In Focus: Au Lapin Agile Cabaret
Dating to at least the mid-19th century, the famed Montmartre cabaret nestled in an iconic pink cottage on the quiet Rue des Saules was at one point taken over by a guy named "Gilles", who painted a rabbit jumping out of a pan on its exterior; thereafter, it was referred to as "Le Lapin a Gilles" (Gilles' rabbit). Following either a mistaken transcription or a willful tweak, the storied nightlife spot's name evolved to become Au Lapin Agile-- literally, the Nimble Rabbit.
Once the haunt of struggling local artists, from Picasso to Modigliani and Toulouse-Lautrec, the cabaret has been careful to maintain its tenured position as one of the city's most traditional cabarets, offering up a program of entertainment that some will call "classic", others, outmoded and tired. If you're a fan of chanson française, and don't mind sweltering temperatures and crowded conditions (as Contributor Nicole Smith recently discovered), make sure to give the ol' nimble rabbit a try. As Smith also notes in her review of the Rabbit, reservations are de rigueur.
Read More: Review of Au Lapin Agile Cabaret
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- Montmartre in Pictures
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Image credit: Courtney Traub/Licensed to About.com.
In Video: Paris' Ultramodern National Library District
One area of southern Paris that often gets completely overlooked by tourists is the National Library District, an example of how the city continues to evolve and change toward a more contemporary guise. Dominated by the four imposing towers of the Bibliothèque Nationale, one of Europe's largest public libraries, and busy with the buzz of cranes and new building developments, the area seems more fitting of Berlin than of Paris. It was a major center of industry in Paris in the 19th century and through part of the 20th, and many old factory facades still stand here, reconverted into offices, university campuses or lofts. Since the opening of the new French National Library headquarters in 1995, the area seems to be getting more vibrant by the year. Watch our short video to explore the Bibliotheque neighborhood and get some ideas on what to see and do around the library.
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Now On in Paris: Bob Dylan, Rock Explosion '61-'66
A sprawling tribute to one of the 20th century's most prolific and gifted folk and rock talents, "Bob Dylan, Rock explosion 61-66" runs through July 15th at Paris's Cite de la Musique museum near the Parc de la Villette. The exhibit, boasting two levels, is not only an homage to one of America's most prized artists, but also an exploration of the musical influences that morphed Dylan's sound from classic folk to folk rock over the years. Between 1961 and 1966, Dylan completed seven albums that revolutionized the history of popular music and propelled the Minnesota native once known as Robert Zimmerman to international stardom. This exhibition takes a bite out of Dylan's rich career and spotlights one of his most public and influential periods - speaking out about the Vietnam War, civil rights in America and rock n' roll.
A rich royal blue wall welcomes visitors, holding a patchwork of photos of Dylan's life between 1964-1965, by photographer Daniel Kramer. The 60 black and white images take us out on the road, in hotels and to the studio, with remarkable candidness. The Dylan we encounter here is more than the straight-faced, cigarette smoking cool artist many are used to seeing on album covers - he is also a goofy young kid who was trying to get a grip on fame in his early twenties.
The first stop is a trip down memory lane, where a handful of Hibbing, Minnesota school yearbooks are on display showing the young Robert Zimmerman. Family photos line the walls, offering a little-known glimpse of the star before he became one.
The exhibition continues with a look at some of the artists who influenced Dylan over the years. Guitars, sheet music, album covers and clothing line the walls from some of Dylan's idols at the time: Buddy Holly, Little Richard, the Mamas and the Papas, Cher and the Kingston Trio. A special section on Woody Guthrie reminds us of how much Dylan idolized the fellow folk musician.
The show, of course, would be incomplete without a healthy dose of music, and there, it does not disappoint. Dylan classics like "I Want You" and "Like a Rolling Stone" blare overhead, with special listening stations to follow along to classics "It Ain't Me Babe" and "The Times They are a Changin,'" whose lyrics are stenciled on the wall.
The downstairs section is slightly dark and drab, but offers an interesting picture of Dylan in France. Photos show the artist with French rocker Johnny Hallyday, actress Francoise Hardy and Hugues Aufray, who adapted some of Dylan's songs in the 1960s. A wall montage of newspaper articles featuring the artist are yet another testament of Dylan's importance in France.
The final piece is a large-screen showing of extracts from "Don't Look Back," a 1965 documentary by Don Alan Pennebaker. The film follows Dylan to concert tours in England, going backstage with the artist, accompanying him on interviews and in hotel rooms with Joan Baez. As the young Dylan - only 24 years old at the time - smarts off to journalists, goofs off in taxi cabs and smokes too much, it is hard to imagine the impact of his music on history.
Exhibit: Bob Dylan, Rock Explosion '61-'66
Through July 15th, 2012.
