The upcoming weekend ...]]>

Summer may have ended but jazz is still going strong into September. Jazz a la Villette will be featuring Lalo Schiffrin Saturday September 13, 2008 at the Parc de la Villette, Salle Charlie Parker

Admission 30 Euros.

Information: Tel 01 44 84

01 40 03 75 75

www.jazzalavillette.com

The upcoming weekend is also a good time to catch up on some of your favorite jazz movies:

Sunday, September 14, 2008

MK2 Quai de Seine, 5.90 Euros admission

The Cool World, Shirley Clark, 1964

Accords et Desaccords, Woody Allen, 1999

Love Streams, John Cassavetes, 1983, 141 min.

>>More on Jazz

This are five suggestions included in Dr. Dukan’s bestseller diet book Je ne sais Pas Maigrir (I don’t Know How to Get Thin)

(Sounds like the perfect diet for Amsterdam’s Red Light ...]]> 1. Stand around a lot.

2. Suck ice cubes.

3. Eat your food cold

4. Take a cold shower.

5. For the first three to five days of the diet, don’t exercise.

This are five suggestions included in Dr. Dukan’s bestseller diet book Je ne sais Pas Maigrir (I don’t Know How to Get Thin)

(Sounds like the perfect diet for Amsterdam’s Red Light district denizens!)

Summer is over and it’s time to do damage assessment: Far too many aperos - wasn’t that Loupiac tasty with the foie gras de canard? Mmnnn, Christina’s sponge cake recipe for Jean-Pierre’s birthday, Daniel and Francoise’s imported rum for poolside rum & Cokes.

But fortunately, early in the summer season, Davine, a family friend who is also a doctor (and diet knowledgeable) left me with this book title: “Je ne sais pas maigrir” by Dr. Pierre Dukan.

Translated as ‘I don’t know how to lose weight’, the book (which I picked up at FNAC bookstore (the sales clerk knew the title immediately) is plugged as ‘The Dukan Phenomena - already 1 million conquered readers!’.

At first glance, Dr. Pierre Dukan’s ‘Je ne sais pas Maigrir’ diet looks like a rehash of Atkins, South Beach, or some of those seventies protein diets. But it really was designed for French taste: Eat lots of meat as often as you want and don’t exercise. No surprise that a French diet or ‘regime’ has some amusing twists on the typical American style diet.

For the first phase (called the attack phase), don’t exercise. Well, don’t exercise, the doctor says, but don’t take the elevator in your apartment building. That’s an easy thing to do because half the elevators in the Paris metropolitan area are ‘en panne’ and barely functioning most of the time (which is really quite amusing when you live on the 14th floor in a housing project). If you’re not clomping up winding apartment staircases, you’ll be hustling up and down Metro steps (the escalators when you can find them - work part of the time).

It’s a great welcome back to Paris after your summer vacation. Think I’ll go grab a burger. (By the way, you’ll have no trouble finding a hamburger these days in Paris because hamburgers are hot! Just remember you have to eat it WITHOUT the hamburger roll and the ketchup, but keep the pickle and the mustard).

I am currently on Day 3 of of Dr. Dukan’s ‘I don’t know how to lose weight protein diet’ which I’m calling the ‘Paris Diet’ for simplicity’s sake. I’m also on jetleg. Which means waking up at strange hours - and being hungry. During the attack phase (which lasts from three to five days depending on how many kilos you wish to shed), you can eat at ANY time of day from the following list:

Beef, chicken, fish, turkey, veal, eggs, dairy products such as low-fat yoghurt (without fruit or sugar), or low fat ‘fromage frais’ (resembles sour cream). (Here, I’ve already substituted low-fat cottage cheese). And plenty of water, coffee, tea, etc. 1 1/2 Liters Obligatory.

You’ll notice the obvious elements missing from a typical Parisian diet - the baguette. The other typical element missing - wine, of any sort.

What you have to admire about Dr. Dukan’s 247-page diet plan: The word ‘croissant’ is not once mentioned. Neither is dessert. Rather, he uses the word ‘gala’.

If you manage to survive the first two stages of this diet which consists of total protein for three to five days, followed by Phase II - Cruising (protein interspersed with vegetables), you get to Phase III which allows for two gala days per week.

