My Ideal Social Calendar for Paris in January

Adrien

2013 is finally here!  Christmas and New Year may be behind us, but that doesn't mean that we have less fun things to do in Paris in the month of January.  If you're anything like me, you've probably woken up on New Year's Day with a slight hangover, and (given all those Christmas cocktail parties and dinners) a little more junk in the trunk and a lot less cash in the bank.  Thankfully there are still a lot of cool things to do in January that don't involve additional weight gain or excessive cash burn.  (Unless, of course, you go crazy during les Soldes!)  And what's even better is, I'm back in Paris and actually get to follow my own Ideal Social Calendar this month!  Which also means you'll start seeing more posts about reviews of these exact events.  Without further ado, here is my first Ideal Social Calendar for the year 2013!

1 :: 26 DEC-5 JAN :: LA COMPAGNIE ANTONIO GADES @ LE PALAIS DES CONGRES

La Compagnie Antonio Gades

It's the last few days to catch the unbelievably beautiful flamenco performances of La Compagnie Antonio Gades at le Palais des Congrès.  Gades co-founded and became the artistic director for the Ballet Nacional de España (my most favourite ballet company in the world!) and collaborated closely with Spanish director Carlos Saura - both of which made him an international icon in the dance sphere.  Gades passed away in 2004, but his works continue to live on through this dance company.  Ticket prices for these performance start at €20.  If you are in Paris during the first 5 days of January and love dance, do not miss this!

2 :: 9 JAN-12 FEB :: LES SOLDES DE PARIS

Daily Photo Paris

January 9th kicks off the insanity that is the winter sales season in Paris!  For those of you not familiar with the concept, Les Soldes are state-regulated sales in France which run during two periods of the year: once in the summer around summer solstice, and once in January shortly following New Year's Day.  Shoppers descend upon the main shopping meccas of the city, from the Marais all the way to the Champs Elysées, to benefit from discounts that can range up to 80%.  Some even come from other countries just to partake in the madness.  I say the best way to do the sales is to be militant about it: have a plan of attack whereby you know exactly what you want to buy and where, before you descend onto the battlefield.  Best of luck!

3 :: 18-22 JAN :: MAISON&OBJET AND PARIS DECO OFF

Maison&Objet

This month, two major trade shows for interior design take place in Paris, with over a hundred prestigious decor houses presenting their latest collections (from designer fabrics and furniture to lighting and glassware) in various locations across the City of Lights.  Maison&Objet is the main event reserved for industry professionals, but it's easier for the everyday person to get access to Paris Déco Off, the alternative trade fair. Given that I am currently in the midst of looking for a new Parisian apartment (and therefore soon to be in decorating mode!), I'm really excited to check out this event for interior design ideas.

4 :: 19-21 JAN :: SALON INTERNATIONALE DE LA LINGERIE @ PARIS EXPO PORTE DE VERSAILLES

Salon Internationale de la Lingerie

Paris is the heart of luscious lingerie, a city where beautiful balconettes and tempting tangas are an art form that require careful investment on the behalf of both men and women.  Thanks to HiP Paris, I remembered to sign up for this year's Salon Internationale de la Lingerie, one of the largest and most important lingerie expos in the world.  For me in particular, it's a must-go given it's part of my line of work!  I'm especially looking forward to learning about the 2013 trends in lingerie & love stuff.  :)

5 :: 23 JAN :: TORO Y MOI @ LE TRABENDO

LastFM

 

This month, one of my all-time favourite ambient electronica artists, Chazwick Bundick (better known by his stage name, Toro y Moi), will play at Le Trabendo at Parc de la Villette in the 19e.  His music has taken on many forms since its inception, but he is best known for being part of the "chillwave" musical movement of the summer of 2010.  Tickets are on sale for €18.80 - not a bank-breaker at all!

