My Ideal Social Calendar for Paris in March

Despite the recent sprinkling of snow and the continuing cutting cold, spring is showing signs of its imminent arrival.  Baby blossoms are starting to bloom from bleak branches - and whilst it’s still a rarity to see, it sings of a nearing springtime.  Now flowers aren’t the only things blooming across the city: March brings about a whole new slew of amazing events to check out, including an extensive selection of concert tickets to covet!  Top of my list this month are the theatrical performance of Montreal-based Les 7 Doigts de la Main, the various indie gigs taking place across the city, the Semi-Marathon de Paris (where I plan to lend my support), and the unmissable Art Paris Art Fair towards the end of the month.  (I am also looking forward to finishing up visits to various art exhibitions that I have not yet had the chance to see from back in February.)  No matter where your interests lie – art, music, sports, festivals – March will definitely have something for you.  :)

1 :: 26 FEB-17 MAR :: LES 7 DOIGTS DE LA MAIN @ CASINO DE PARIS

Les 7 Doigts de la Main

  

My social calendar this month kicks off with what promises to be an incredible performance by Montréal-based Les 7 Doigts de la Main tonight at le Casino de Paris.  Les 7 Doigts is a theatrical, acrobatic (even almost circus-like!) contemporary dance group that I've had the opportunity to see several times back in London, and I'm super excited to see them again here in Paris for their aptly-named Sequence 8!

2 :: 26 FEB-9 MAR :: PHOTOS DE PRESSE OF THE JAPANESE TSUNAMI @ THE MAISON DE LA CULTURE DU JAPON

Photos de Presse du Grand Séisme au Japon

 

March 11 marks the 2nd anniversary after the catastrophic natural disaster in Japan, and during the first week this month, the Maison de la Culture du Japon will be showcasing some of the incredible photographs taken of the tsunami by the press.  It's also a great opportunity to visit the wonderful Maison du Japon in the 15e if you haven't already done so; they will also be hosting a Paris-Kyoto art exhibition later this month (12-16 March). 


3 :: 26 FEB-12 MAY :: LAURE ALBIN GUILLOT @ JEU DE PAUME

Jeu de Paume

 

A key photography exhibition that completes its first full month in Paris this March is the Jeu de Paume's Question of Classicism, featuring Laure Albin Guillot.  Guillot (1879-1962)  was one of the most exhibited and recognised French photographers during her time, and this exhibition showcases her art of portraiture and the nude, her active role in the advertising world, and a significant collection of her "micrographies décoratives".  A great reason to visit the Jeu de Paume this month.

4 :: 2 MAR-6 JUL :: PARIS HAUTE COUTURE @ HOTEL DE VILLE

Mairie de Paris

Hôtel de Ville will soon be celebrating the pinnacle works of fashion through the Paris Haute Couture exhibition.  You can have the opportunity to see some exceptional examples of haute couture dresses and other pieces chosen from amongst the Galliera museum collections.  Best part?  It's free entry.

5 :: 3 MAR :: SEMI-MARATHON DE PARIS

Médécins sans frontières

The 21st edition of the Semi-Marathon of Paris takes place during the first weekend of March!  40,000 people will be participating in the run that starts from Bois de Vincennes and goes through the 4e arrondissement to near Ile de la Cité and back.  This inspires me to keep my goal of eventually running the Marathon de Paris in 2014 (after having done New York and London - I think it's a must!), but for now, I'll be showing my support by cheering on this year's runners for both the semi and the full.  If you are running this weekend, best of luck to you!!

6 :: 1 MAR-13 APR :: SELECTION AUTOUR DE LA JOURNEE DE LA FEMME (8 MAR)

Mairie de Paris, Thalys

March 8 marks International Women's Day and in Paris, this means lots of ways to celebrate this lovely gender of ours this month!  From a Women in Sports Day on Sunday 24th of March and a huge flashmob of balloons in homage to women on the evening of the 21st, to a free series of make-up + hairstyling + massage at the Galeries Lafayette on the 7th, there are plenty of things to do this month to celebrate women.

7 :: 8-11 MAR :: COCOROSIE + JANE BIRKIN @ SALLE PLEYEL

Google Images

 

One of my favourite Paris-based folk / experimental groups, CocoRosie, performs at Salle Pleyel on the second Friday of this month, in the private New York-inspired estate of Laurie Anderson.  (Tickets are €25/35.)  Another great show at the Salle Pleyel this month is Jane Birkin who will sing Serge Gainsbourg via Japan on Monday the 11th.  (Tickets are €30/45 and almost sold out - buy them soon!)