Dukan’s definition of ‘gala’ means you can eat or drink ANYTHING you want for A MEAL, not for the entire day - AND you may only serve yourself ONCE i.e. one glass of champagne for the cocktail hour, one glass of red wine to go with your meal, one serving of Baked Alaska. You get the picture, hedonism minus the binge.

Right now, the Gala days appear to be far, far away. Think I’ll go console myself with a16 oz. steak. (Parisgirl suggests you consult your doctor before starting ANY diet plan!!)

If you would like to follow Parisgirl’s progress (or lack, thereof, on the Dukan diet), add Parislogue to your daily feed for updates.

Just like their Parisian parents, kids are going to school a lot more casual these days, but little girls - and their moms still like to wear ...]]> If you’re bringing home clothes for kids in the family, there’s no place like Paris for finding cool kids clothes - especially in September for ‘Back to School’ or ‘La Rentree’ as we call it here.

Just like their Parisian parents, kids are going to school a lot more casual these days, but little girls - and their moms still like to wear dresses sometimes. Yes, even in Paris parks.

Khaki and camouflage green with a hint of orange are very big this fall in shop windows. You’ll find that French kids’ clothes tend to appear in more muted and sophisticated colors.

Here’s a rundown on the well - known kids shops you’ll find in Paris, starting with some of the chic spots to shop:

You may remember in a past post I mentioned IKKS. IKKS is definitely a hot label - for kids (and for their Moms as well). You’ll want to check out their new store that just opened at

114 Champs Elysees.

More IKKS branches:

6 Rue Rosiers 75004

13 Rue Vavin 75006

14 Rue Passy 75016

12 Rue Sevres 75007

129 Rue de la Pompe 75116

140 Rue Rivoli 75001

32 Rue du Four 75006

Also, some of Parisian’s favorite designers also have lines just for kids:

Sonia Rykiel Enfants

4 Rue Grenelle

75006

Agnes B. Enfants

Serge Blanco

(Petit Quinze Serge Blanco)

55 Notre Dames des Champs 75006

Tel 01 44 07 0054

Catimini

114 av Champs ElysГ©es 75008 PARIS

Tel. 01 53 76 21 51

fax : 01 53 76 22 87

Catimini

10 r Vavin 75006 PARIS

01 44 41 02 33

Catimini

17 r Martel 75010 PARIS

01 48 01 99 77

fax : 01 48 01 99 78

Coude -Mail Creation Lapin Bleu

12 Rue Vavin

75006

Metro: Vavin

Baby Dior

Baby Dior Enfants


26 av Montaigne 75008 PARIS

Tel. 01 49 52 01 45

Baby Dior - Naissance


28 av Montaigne 75008 PARIS

Tel. 01 49 52 04 50

Petit Boy

Suffering from sticker shock?

The following stores are well-known chains which offer good quality and fairly reasonable prices.

Du Pareil au Meme offers perfectly acceptable kidswear which will surely delight friends back home.

Okaidi

Okaidi France

115 r Monge 75005 PARIS

01 42 17 45 94

OkaГЇdi France

30 av Italie 75013 PARIS

Where does Parisgirl do her shopping for kids?

I really like Mini Junior at 114 Blvd. Montparnasse, simply because the reception is always friendly. You can find quality clothing here and designer brands such as Kenzo which will delight Parisian Moms just as much as the kids. Mini Junior is a small boutique so you won’t find a vast inventory, but everything is handpicked to mix and match well.

Mini Junior

114, Boulevard Montparnasse

75014 Paris

Tel. 01 43 22 05 30

Can’t get to Paris to check out the kid’s fashions? It’s easy to find some examples of favorite European designers for kids online!

‘Paris Village’ Chipie Label

>> More European Labels for Kids

http://boutiques.lesculottescourtes.com/

>>More on Shopping in Paris

Just like their Parisian parents, kids are going to school a lot more casual these days, but little girls - and their moms still like to wear ...]]> If you’re bringing home clothes for kids in the family, there’s no place like Paris for finding cool kids clothes - especially in September for ‘Back to School’ or ‘La Rentree’ as we call it here.

