Cultural Notes By Joelle Petit Adkins

Going to Paris for the Holidays?

This information is brought you by

Savoir Faire Language Institute

Foreign language within your reach and in your neighbohood

Paris

in December

From Courtney Traub

When the City of

Light

Truly Dazzles

A Magical Month of Light and Cheer

In December,

Paris

bursts out of its sleepy autumn quiet and lights up-- literally and figuratively. Trees up and down the Champs-Elysées are strung with garlands of shimmering light, and many other places around the city are decorated in the same festive spirit, including Rue Montorgeuil, Rue Saint Honore , the Galeries Lafayette department store, or Place Vendome. An ice-skating rink  is set up on the plaza outside of Hôtel de Ville (

Paris

City Hall

).

Christmas markets spring up all around the city, with their warm wood-roofed booths, vin chaud (hot wine), enchanting decorations and gifts, and gourmet treats. Chanukah celebrations like menorah lightings add to

Paris

' holiday-season charm.

With all the good cheer,

Paris

in December is nonetheless fairly relaxed, making the month an ideal time to take advantage of the city's many sights and attractions. Take your time exploring museums, sipping cinnamon-infused hot wine, or attending as special holiday concert. Have a real retreat from the holiday madness back home and try taking Paris in frame by frame, like a painter would.

The December Thermometer

• Minimum temperature: 3 degrees C (37.4 degrees F)
• Maximum temperature: 7 degrees C (44.6 degrees F)
• Average temperature: 4 degrees C (39.2 degrees F)
• Average rainfall: 49 millimeters (1.9 inches)

How to Pack

December in

Paris

is generally cold, and often rainy or icy. Temperatures approach or descend below zero. Snow is rare and when it does come it usually melts on hitting the ground, sometimes often turning into a sludgy slush that can be a real nuisance. Wind chill can make the city seem even frostier than what the mercury reads.

• Make sure to stock your suitcase with warm cotton or wool sweaters, scarves, coats, and socks. Bring at least one or two warm turtlenecks, and line your bags with clothes that are easy to layer.
• A sturdy umbrella is a must, as flimsier ones often won't withstand sudden downpours or gusts of wind.
• Bring at least two pairs of shoes, both waterproof. Heels should be reserved for indoor events as the streets can be slick or icy. If your feet get cold easily, bring a pair of comfortable waterproof boots.
• A pair of light waterproof gloves and a hat can make walking around more comfortable, but you won't need anything approaching snow or ski gear. Places like

  New York

  and

  Chicago

  get much colder in the winter than

  Paris

  does.
• Toting around a small thermos for hot drinks can be a good way to keep motivated in the

  Paris

  winter wonderland.
• One more word of advice on packing: since this is shopping season, you may want to think about packing as lightly as you can to reserve space in your suitcase for holiday delicacies or gifts you plan to bring back home.

Read More about Paris in December in Paris: Events Calendar

Mexico’s Christmas Party

This information is brought you by

Savoir Faire Language Institute 

Foreign language within your reach and in your neighbohood

Saturday, December 15, 3:00-7:00pm

Individual Tickets
Members- $15
Non-Members- $20
Children- $5 (12 and under)

Family of Five (2 adults, 3 children)
Members- $50
Non-Members-$60

RSVP 562-437-1689

Join us on Saturday, December 15 at 3:00pm to celebrate a Posada, Mexico’s most spectacular Christmas celebration. Enjoy delicious traditional Mexican food and other holiday dishes. Listen to beautiful Villancicos (Mexican Christmas carols) interpreted by the award winning Estudiantina Guadalupana from San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Sing along to traditional Christmas songs in Spanish and break a huge piñata.

http://www.molaa.org

Renato Dulbecco, Nobel Prize winning scientist

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Savoir Faire Language Institute 

Foreign language within your reach and in your neighbohood

Nobel Prize winning scientist

 

Renato Dulbecco

 

will be honored with

A Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Thursday, November 29, 2007

6:00 pm 

 

Distinguished research professor and President Emeritus of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Renato Dulbecco has made fundamental contributions to understanding the uncontrolled growth of cells that occurs in cancer. His most important discovery was the demonstration that the DNA of the virus is incorporated in the genetic material of the cell, causing a permanent alteration. In 1975 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine (together with David Baltimore and Howard Temin) for research on the interaction of tumor viruses and cellular genetic material. In 1986 he launched the idea of studying all human genes, starting the worldwide Human Genome Project.

