IS’ CULTURAL NEWSLETTER

Second edition 22/05/2013

SUMMER EDITION !

Hey Guys!

You are lucky enough to stay in France for the summer, you won’t be disappointed: there are many pretty and nice places to visit during summer in our beautiful country! They are so numerous that you will probably face the question: which on to choose? Don’t worry! IS cultural pole is here to help you making your choice, thanks to a selection of the most famous and must go events that will take place this summer in France, but also advices about the best places in France to spend your summer. An attempt to make your choice a bit easier… We hope you’ll enjoy it!

Is’ new cultural pole.

PS: All the information you’ll get in the newsletter is going to be recorded on our soon to be website so don’t hesitate to visit it as soon as we inform you that it is online. It should be in one two weeks now.

I.  PARIS:

1) Good addresses (4) 2) Exhibitions (8) 3) How to spend a sunny afternoon in the capital? (10)

II.  SUMMER FESTIVALS IN FRANCE (14) III.  NICE PLACES TO VISIT IN THE SUMMER (19)

I . PARIS

v RHUM BAR: LE RHUM MARIN: Any of you scurvy dogs's thirsty? Got your tongue like a piece of sticky leather with lack of a proper drink? Well rejoyce, me Hearties! For the haven of every pirate worth his salt is right there... the first and best place in Paris to drink the one true drink on the seven seas: rhum! More than sixty different type of flavored rhums, mixed in as many cocktails made by the house and kept under key by the captain of the place. If your feets are tired of solid ground, come and have a drink. Hell, have two! You'll be sure to be swaying like a ship passing the cape of Good-Hope on your way home...

92 rue Saint-Maur, Paris 11ème, Métro Saint-Maur/ Arranged rhum: 5,5€; Cocktail 7€/ 15PM to 2AM every day

v  BAR-RESTAURANT-CLUB LA LUCHA LIBRE:

Do you people like mexican food? And Tequila? And Wrestling? Well, here's your lucky day, for the Lucha Libre offers you all three in one. Come and eat a big-ass burrito while downing some hot tequila shots, with crackjob wrestlers fighting in the central arena... one place to go, and to go again, with friends or alone. You definitely won't regret this.

10 rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, Paris 5th, Métro 10 Maubert Mutualité Follow the link: http://www.laluchalibre.fr/

v  IRISH PUB: THE CORK AND CAVAN

Do you miss your good ol' Irish pubs? Is the call of the beer too strong not to heed? You have there the best Irish-run pub of the capital. Drink some ale, stout or lager, chat with the barmen who actually speak proper english and stroll along the beautiful Canal Saint Martin (please do not fall in the water, that wouldn't look good if we helped drown IS students...). Conviviality, nice place, and ale flowing. What's more to ask?

Beer pint € 5.50  68/70 Quai de Jemmapes |Mon to Thu 15PM to 2AM, Fri to Sat 12AM to 2PM

v METAL BAR: THE BLACK DOG:

To all my metalhead fellows here, you just hit the motherlode with that place. Let me present you The one Metal Bar of Paris. Good music, a big crew of metal lovers downing beers and chatting in the friendly atmosphere of the bar... the perfect place to drink the Gods' ale while having a good bit of fun. Oh, and for those of you who aren't used to seing people wearing their wheight in chains and nails, there's no need to be afraid: they do not eat people unless they are hungry. And this bar also serves the biggest, best and juciest steaks of the entire capital. Argentinian beef meat! And the one kilo steak is charged at the price of your age on your birthday! So hop in for the ride, and keep it brütal!