Just like their Parisian parents, kids are going to school a lot more casual these days, but little girls - and their moms still like to wear dresses sometimes. Yes, even in Paris parks.

Khaki and camouflage green with a hint of orange are very big this fall in shop windows. You’ll find that French kids’ clothes tend to appear in more muted and sophisticated colors.

Here’s a rundown on the well - known kids shops you’ll find in Paris, starting with some of the chic spots to shop:

You may remember in a past post I mentioned IKKS. IKKS is definitely a hot label - for kids (and for their Moms as well). You’ll want to check out their new store that just opened at

114 Champs Elysees.

More IKKS branches:

6 Rue Rosiers 75004

13 Rue Vavin 75006

14 Rue Passy 75016

12 Rue Sevres 75007

129 Rue de la Pompe 75116

140 Rue Rivoli 75001

32 Rue du Four 75006

Also, some of Parisian’s favorite designers also have lines just for kids:

Sonia Rykiel Enfants

4 Rue Grenelle

75006

Agnes B. Enfants

Serge Blanco

(Petit Quinze Serge Blanco)

55 Notre Dames des Champs 75006

Tel 01 44 07 0054

Catimini

114 av Champs ElysГ©es 75008 PARIS

Tel. 01 53 76 21 51

fax : 01 53 76 22 87

Catimini

10 r Vavin 75006 PARIS

01 44 41 02 33

Catimini

17 r Martel 75010 PARIS

01 48 01 99 77

fax : 01 48 01 99 78

Coude -Mail Creation Lapin Bleu

12 Rue Vavin

75006

Metro: Vavin

Baby Dior

Baby Dior Enfants


26 av Montaigne 75008 PARIS

Tel. 01 49 52 01 45

Baby Dior - Naissance


28 av Montaigne 75008 PARIS

Tel. 01 49 52 04 50

Petit Boy

Suffering from sticker shock?

The following stores are well-known chains which offer good quality and fairly reasonable prices.

Du Pareil au Meme offers perfectly acceptable kidswear which will surely delight friends back home.

Okaidi

Okaidi France

115 r Monge 75005 PARIS

01 42 17 45 94

OkaГЇdi France

30 av Italie 75013 PARIS

Where does Parisgirl do her shopping for kids?

I really like Mini Junior at 114 Blvd. Montparnasse, simply because the reception is always friendly. You can find quality clothing here and designer brands such as Kenzo which will delight Parisian Moms just as much as the kids. Mini Junior is a small boutique so you won’t find a vast inventory, but everything is handpicked to mix and match well.

Mini Junior

114, Boulevard Montparnasse

75014 Paris

Tel. 01 43 22 05 30

Can’t get to Paris to check out the kid’s fashions? It’s easy to find some examples of favorite European designers for kids online!

‘Paris Village’ Chipie Label

>> More European Labels for Kids

http://boutiques.lesculottescourtes.com/

>>More on Shopping in Paris

One of the great conundrums of the French language is trying to determine when swearing is okay - and when it isn’t. As France 2 television newscaster, Francoise Laborde discovered ...]]> When Swearing’s Okay and When it isn’t

envoyй par domi34

One of the great conundrums of the French language is trying to determine when swearing is okay - and when it isn’t. As France 2 television newscaster, Francoise Laborde discovered this past Thursday night, swearing during station breaks can be embarassing when you discover your heated response to a colleague is caught live on prime time TV. Her remark, “Pourquoi vous m’avez pas dit, putain?” i.e. “Why didn’t you tell me, damnit?” was shocking enough for the newscaster to offer the public an apology at the end of the emission.

She’s not alone. Even France’s president, Nicolas Sarkozy’s swearing incident at the Salon d’Agriculture this past February engendered dozens of video reproductions - and embellishments of his snap response ‘Casse-toi, pauvre con!’ when a visitor at the Salon d’Agriculture refused to shake his hand.

Sometimes the media responds with it’s own expletives such Marianne journal’s ‘Putain! Encore 4 ans. (Very interesting commentary comparing the Sarkozy Era to Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal Era!!!)