Reception to follow

Istituto Italiano di Cultura

1023 Hilgard Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90024

 

Please R.S.V.P. by November 28, 2007

(310) 443-3250

 

Parking available in the lot adjacent to the IIC

Under the auspices of the Italian Consul General in Los Angeles

Nicola Faganello

 

Francesca Valente

Director of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura

 

in collaboration with ISSNAF

Italian Scientists and Scholars

in North America Foundation

 

Stuart Ng Books in Torrance

Dear friends,
Need something French to read? One of our students is a leading importer of French Bande Dessinee here in the US. Here what she has to say about it:

"We stock hundreds of comic books and art books with French text.
Our business is mostly mail order & we sell books all over the world. Our patrons are professional commercial artists, animators and illustrators. We also sell books to collectors, art students, and art school libraries.
Stuart, my husband was the first US bookseller to import books of the art work by our favorite French artist Claire Wendling.
My husband does not speak or read French. We started importing the French books for the art work... but this part of our business has grown so much, and so many of our US customers are begging for summaries or translations of the French stories. This is one of the many reasons I am taking French lessons now at Savoir Faire Language Institute.
Here is a link to the imported books page of our website.
http://www.stuartngbooks.com/importsbbb.html
Our showroom in Torrance is open most Saturdays noon - 4PM, and 7 days a week by appt. We will have extended hours for the holidays. Starting this weekend, through December, we will be open both Sat & Sundays. Extended hours are on the calendar on our showroom page.
Here's a link to our showroom page, with map and links to other Torrance area attractions... parks, restaurants, shopping, something for everyone :)

http://www.stuartngbooks.com/showroom.html

MEXICO REVEALED

A journey into the heart of the ancient and the modern                   

Wednesday, November  28
                    Free and open to the public
                    7:30 - 9:30pm 

                  

From the famous single cry, 'Viva Mexico!' that sweeps the country every Independence Day, to the spectacle and pageantry summoned by reverence for the Virgin of Guadalupe, come and experience the journey to one of the most beautiful places on earth, Mexico.

                  

RSVP to 562.437.1689

                  

Space is limited!

MOLAA'S BALLET PARA NIñOS AUDITIONS

MOLAA'S BALLET PARA NIñOS AUDITIONS
               
molaa is looking for talented children who love to dance.  This new dance program is an intense educational experience for serious students who want to excel in dance and who are interested in the culture of Latin America.  Interested parties may sign up online at www.molaa.org or call 562 437-1689 for a registration form.  No previous dance experience necessary.  Boys and girls are invited to participate.

                  

Our Ballet  para Niños program will have an emphasis in Latin American dance styles,  but will also include styles such as ballet, jazz and tap. 

                  

Every Tuesday & Sunday (except  Holidays)
Members: $100   
Non-Members  $120/month
Children Ages 6-12
Classes Start on Sunday, November 4th 2007

                  

For Online Reservations call 562.437.1689 or Click Here.
                     
                     
 

                  

2007 – 2008 Dance Class  Schedule:
                   
                      A one-year-long dance class program will start on Sunday, November 4, 2007 and will end in  December 2008.                      Classes will be held twice a week. Children must wear hair in a  bun or pony-tail.

                  

Sundays
                    Children aged 6 to 9:          1:00  - 2:30 pm
                    Children ages 10 to 12:      2:30  – 4:00 pm

                  

Tuesdays
                    Children aged 6 to 9:          3:30 - 4:45 pm
                    Children ages 10 to 12:      4:45  – 6:00 pm

                  

• Enrollment  is open through November and December 2007 and closes in January 2008.                       You may enroll online or by phone.
                       
                     
• Space is limited.  molaa reserves the right to reimburse tuition for children who show no commitment or interest in the program.
                       
                     
• A  one time fee for  shoes and dancewear is due before dance lessons begin: $135.00/girls and $105.00/boys.
                          
                           

At the Molaa in November and December

End of the Year
                  SALSA DANCE PARTY

                  

Friday,  December 28, 2007
Dance Classes: 7:00 -8:00 p.m.
Party Time: 8:00 -11:00 p.m.
Seat Reservations:  Members: $50 •  Non- Members: $60
Regular: Members: $30 • Non-  Members: $40
Formal Attire

                  Bring your friends  to dance the night away as you say                   

RSVP at 562.437.1689 or Online.