26 rue des Lombards, Paris 1er, Métro Chatelet. Follow the link: http://www.blackdog-bar.com/

v INVISIBLE LIGHT, ARABIC INSTITUT - “Quais de Seine”’s nicest spot is under the Henri IV bridge, just next to a very big museum dedicated to Arabic Culture: The Institute of Arabic World. They have a new exhibition called “the Invisible Light”, and our friend Hajar went to see it. Here is her opinion about it:   “In the “Mobile art” area of the Institude of Arabic World, 17 pieces of the exhibition “Invisible light” of Yahya and Qotbi enlighten the place, built by an Iraqi architect, Zaha Hadid. These eclectics pieces of art were born from a meeting between a painter and a sculpter, finding their roots in the calligraphic tradition of Islamic arts, between tradition and innovation. Once we enter the room, we cannot feel indifferent in front of the beauty of the sculpted letters: we rush into this world, gazing at those strange sculptural shapes with metallic colors. The Earth Globe is one of the masterpieces of the exhibition: it is the result of a gorgeous work, whose beauty is underlined by the “invisible light”. The oceans are made of the juxtapositions of the word “salam” (peace) written on all the surface. It is the only word that we can distinguish of all the pieces: it is representative of the artists’ will to keep the mystery, which conveys a poetic aura. The two Morrocan artists manage to count us the story of a modernity which respects the inheritance of the past.” You have until the 7th of July to see that! Institut du monde arabe 1, rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, Place Mohammed V http://www.imarabe.org/

v DYNAMO AT THE GRAND PALAIS:

It is probably the best exhibition I visited this year. It consists in a succession of plays with light, colour, dynamic sculptures and other optical illusions. Visiting Dynamo is like entering a new world: you quickly get lost and don’t believe your senses any more, which create a nice sensation of vertigo. You’ll see astonishing visual effects, sometimes disturbing, sometimes incredibly beautiful, but each will make you rediscover your senses and see things otherwise. It’s so original it’s hard to describe so I’ll just finish with this counsel: go and see it by yourselves! You won’t believe your eyes! Everyday except on Tuesday. 10AM to 8PM (10PM on Wednesday. 9euros, Until the 22th of July.

v A PICNIC IN THE GARDENS OF LUXEMBOURG Let’s start by a nice place to have a Picnic: the Gardens of Luxembourg. Just a few steps from the Pantheon, it is a gorgeous place to walk and to have a sweet moment with friends: fountains, nature, green grass, deckchairs to lie down… but unfortunately, it might be a little bit crowdy in the summer.

v THE INVALIDES:   Less famous but very cosy, you can also go in the 7th arrondissement. From Jouy, you just have to take RER C and stop by “Invalides”: you will find yourself between the Bridge Alexander the Third (which is one of the most magnificent bridges of Paris, directly leading to Champs Elysées) and the Dôme des Invalides, which is also a gorgeous monument, which shelters a hospital, the Museum of the French Army, and Napoléon’s Grave, a very beautiful place surrounded by gorgeous statues of Greek Goddesses. We suggest you to visit the monument, and then have a little “apéro” on the Avenue. If you feel like partying after, you have plenty of clubs on the Champs Elysées: the Queen is a very famous place, but you have to suit up to enter.

v THE PARK OF TUILERIES’ FUN PARK Each summer, the park of Tuileries, near Place Concorde, is turned into a little carnival, with small roller-coasters, and other amusements, like a Haunted House. More information here: http://www.feteforaine-jardindestuileries.com/ After this, if you feel hungry, there is plenty of food and sweets sold there, but we suggest you to walk a little bit, in Rue saint Honoré just next to the park: you will arrive on Place du Faubourg Saint Honoré, which is full of nice

v  SWIMMING AND SUNBATHING Paris can be very hot in July, and unless you’re bold enough to swim in the Seine, we advise you to go the Joséphine Baker Pool, which is based on a boat, floating on the river! Price: 5 euros.   Piscine Joséphine Baker Métro : Quai de la Gare ou François-Mitterrand Tél. : 01 56 61 96 50   Also, in August, you can enjoy the «Paris-Plage» initiative organized by the Town Council: some « Quais de Seine » are covered of sand in order to make you feel at the beach, with soft play areas and pools. And it is for free!  