Hopefully, you’ll never find yourself in a situation, where you’ll find it necessary to swear. On the other hand, here are some basic terms that you’ll encounter in newspapers, on television (even, if by accident), or in conversations overheard while walking down the street. Not heads of state, nor, believe it or not, even men of the cloth are immune. (A Norman priest was reprimanded last year for using one of these naughty words - for which he apologized like the newscaster).

Parents Condone Kids’ Swearing

Unlike American kids, not all French parents punish their kids for swearing. In fact, one parent told us that he allowed his kids about ten minutes to use all the swear words they could think of at the end of the dinner hour. Maybe this sounds weird, but here in France, it’s not a question of whether or not you should use swear words as much as it’s the question of using swear words in the right context and in the right situation. When you figure that a vast portion of the French vocabulary was wiped out by the Pleaides (or the French Academy of Letters) when French literature entered its classic era, this simple act of allowing the language to be exercised and spoken from the most vulgar levels to the most sublime might be considered the key to keeping a language rich and varied.

However, for those sensitive spirits who are offended by vulgar language, please stop here.

Top Swear Words

Putain! i.e. Damn!

Putain literally means prostitute. Yet, when it’s used as an expletive, it translates into English as ‘Damn’, but considered to be stronger language than ‘damn’.

Con- stupid, imbecile, ’sorry bastard’, ass

Con, short for conasse, literally translates as cunt. There are dozens of variations of the usage:

Ne me prenez pas pour un ‘con’. Don’t take me for a fool.

Ne fait pas le con. Don’t be an ass.

Casse-toi, pauvre ‘con’. Shove off, sorry bastard.

Foutre. Fuck.

Je m’en fou. I don’t give a damn.

This expression is so common that it’s lost its literal translation i.e. I don’t give a fuck (but is still considered to be unrefined).

Fou-le-camp. Get the hell out. (Va-t-en! Go away is much milder and achieves the same results).

Se faire chier. (Reflexive Verb) To be irritated or bothered by s.o.

S’Emmerder. (Reflexive Verb) To be irritated or bothered by s.o.

Chiant/Emmerdant (Adjective) Pain in the neck, pain in the ass.

Literally to make someone shit or to shit upon.

Merde! Shit

Salope. Bitch.

Saloperies. Dirty tricks.

Cochonneries. Dirty stories or talking dirty (literally derived from a pig sty)

Peter (infinitive)- Fart (accent over the first ‘e’) (pronounced ‘petay’

Pete (Noun) (There’s an accent over the first ‘e’) (pronounced ‘pet)

Peter des plombs. Losing it. Blow a fuse. Having a hissy fit. Literally farting lead.

Degueulasse- really disgusting. This isn’t exactly a swear word. The word is commonly used but not in refined company. Nothing is quite as ‘degueulasse’ as the linked movie. Not recommended for the faint of heart. This is the most disgusting I’ve seen to date, and truly exemplifies the word.

>> Learn more about French swear words and urban street language:

Learn French

One of the great conundrums of the French language is trying to determine when swearing is okay - and when it isn’t. As France 2 television newscaster, Francoise Laborde discovered ...]]> When Swearing’s Okay and When it isn’t

envoyй par domi34

One of the great conundrums of the French language is trying to determine when swearing is okay - and when it isn’t. As France 2 television newscaster, Francoise Laborde discovered this past Thursday night, swearing during station breaks can be embarassing when you discover your heated response to a colleague is caught live on prime time TV. Her remark, “Pourquoi vous m’avez pas dit, putain?” i.e. “Why didn’t you tell me, damnit?” was shocking enough for the newscaster to offer the public an apology at the end of the emission.

She’s not alone. Even France’s president, Nicolas Sarkozy’s swearing incident at the Salon d’Agriculture this past February engendered dozens of video reproductions - and embellishments of his snap response ‘Casse-toi, pauvre con!’ when a visitor at the Salon d’Agriculture refused to shake his hand.

Sometimes the media responds with it’s own expletives such Marianne journal’s ‘Putain! Encore 4 ans. (Very interesting commentary comparing the Sarkozy Era to Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal Era!!!)

