Category: Culture

The Thing About France: A New Podcast from the French Embassy

For the first time ever, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy will release a bi-weekly podcast, The Thing About France, in which Cultural Counselor to the United States, Bénédicte de Montlaur, interviews distinguished American cultural figures with notable connections to France about their experiences in both countries. 

As part of the Cultural Services’ mission to facilitate exchange between the United States and France, The Thing About France podcast explores the relationships between French and American artists and institutions, and the long, complex cultural and political relationship between the two countries. Guests like musician Dee Dee Bridgewater, writer David Sedaris, journalist Liesl Schillinger, Whitney Museum director Adam Weinberg, and novelist Claire Messud will discuss everything from the politics of race to the funding of cultural institutions, and the challenges and benefits of living and working in another culture and language. Guests also give insider tips on their favorite spots in France.

The podcast allows guests to speak candidly, sharing personal anecdotes and opinions on the interplay between our two countries. By hearing the personal stories of artists, filmmakers, authors, and other cultural figures, listeners will discover how people in France and the United States influence each other in today’s world.

Tune in every other Wednesday to hear new, compelling stories about people who have lived and worked in both French and American cultures. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts to stay up to date on the newest releases, and check out our website, www.thethingaboutfrance.com, for more information.

Source: The Thing About France: A New Podcast from the French Embassy

The Thing About France is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and at www.thethingaboutfrance.com.

THE THING ABOUT FRANCE Guest David Sedaris

Follow The Thing About France on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Journalist at the time of Yellow Vests

PODCAST. Since the beginning of the Yellow Vest mobilization, several testimonies of journalists insulted or abused by protesters and the police have been shared on social networks. Reportage.

 
 
Listen to the 5th episode of Source Code, the Parisian news podcast

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Source: Journalist at the time of Yellow Vests – Le Parisien

Jane Birkin on making ‘Je T’Aime…’

Music lovers: Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg in Paris, 1969
It was the year a female orgasm made it to the top of the charts. In 1969, Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin’s “Je T’Aime… Moi Non Plus” became the first banned record and the first foreign-language

t was the year a female orgasm made it to the top of the charts. In 1969, Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin’s “Je T’Aime… Moi Non Plus” became the first banned record and the first foreign-language single to reach No 1 in the UK. It still is, uniquely for such a pop hit, an erotic sound-collage of two people having sex.

Over a sultry, repetitive tune from a cheesy organ, the 22-year-old Birkin breathes, “je t’aime, je t’aime…”, while the 40-year-old Gainsbourg louchely growls “moi non plus” (“me neither”). It builds, via increasingly heavy breathing, to Birkin’s orgasmic chorusing of “tu vas, tu vas et tu viens/ entre mes reins” (“you come, you come and you go/ between my kidneys”). Yes, the words: I’ll come to them. Continue reading “Jane Birkin on making ‘Je T’Aime…’” →

“We’ll end up together”: nine years later, the band of “little handkerchiefs” is back

These reunions with the happy band of “Little handkerchiefs”, we waited with some impatience. While fearing that the charm operates less nine years later. And that’s what happens. Blame it on a lazy scenario.

Max (François Cluzet) is spinning bad cotton. Depressed, ruined, he is preparing to sell his holiday home quietly, without talking to his ex (Valerie Bonneton). But for the discretion, it’s missed: it’s right the moment that the band of friends lost sight of for years has chosen to come and celebrate his birthday and seal the reunion. Discomfort.

They are all there, a little older, a little thick for some … Vincent (Benoît Magimel), Marie (Marion Cotillard), Eric (Gilles Lellouche), Antoine (Laurent Lafitte), Isabelle (Pascale Arbillot) … Only Ludo, gone in the first part, misses the call. But Jean Dujardin will still give us a little wink at the end of the film.

All these actors are visibly happy to meet, in the beautiful setting of Cap Ferret, under the direction of their comrade Guillaume Canet. No surprise, Continue reading ““We’ll end up together”: nine years later, the band of “little handkerchiefs” is back” →

Best Vintage Clothing Stores In Paris, France

Paris, as you know, is the city of style and fashion. The city is perfect for those who can afford fashion clothing and also for those who like unique outfits. If you have ever gone to buying vintage clothes then you will know that it’s not an easy experience.

When you go shopping for vintage clothes you can either find a stunning piece you’ve ever dream of or get out empty handed. So for you, we have prepared top 9 vintage shops in Paris list, go find out!

Best Vintage Clothing Stores In Paris, France:

Mamie Blue.Address: 69 rue de Rochechouart, 75009 Paris, France.

British pop singer Paloma Faith is known for her own unique vintage style and has been endorsed quite recently for Mamie Blue. Mamie Blue is anything more than just a retro clothing store and it gives styling and makeovers, hair and makeup services with costume creation so that you can accomplish your ideal look for your next fancy dress party. The store is providing clothes to fit each noteworthy culture starting from 1900 to 1980. Continue reading “Best Vintage Clothing Stores In Paris, France” →

The World’s Most Wanted Malbecs

Malbec

From anonymity to one of the most popular grape varieties on earth – Argentina’s star keeps rising.

By Natalie Sellers

Of all the grapes forecast to achieve greatness 20 years ago, not one vinous Nostradamus would have put their last 10 bucks on Malbec.

Argentina is great at many things: football, fine steaks and the Andes, but it truly excels at Malbec. In fact, Argentina has made the grape fashionable, via the high-altitude offerings of Mendoza.

The below wines are the current 10 most popular Malbec listed on Wine-Searcher. Every single one of them is from Argentina and almost, but not all, are from the Mendoza. Each score referred to in the below is a number aggregated from the scores collected from our pool of critics and all prices quoted are an average price.

1. Catena Zapata Catena Malbec, Mendoza Catena Zapata dominates this list with five wines, which would suggest they are very popular indeed. The bodega’s popularity is due, in part, to its long history – it was founded in 1902 – and its success with putting Malbec in the spotlight and Mendoza on the map. Sometimes called the Grand Cru of South America, it’s now managed by Nicolás Catena Zapata but, up until the 1960s, it had been run following the strict Italian winemaking traditions of Nicolás’ father and grandfather. Using his experience in Berkeley, Nicolás bought to the Bodega a fresher, more modern style of winemaking that focused on using contemporary equipment, winemaking techniques and vinicultural management. The Catena Malbec has a price of $18 and a score of 89 points; a winner when it comes to bang for buck.

2. Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino, Uco Valley Next on the list is the Argentino. With a score of 92 points, it’s a step up from the Catena, but this is also reflected in its $96 price tag. Argentino pays homage to the strong French influence that still lingers over the estate. The label depicts four women representing key moments in the grape’s history. There’s Eleanor of Aquitaine representing Malbec’s origins in Cahors; there’s a figure representing the move to the New World; there is a figure representing phylloxera, which decimated Malbec to some degree in the Old World but also made Malbec in the New World all the more important. Finally, there is the figure of Adrianna Catena representing the bodega. The wine is 100-percent Malbec and spends 18 months in French oak barrels, a tribute to its European roots.

Once an unfashionable blending component in Bordeaux, it gained a small amount of passing fame in Cahors, offering dusty, dark, herbal reds of some note. It wasn’t until it arrived on the far side of the Atlantic Ocean that it gained enough status to warrant its own celebratory anniversary, which was earlier this month. Malbec World Day not only celebrates Malbec, but also the place where it reached its greatest heights, appropriately among the high mountain valleys of Argentina [ . . . ]

Continue at WINE SEARCHER: The World’s Most Wanted Malbecs | Wine-Searcher News & Features