II. SUMMER FESTIVALS IN FRANCE

v LES FÊTES DE BAYONNE (BAYONNE’S PARTIES) From the 24th of July to the 28th of July Bayonne Put on your white shirt, a good pair of espadrille, and mostly, a red headscarf, and you’re ready for the Bayonne parties – 4 days and 5 nights that constitutes one of the most incredible events of every summer in France! Your journey starts at 8pm on Liberty place (place de la Liberté). At 10pm, you will experience the official opening of the parties, during which King Leon is symbolically given the city’s keys. On the day after, you will be able to admire King Leon’s parade, with his whole funny court. The rest of the parties are animated by cows’ races, sport, and balls. Bayonne’s parties have been a ritual event since 1932, so don’t miss it! More information http://www.fetes.bayonne.fr/

v ARRAS MAINSQUARE FESTIVAL:

Arras – Citadel of Arras. From the 5th of July to the 7th of July For the 9th edition of the Mainsquare Festival organized by the association Live Nation France, very famous French and International artists will try to make you live an unforgettable weekend! Enjoy the best of Pop Rock music with Green Day, 30 Seconds to Mars, C2C, The Prodigy, The Hives, Indochine, Sting… The transport is organized to reach the place. You can stay in the campsite during the weekend, and it’s very near from the citadel of Arras, which is a very beautiful city. Prices: 49€ for one day, 115€ for the whole festival. More information http://www.mainsquarefestival.fr

v NICE JAZZ FESTIVAL From the 8th of July to the 12th of July Nice – Place Masséna, Théâtre de Verdure For those who are spending the summer on the Mediterranean coast in July, don’t forget to go to Nice Jazz Festival, a reference since 1948! If you are a jazz lover or if you just want to have a nice evening in company of your friends with great music, don’t wait to buy your ticket to Nice Jazz Festival! Price: 35€ for one day, 55€ for 2 consecutive days, 120€ for 5 days. More information http://www.nicejazzfestival.fr/en

v  NIMES’ FESTIVAL

Nîmes’ arenas, From the 29th of June to the 18th of July Since 1997, Nimes’ festival has been organized in the well-known, listed historical monument, arenas and has gathered several modern artists from France and all over the world. This year, a very special selection has been designed to enjoy the best of music and partying, with: C2C, Dead can Dance, Green Day, Depèche Mode… Price: from 30€ to 60€ according to the concert you want to see. More information and booking on http://www.festivaldenimes.com/

v FOURVIERE’S NIGHTS

Lyon, From the 4th of June to the 31rst of July

With 118 performances, Les Nuits de Fourvière is a major event for the celebration of culture. If art is your soul mate, you will be enchanted by the program designed in dance, theatre, opera, music, jazz, and circus circus. Since 1946, Les Nuits de Fourvière, organized in conserved places in Lyon that were inherited from the Roman period, are dedicated to encourage cohesion between all these artistic domains: interdisciplinary has always been a key factor, for the spectators’ hapiness’ sakes. Among other things, you will be able to buy your tickets (prices varies from 15 to 50€) for : Dance: Preljocaj… Music/Opera: Carmen, Mozart’s Requiem… Theatre: Cyrano de Bergerac, Antigone… Circus: Forest, Opus… More information and booking http://www.nuitsdefourviere.com/en/

III. NICE PLACES TO VISIT IN THE SUMMER

v LA DUNE DU PYLA (PYLA DUNE) – CAP FERRET - ARCACHON

The region of the Arcachon’s bay is probably the best place to spend your summer in a rented house or a camping with friends (or with your soul mate!). Not only is there the Pyla dune, known as the highest sand dune in Europe (and trust me, it’s very funny to go to the top and then run down to the sea!), but there are also (some of) the most beautiful beaches in France (especially in Cap Ferret). It’s THE perfect place to surf, to bike, to sail, to experience paragliding… and of course to relax in the sun and have fun all night long in the bars and night clubs next to Arcachon (Le Moulleau…). The transfers from one place to another are facilitated by the boat shuttles every 30 minutes, and you can take your bikes on it!

v  ILE DE RÉ – LA ROCHELLE L’Ile de Ré is a pretty island situated next to La Rochelle, where you can enjoy visiting the different villages with their typical white houses and their narrow streets scattered with flowers. On the island, you will be able to go to the beach, to enjoy walking in the harbor, to have strolls on donkey back, or to taste many different flavors of ice cream. In addition to that, biking is an old tradition in l’Ile de Ré, so don’t forget to rent a good bike during your stay! If you are motivated enough, you can take your bike and go to La Rochelle, which is one of the most beautiful city in France!