Something for the Weekend? (10th/11th October)

Paris gets all nostalgic this weekend, with a retro garage sale, a vintage design market and a festival which turns the clock back 100 years.

Please add any events or activities you think should be promoted or which you would like to promote yourself in the comments, and let me know if you have any events in the coming weekends you would like to promote.

A Garage Sale…in a Garage!
An enormous and ancient bus station near the Place de la Nation is due to be renovated shortly, but in the meantime the RATP public transport company have decided to open the doors to the public for a giant vide-grenier (garage sale) for one weekend only. Alongside the traditional moth eaten furniture and cracked crockery, you will find a whole selection of ‘vintage retro-Paris’ activities including shoe-shiners, old-fashioned photographers and traditional barbers! The event will be accompanied by jazz and rhythm and blues music and will be open until midnight on Saturday.
Saturday 11th (8am to midnight), Sunday 12th (8.15am to 8pm)
18-20 Rue des Pyrénées 75020 (Metro Porte de Vincennes).

A Walk along the Canal
The Bassin de la Villette hosts the 10th edition of the Puces de Design this weekend, an event which is more for looking at unless you have a fat wallet. Giving you another reason to take a walk along the length of the canal is the installation of the artist Michel Quarez. From the Port de l’Arsenal near la Bastille all the way to Bobigny to the North-East of the city, the artist has placed 2,000 posters of various sizes, all featuring the same little cartoon character (pictured above). Organisers say that any additions people want to make to the posters are part of the event, so feel free to be creative! If you walk beyond the Parc de la Villette, admire the recent and very successful renovation of the 19th century Moulins de Pantin. Previously they were used for the transformation of flour for dough and bread, but they will shortly be home to a branch of the BNP bank – so once more used for the creation of dough and bread!

Fête des Vendanges – Montmartre
Yes, Paris produces wine, and no it isn’t very good. Nevertheless, it gives the residents of Montmartre another reason to dress up like Piaf or Montand and take to the streets. This event is always a little cheesy (nice with wine), but can be fun. Expect events in bars and shops, outdoor markets, parades on the streets and a grande finale involving fireworks.

Out of the Blue Festival @ La Java
For those looking for something calmer, the first edition of a new festival in Paris over three nights may be up their street. Actually, it’s taking place in La Java up my street so I have no excuse for not going. The goal of the festival is to promote little-known 'post-folk' musicians who are producing intelligent soundscapes, including Trespassers William, Jason Edwards, Kid Loco, Heligoland, Glissando and the excellent Morning Star.
Friday 9th/Saturday 10th/Sunday 11th
La Java, Rue du Faubourg du Temple, M° Goncourt or Belleville

Ports in a Storm
A curiosity or a sign that the depressed French are looking back to more traditional, homely comforts during the current financial crisis? In the west of the city, the Salon de Mariage will welcome those looking to get hitched (including more unorthodox civil ceremonies!), whilst to the east, the Animal Expo show will give them the opportunity to choose a family pet. This domesticity isn’t finished yet though – next weekend sees the ‘Futur Maman’ exhibition and the Salon du Chocolat!
Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October.
Porte de Champerret and Parc Floral.