultry lollipops, gourd and ginger velvety – lightly salted cod with tonka bean – wine-oached pear with shortbread ice cream. Count 50 to 65 Euro. Closed on Sunday and Monday. 10 rue Saint Simon, 7^th. Tel: +33 1 42 22 01 60.

Lasts days! We have a few tickets left for the Collection Stein at the Grand Palais, to admire until January 6th.

Celebrate people and things as they are, is the leitmotiv of Diane Arbus (1923-1971), who brought the art of photography to a new dimension. Until February 5th, the Musée du Jeu de Paume celebrates for the first time in France this New York artist with an exhibition of more than 200 pictures. A true contemporary anthropology.

In his famous “Mobile Art” (created by Zaha Hadid), l’Institut du Monde Arabe exhibits the works by the laureates of the Jameel Prize 2011, awarded every two years to artists and designers taking inspiration from Islamic traditions in the fields of art, craft and design. Discover it before February 26th.

Concerts

From January 13th to 22nd, the Théâtre du Châtelet welcomes the festival Présences organized by Radio-France and dedicated to musical creation. No less than 6 worldwide creations are programmed, among which “Trois Caprices” by French-Argentinian Oscar Strasnoy, this year’s guest of honour.    

Restaurants

Here is the “Best Of 2011” list of restaurants by the Figaroscope, ranged by categories:

Grand style: L’Epicure at the Bristol, 112 rue du Faubourg St Honoré, 8th
Surprise: Chatomat, 6 rue Victor-Letalle, 20th
Take-over: Chardenoux des Prés, 27 rue du Dragon, 6th
Bistro: L’Office, 3 rue Richer, 9th
Néobourgeois: Cobéa, 11 rue Raymond- Losserand, 15th
Foodistar: Agapé Substance, 66 rue Mazarine, 6th