Something for the Weekend (14th – 16th May)

Although I have little time to update this blog in May, I will continue to publish my suggestions for the weekend, partly because they will help me to plan too! With a public holiday on Thursday, the weekend begins early in France this week, but there are also several very interesting events to plan for…

La Nuit des Musées
Most museums across Paris will be offering free entrance and will open until midnight this Saturday as part of the Nuit des Musées event, and whilst the majority will simply be giving access to temporary and permanent collections, there will be a number of special events organised. Two in particular have caught my eye:

• An evening with the Wild Club. Over the last year, the Wild Club website has hosted monthly competitions for architects who can remain anonymous and who have only 24 hours to produce their designs. The competiton begins with a simple photograph, and those taking part are invited to send in dreamlike visions of how the spot could be transformed in the future or how it might look in a parallel world. Without actual construction projects to bid for, the architects are given free expression which sometimes throws up very surprising results! (Pavillion de l’Arsenal, 21 Boulevard Morland, 75004)


• Soup tasting at the Musée de l’Assistance Publique. Has hospital food always been bad? Between 9.30 and 11.30pm on Saturday night there will be a ‘dégustation de bouillon’ with the recipe coming from the depths of the Paris hospital archives. The weather this weekend may well be chilly, so this will surely warm everyone up, but let’s hope it doesn't put visitors in one of the city's institutions! (Musée de l’Assistance Publique, 47 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005)

Click here for the full programme of events in Paris.

A Day at the Races
Discover the excitement of thoroughbred racing in France with an insider's tour of Longchamp racecourse this Sunday (16th) guided by Gina Rarick, currently the only American professional racehorse trainer in France and the first American woman granted a license here. Starting with a BYO picnic lunch at this historic racecourse, Gina will explain how racing works in France. After lunch there will be a tour of the track, the weighing room where the jockeys prepare for the races, the stabling/saddling enclosures and, if possible, a trip down to the starting gates to watch the horses jump out for a race. Dress smartly (at least a jacket and preferably a tie for men - rules are strict at Longchamp!) but also for changeable weather!

Tickets for this event cost 12 Euros, and if you are interested, please try to confirm early as those organising the event need to give Longchamp advance notice. To sign up please contact Mark Tronco at tronco@gallopfrance.com.