Location: Cite de la Musique
221 avenue Jean Jaures, 19th arrondissement
Metro: Porte de Pantin
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 84 44 84
Visit the official website for more information
Related: May Events in Paris
Image: © Daniel Kramer/Courtesy of the Cite de la Musique
In Focus: Paris for Nightowls
Sure, it may lack the edginess of Berlin or the fitful, ultra-caffeinated quality of New York City after dark-- but Paris nightlife boasts one quality many counterparts don't: incredible diversity coupled with elegance. Just in time for the spring and the city's emergence from hibernation, we've given our nightlife guide a major facelift and added tons of picks. So whether your ideal night out on the town involves all-night clubbing, house beers on the cheap while watching a live rock band, or simply an excellent glass of wine paired with cheese, we've got suggestions to suit all temperaments.
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How to Handle Money in Paris
Paris has always been a place where it's easy to unwittingly end up forking out absurd amounts of cash for mediocre dinners, city tours or hotels, and many people write to me asking about traveler's checks, pickpocketing and other scams, and whether it's necessary to wear a money belt in certain places and situations. Before your next trip to the city, learn more about how to best handle your money so you don't spend time needlessly stressing where you could be spending it simply enjoying.
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May in Paris: Jazz, Sunny Courts and More
May in Paris is always a lively time, marking the beginning of the high season for events and festivals (many of which are free).
Mark your calendars for Paris Museum Night on Saturday, May 19th, when dozens of museums around the city open their doors for no charge well into the night. Jazz fan? The St-Germain-des-Prés jazz festival will take the streets of the posh district known best for its existentialist thinkers and iconic cafes from May 20th through June 3rd. For the fans of clay court tennis among you, the 2012 French Open at Roland Garros opens the courts for an exciting set of competitions starting May 27th. And if you're interested in learning more about the city's vibrant arts scene, Open House Days at Belleville Artists' studios will give you a stimulating peek at the work and studios of less well-known artists.
Read More: May Events in Paris
Biwott and Tirifi Set New Records at Paris Marathon
Kenyan competitive runner Stanley Biwott broke records at the 36th annual Paris Marathon, winning the men's title in a mere 2 hours, 5 minutes and 11 seconds. Meanwhile, Ethiopian athlete Beyene Tirfi was this year's champion in the women's competition, finishing at the 2 hour, 21 minutes at 40 seconds mark-- also beating out the previous record.
Biwott, 26, told French television channel France 3 following the race: "The pace was a little slow and I knew that if I sped up, I would win. When I took off, I knew I was going to win."
This was Biwott's first time running the Paris marathon; however he brought in the title last month in Paris's half-marathon. He was just minutes away from catching the world record of 2h03:38, held by compatriot Patrick Makau at last September's Berlin Marathon.
Some 40,000 people hit the streets of Paris and surrounding suburbs to compete in this year's marathon, contending with cloudy and somewhat unpredictable weather conditions. Read more here for a full account from About.com Paris Travel Contributor Colette Davidson, who was on the scene to bring back full details of who won (including the women's title), and shots of both competitive and amateur runners sweating it out at this year's event.
Pictured: Men's competition winner Biwott is surrounded by second and third-place winners Raji Assefa and Sisay Jisa. Trago/Getty Images Sport. All rights reserved.
Review: Paris to Mont St-Michel...in a Day?
Read More: Review of Cityrama's Mont St-Michel On Your Own Tour
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In Focus: Les Deux Magots
An erstwhile preferred meeting spot of Parisian intellectuals from Simone de Beauvoir and Sartre to Pablo Picasso, Les Deux Magots cafe has unfortunately become something of an overpriced tourist trap in recent years-- at least in this writer's estimation. But last week, I came across a program from Radio France Internationale that re-piqued my interest in St-Germain-des-Pres' legendary haunt. It gives us an intriguing look into the cafe's rich history, and possibly even helps remind us why it's still a relevant place today. You can listen to the program here.
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Image credit: Simon Schule/Some rights reserved under the Creative Commons License.
In Video: What to Do Around Notre Dame
Visiting Notre- Dame Cathedral for the first time can put visitors into a daze. The guidebooks convey an impressive enough sense of the place, but being there turns out to be a more awe-inspiring experience than you'd expect. Sometimes, when crossing a bridge from the left bank at night, the sight of the lit cathedral continues to startle me-- how can this thing of epic proportions just be hanging out in the middle of a city? You can get blasé about plenty of things after living here for a time, but Notre-Dame never seems to get relegated to the realm of the ordinary.
The only downside of the blinding beauty? You might forget to explore the area around Notre- Dame, which has a lot to offer. From ambling with ice cream in hand on the Ile St Louis to browsing old copies of Paris Match magazine at the Seine-side booksellers, I show you what to see and do around Notre- Dame once you've snapped out of your trance in this video.
Watch Video: What to See and Do Around Notre Dame
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- Notre-Dame Cathedral Profile and Visitor Information
- Notre-Dame Highlights: What to Look For
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Image: The fountain at Saint-Michel, just minutes away from Notre Dame. ©2008 Sapphire Blue. Some rights reserved under the Creative Commons license.