                                     

Adios 2007 y Bienvenido 2008!
                    The party starts at  8:00 pm. 
                    From 9:00 -11:00 p.m,
                    we will enjoy the salsa rhythms  of   Desde Afuera from Venezuela,                     an eight-piece band featuring
  Victor  Cegarra, Gilberto Torres& acclaimed vocalist Candi Sosa.

                  

• Salsa dance  lessons will be offered at no extra cost                       from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
• Limited occupancy. 
•   Tickets available by phone or online.

                                     

Sign-up for our Tuesday salsa classes today and enjoy free admission to this party!

More fun at the Molaa online

DUEL, Laurent Cirade, cello & Paul Staicu, piano

 Cellist Laurent Cirade and Pianist Paul Staicu
In a remarkable musical and humoristic standoff

An evening of music and laugh for the whole family!

Fri, November 30 & Sat, December 1 at 7:30 PM                                         

            

One of the most critically acclaimed  shows of the Avignon Festival 2007, DUEL is an irresistible and hilarious performance, a remarkable standoff between two  French virtuosos, cellist Laurent Cirade and a pianist Paul Staïcu.
Paul and Laurent confront each other with equal weaponry, the bow versus the keyboard, in a delirious performance. They move effortlessly from humor to poetry, and musical gags, combining absurdity, friendship, complicity, cynicism and innocence, while playing an incredible program from Bach to the Beatles. They impersonate two universal and attaching characters, the big and the small and without ever resorting to speech, deliver an incredible mix of musical and hilarious comedy, crossing genres between classical music and humor a la Laurel & Hardy. Watch!

            

Buy Tickets Now!

An evening with Peruvian Maestro Fernando de Szyszlo

Saturday, November 17, 2007
8:00 - 9:30pm
Balboa Lecture Hall

RSVP at 562.437.1689 or Online.   

Peruvian painter, Fernando de Szyszlo is one of Latin America’s most important abstract artists.  The subjects of his paintings are linked to the ancient cultures of the pre-Columbian world filled with sacred sites, ritual practices, mythical symbols, seascapes and desert landscapes. In the year 2000, molaa presented a retrospective exhibition of Maestro Szyszlo. Our permanent collection now includes four significant works by this renowned artist.

Please join us to “welcome back” Maestro Szyszlo for an evening conversation and lecture, hosted by molaa’s associate VP of Exhibitions, Cynthia MacMullin.

This event is in association with the Ebell Club of Los Angeles who is honoring Fernando de Szyszlo with a Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday, Nov. 16th.  Contact Jsoto@ebellla.com for more information regarding the Ebell event.

A VERY GRAND GUIGNOL CHRISTMAS

Guignol will make you cry, laugh, wonder all in a very French way. I am planning to go on Sunday December 9. If you are interested in joining me for a French night out, email me.
I really look forward to this event! Hope you join us.
Joelle
www.savoirfaire-california.com

Les Grand Guignolers présentent   /   the Grand Guignolers present

A VERY GRAND GUIGNOL CHRISTMAS

absinthe  *  lait de poule  *  sang  *  marionnettes malveillantes
absinthe  *  eggnog  *  blood  *  naughty puppets

Ce spectacle se déroule en Anglais.   /   This show is in English.

Les prix des billets sont normalement de $15 à $25.  Nous offrons à votre groupe un prix réduit « groupe français » de $12.  Visitez simplement http://grandguignol.eventbrite.com. 
Choisissez « Student, Starving Artist » pour $15, cliquez « Enter Discount Code » et tapez le code « frenchgroup » dans la case, puis cliquez « Apply Discount. »

Tickets are normally $15 - $25.  We are offering French groups a discounted price of $12.  Please visit
http://grandguignol.eventbrite.com.  Select Student, Starving Artist for $15, click Enter Discount Code and enter frenchgroup in the field, then click Apply Discount.

Du 24 novembre au 22 décembre 2007   /   November 24 December 22 2007
Les vendredis et samedis à 20h30, le dimanche 25 novembre 2007 à 19h.
Fridays and Saturdays @ 8:30p, Sunday November 25 2007 @ 7p.

Art/Works Performance Space
6569 Santa Monica Boulevard
à l'est de Highland Avenue   /   4 blocks East of Highland
Los Angeles  CA  90038
www.grandguignolers.com

Billets le soir même seulement réglés en liquides ou par chèque.   /   Tickets at the door are only cash or check.