8 :: 12-29 MAR :: MY PICKS FOR OTHER UPCOMING CONCERTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY

Respective concert websites

Other great concerts to look out for this month are indie pop group Of Monsters and Men (12 March), and folk band Mumford & Sons (26 March), both at Le Trianon in the 18e.  (Unfortunately, the first is listed as sold out, but you can always sign up for notifications of tickets that become available at the last minute!)  Meanwhile, French trip-hop group Wax Tailor (19-20 March) and British rock band Foals (25 March) come to Olympia in the 9e to play.  If you're in more of a clubbing mood, check out Bob Sinclar who will DJ at the infamous Queen at the end of the month!  Last but not least, if you're into independent, lesser known artists, check out the programmation for the Gaîté Lyrique, a fantastic niche concert venue I've only recently discovered near République.

9 :: 13 MAR :: EDDIE IZZARD @ OLYMPIA

Eddie Izzard

Midway through this month, one of my favourite British comedians, Eddie Izzard, comes to Paris to do his Stripped! comedy gig.  Stripped! has done its rounds in the US and has received raving reviews for its cutting, theatrical humour.  For those of you not yet familiar with Izzard, he has been hugely influenced by Monty Python.  And anyone who takes a cue from Monty Python is bound to be brilliant.

10 :: 20-24 MAR :: NIGHT YOURSELF! LES NUITS CAPITALES

Night Yourself!

For five nights this month, Les Nuits Capitales is hosting Night Yourself!, inspired by the idea that la nuit Parisienne has a multitude of dimensions to explore: from its social ties and economic exchanges to its sources of inspiration & creation.  With over 60 places, 200 events, 500 artists, and 4 themes (rock, pop, electro-pop, and indie) to be found across Paris and its suburbs, you are bound to find a concert / club / conference to suit your taste.  Sign up for the newsletter on the site to find out more details.  In the meantime, I'm looking forward to learning more about their indie line-up!

11 :: 22-25 MAR :: SALON DU LIVRE @ PORTE DE VERSAILLES

Blog Rue89

 

As a massive bookworm, I am looking forward immensely to the city's annual book fair!  Le Salon du Livre reunites readers and authors in a great show that features readings, conferences, book signings, and the opportunity to purchase collectors' items.  Entry is €10 and free for students and under 18's. 

12 :: 28 MAR-1 APR :: ART PARIS ART FAIR @ GRAND PALAIS

Art Paris Art Fair

 

The end of the month brings about one of Paris's most important art fairs, Art Paris, with 144 galleries coming from 20 countries under the exquisite roof of the Grand Palais.  This year, Art Paris is focusing on art scenes of Central & Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with Russia as the guest of honour for 2013.  A central space will be dedicated to 11 galleries from Moscow, St-Petersburg, and other key cities in Russia, with 15 European galleries showcasing their own Russian works.  Normal entry is €20.

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

13 :: 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.  I recently had the opportunity to check out the exhibition with Carin Olsson from Paris in Four Months, and was absolutely astounded by Dali's breadth of works.  I'm looking forward to checking it out yet again in March! 


14 :: 21 FEB-21 JUL :: CHAGALL - ENTRE GUERRE & PAIX @ MUSEE DU LUXEMBOURG

Musée du Luxembourg

As a humongous fan of Surrealist / Expressionist artist, Marc Chagall, this is the exhibition I had been waiting for throughout all of February!  The Musée du Luxembourg is currently showcasing 100 of Chagall's works that he began at the outbreak of WWI and which illustrate key moments of his life in Russia during wartime as well as in the south of France thereafter.  Incorporating elements of Cubism, Suprematism, Surrealism, modernist thought, and of course incredibly gorgeous shades and tones, the works in this exhibition curated by the Grand Palais promise to be incredible. 

15 :: 23 JAN-7 APR :: JOEL MEYEROWITZ, DIANA MICHENER, AND MARTIAL CHERRIER @ MEP

Maison Européenne de la Photographie

There are currently three great exhibitions running at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in the Marais: Joel Meyerowitz's Une Rétrospective, Diana Michener's Figure Studies, and Martial Cherrier's Etat d'urgence.  All three are very different but brilliant in their own way.  You can read more about each one of them in My Ideal Social Calendar for February.

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With that, I conclude this list of events for my ideal social calendar in March.  Spring is around the corner even if it doesn't quite feel like it yet - but this month's events are more than enough to keep us busy until it officially arrives.