The Paris Traveler

Le Petit Palais, sibling of Le Grand Palais located right across the street, is the proverbial story of flamboyant, older sister getting all the attention and right behind, getting lost in all the elder’s drama, is the tiny flower of a girl whose beauty is total and complete and goes unappreciated until one uncovers it.  That is what happens when one discovers the Petit Palais.   
Built for the 1900 l’Exposition universelle like its neighbor across the street, it is a gem that quietly goes about its business of being beautiful and housing a wide collection of art ranging from antiquity …read more

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I am fairly up on art, sculpture, design–artsy fartsy kinds of things you might say.  But I cannot tell a lie, I have never heard of Richard Serra.  Or if I have it just isn’t registering with me right now and I will have to ask my resident art expert, my daughter, Taylor.
Richard Serra–he is an American minimalist sculpture and video artist known for his work in large scale assemblies of sheet metal.  His installations span the globe and the reason I bring him to your attention today is because he is celebrating his opening of “Promenade” here in Paris. 
His work …read more

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Once I get something in my head, I can’t let it go.  For a good two hours yesterday, I played with sites and widgets and photos and starring:  you name it, I did it to try and get this video posted.  And then, out of the blue, I Googled what I was hoping to find and voila, there it was.  A mini look into the exhibit surrounding the life of Marie Antoinette being held at the Grand Palais that I wrote about in Misunderstood Marie.  It isn’t the real deal I know, but think of all the money you’re saving by seeing …read more

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 I have had a curious interest in this most misunderstood of women, Marie Antoinette, for a long time.  History hints at a self-indulged young queen, which I am sure has an element of truth to it.  But my guess is that hers was not the easiest of  lives by a long shot.  If one could fast forward her into the present, I’m betting she wouldn’t be much different from the young pop stars we read about struggling with staying at the top of the charts, missing child support hearings, getting one too many DUI’s and spending the night in jail. …read more

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The last time the Ballet National de Cuba was in Paris was nearly ten years ago. This year two ballets are being presented from their repertoire at the Grand Palais, Giselle and Don Quixote. Coincidentally the Ballet de l’Opéra performed the same two ballets this season! Is this a showdown of sorts?
If you ask Hayna Gutierrez Vergara one of the prima ballerinas who dances the lead role in Giselle, it is not. The interpretation of dance, according to Vergara, is completely different that a comparison cannot be made. The Opéra National de Paris and the Ballet National de Cuba, she …read more

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