6 :: 24 JAN :: ANGUS STONE @ LA CIGALE

La Cigale

One half of the Australian pop-rock / folk duo, Angus & Julia Stone, is coming to Paris to play at La Cigale, as part of the tour for his first solo album, Broken Brights.  I love the husky, dreamy quality of Angus's voice (and Julia's, for that matter!) and am really looking forward to seeing this concert.  Tickets are on sale for €29.

7 :: 24-27 JAN :: FESTIVAL MONDIAL DU CIRQUE DE DEMAIN @ CIRQUE PHENIX

Clockwise from top-left :: Die Fussballartisten :: Sortir à Paris :: Blog d'Ivan Sigg :: Guillaume et Anne :: Guillaume et Anne

The 34th World Festival of the Circus of Tomorrow takes place under the fantastical tent of Cirque Phenix during 4 days at the end of January.  More than 60 circus artists from around the world come to showcase their extraordinary talents, from juggling and contortion to trapeze acts and the Chinese pole.  As a girl who has always had an obsession with elephants and the magical world of Cirque du Soleil, this is something that I am definitely looking forward to!  Who says you need to be under a certain age to watch the circus?!

8 :: 24 JAN-23 FEB :: FESTIVAL FAITS D'HIVER

Faits d'Hiver

Since 1997, Faits d'Hiver has promoted new conceptions of dance, choreography, and contemporary dance.  This year, starting in the last week of January, several artists will perform in various venues across the city, including le Théâtre de la Cité and le Théâtre de la Bastille.  I'm keen to check out Prue Lang's Timeproject / création and Matthew Day's Cannibal during the latter half of the festival.  Ticket prices range between €10-20.  Click here to view the full programme.

9 :: 28 JAN-3 FEB :: OEDIPUS / BET NOIR @ THEATRE DE LA VILLE

Théâtre de la Ville

January seems to be a great month for dance, which ends with a modern dance performance of Oedipus / Bêt Noir at the Théâtre de la Ville.  Flemish choreographer Wim Vandekeybus adapts this mythological drama into dance using sixteen dancers, actors, and musicians to bring to the life this legendary tragedy.  Ticket prices range from €17-30.

10 :: 30 JAN-23 MAR :: MARJANE SATRAPI @ GALERIE JEROME DE NOIRMONT

Paris Art

Marjane Satrapi was the reason I fell in love with comic books - and perhaps the reason that the world (re)discovered the art of the French graphic novel.  She is the brilliant Iranian-born French contemporary graphic novelist behind the hit political comic-turned-film, Persepolis, which is one of the most cherished possessions on my bookshelves.  However, aside from writing and illustrating graphic novels, films, and children's books, Satrapi also paints.  And at the end of this month, Galerie Jérôme de Noirmont in the 8e will be showcasing 21 of Satrapi's portrait paintings for the first time.  Critics say that her paintings reflect the interior scenes of Balthus, the simplicity of Mondrian's geometric constructions, and the sensuality of Matisse.  As a big Satrapi fan, this is definitely one exhibition I'm not going to miss! 

** OTHER ONGOING EVENTS IN JANUARY I'D RECOMMEND **

11 :: 10 OCT-28 JAN :: EDWARD HOPPER @ GRAND PALAIS
 

Grand Palais

It's the last month for you to catch the first full retrospective in Paris of prominent American painter, Edward Hopper (1882-1967), whose realist paintings and prints gave expression to modern American life in the 20th century.  Realism, romanticism, solitude, isolation, regret, resignation - these are the emotions that Hopper captures poignantly in his paintings and which the young adult, America, was herself working through in the 1900s.  If you haven't already checked it out, the Hopper exhibition at the Grand Palais is an absolute must this winter.


12 :: 21 NOV-25 MAR :: SALVADOR DALI @ CENTRE POMPIDOU

Centre Pompidou continues to host the extraordinary Dali retrospective, which showcases 150 paintings by one of the world's most celebrated Surrealist artists.  There are also a number of films and writings to supplement the artwork by this 20th-century Spanish painter, sculptor, engraver, and writer.

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With that, I conclude this list of events for my ideal social calendar in January.  Bonne année et bonne rentrée à tout le monde !