Hopefully, you’ll never find yourself in a situation, where you’ll find it necessary to swear. On the other hand, here are some basic terms that you’ll encounter in newspapers, on television (even, if by accident), or in conversations overheard while walking down the street. Not heads of state, nor, believe it or not, even men of the cloth are immune. (A Norman priest was reprimanded last year for using one of these naughty words - for which he apologized like the newscaster).

Parents Condone Kids’ Swearing

Unlike American kids, not all French parents punish their kids for swearing. In fact, one parent told us that he allowed his kids about ten minutes to use all the swear words they could think of at the end of the dinner hour. Maybe this sounds weird, but here in France, it’s not a question of whether or not you should use swear words as much as it’s the question of using swear words in the right context and in the right situation. When you figure that a vast portion of the French vocabulary was wiped out by the Pleaides (or the French Academy of Letters) when French literature entered its classic era, this simple act of allowing the language to be exercised and spoken from the most vulgar levels to the most sublime might be considered the key to keeping a language rich and varied.

However, for those sensitive spirits who are offended by vulgar language, please stop here.

Top Swear Words

Putain! i.e. Damn!

Putain literally means prostitute. Yet, when it’s used as an expletive, it translates into English as ‘Damn’, but considered to be stronger language than ‘damn’.

Con- stupid, imbecile, ’sorry bastard’, ass

Con, short for conasse, literally translates as cunt. There are dozens of variations of the usage:

Ne me prenez pas pour un ‘con’. Don’t take me for a fool.

Ne fait pas le con. Don’t be an ass.

Casse-toi, pauvre ‘con’. Shove off, sorry bastard.

Foutre. Fuck.

Je m’en fou. I don’t give a damn.

This expression is so common that it’s lost its literal translation i.e. I don’t give a fuck (but is still considered to be unrefined).

Fou-le-camp. Get the hell out. (Va-t-en! Go away is much milder and achieves the same results).

Se faire chier. (Reflexive Verb) To be irritated or bothered by s.o.

S’Emmerder. (Reflexive Verb) To be irritated or bothered by s.o.

Chiant/Emmerdant (Adjective) Pain in the neck, pain in the ass.

Literally to make someone shit or to shit upon.

Merde! Shit

Salope. Bitch.

Saloperies. Dirty tricks.

Cochonneries. Dirty stories or talking dirty (literally derived from a pig sty)

Peter (infinitive)- Fart (accent over the first ‘e’) (pronounced ‘petay’

Pete (Noun) (There’s an accent over the first ‘e’) (pronounced ‘pet)

Peter des plombs. Losing it. Blow a fuse. Having a hissy fit. Literally farting lead.

Degueulasse- really disgusting. This isn’t exactly a swear word. The word is commonly used but not in refined company. Nothing is quite as ‘degueulasse’ as the linked movie. Not recommended for the faint of heart. This is the most disgusting I’ve seen to date, and truly exemplifies the word.

>> Learn more about French swear words and urban street language:

Learn French

Haus der Musik, Vienna

While a lot of travellers seem to be shying away from museums these days - someone seems to have told them you don’t “have to” visit museums to see a city - one that I highly recommend ...]]> Welcome to my blog, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Haus der Musik, Vienna

While a lot of travellers seem to be shying away from museums these days - someone seems to have told them you don’t “have to” visit museums to see a city - one that I highly recommend in Vienna is the Haus der Musik (House of Music), also known as the Sound Museum.

It’s the kind of place with something for everyone - rock and pop music lovers, classical music afficionados, and anyone who likes playing with stuff that makes noise. Since I’m interested in pretty much everything, then the more educational side with displays about Austrian composers was great, but I also liked the hands-on floor - if you’ve ever wondered what a cow mooing in a cathedral would sound like, this is the place to find out. There’s also a great exhibit where you can try your hand at being a “virtual conductor” of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which I discovered is a whole lot harder than it looks.

Haus der Musik is right in the centre and it’s unusual for a museum in that it stays open until 10pm each day, so it’s something you can fit in after an early dinner. Entry fees are a pretty reasonable 10 Euro per adult. They sometimes hold concerts there too, so check the website in advance of your visit.

Photo: manicato via Creative Commons

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