Sabz – the boutique and gallery of furniture and object design has moved to a great new space in a courtyard on the eastern edge of Paris. This month’s temporary expo (though 8 November) feature’s the “green” designs of Patrick Nadeau. Literally green as the shelves, tables and room dividers have life plants growing out of them. Fabricated in pristine white Corian, with pale wood details, each piece was inspired by the idea of giving everyone – urban dweller’s included - a chance to “cultivate his garden.”
SABZ: 12 rue Rottembourg, 75012. Metro Michel Bizot. www.sabz.fr
Paris’ Fall art scene is in full swing with the opening of:
Emil Nolde at the Grand Palais (through January 19) www.rmn.fr
Georges Rouault at the Pinacothèque (through January 18)
I knew little about either of these artists. Rouault was a contemporary of Matisse and Nolde a German Expressionist. Both were loners and both were inspired by religious themes at different points in their lives. What I found the most fascinating was Nolde. A very comprehensive exhibition that covers everything from Nolde’s first works, inspired by the fables he learned growing up in the German countryside, to Berlin cabarets in 1910 to watercolor landscapes of an eerie beauty (his non-paintings when the Nazi government forbid him from painting). And where Rouault’s colors are simply strong, Nolde’s are intense. I had to check the date on a few of Nolde’s portraits to assure myself that they had really been painted in the 30’s as opposed to 50 years later. They had a modernity that was hard to place but fascinating.
If you prefer an Italian Renaissance master, there is a Mantegna retrospective at the Louvre (through January 5/www.louvre.fr) that I’m hoping to get to soon.
PHOTO: Emil Nolde. Self Portrait, 1917. Nolde Stiftung Seebüll. Courtesy RMN.
Still time to go out and buy the September issue of Gourmet magazine (www.gourmet.com) dedicated to Paris. Definitely worth a look for the food, wine and inexpensive hotel addresses. As most writing on Paris these day, the magazine extols the virtues of eating in northeast Paris, including, the excellent Le Baratin in the 20th arrondisement (3, rue Jouye-Rouve;Tel: 01.43.49.39.70) where you get a lot of taste for your money, but the small size can make it hard to get a reservation. Of course, in the editor’s food journey they do eat pig’s feet, blood sausage and what they themselves call “offal” which is not to everyone’s liking, even if they are the kind of dishes that young chefs can serve economically. I’ll always remember the first time I saw my husband order pig’s feet. It was at Bofinger, the large brasserie off the Place de la Bastille where the dish is a classic. His smile got wider as his plate filled with what seemed like a hundred, picked clean bones – pure French comfort food. And speaking of comfort food, Gourmet offers recipes for confit de canard, my personal favorite feel good dish. Perfect with garlicky sautéed potatoes on a cold winter night. Thank you Gourmet.
I’m a big Tour de France fan and I have to say I was surprised to hear Lance Armstrong announce he would be coming back to professional cycling. When great champions try to make a comeback and fail, I always find it sad. Why end on a low note. Of course Lance could win again, but judging by the response of French television today a lot of people do not want that to happen.
In France, there was much ink spilt over what the press consider to be Armstrong’s suspicious test results for doping. Many sports writers just assume he’s guilty. One said this morning, “he wants to come back as if nothing happened.” The speaker went on to call Armstrong “arrogant” and worse.
Although as ex-rider Richard Virenque (who was fine with the idea of Armstrong returning) pointed out, one has to be invited to the Tour de France. Usually that means your team is invited. So, Lance needs a team, and some results.
Last year’s Tour was pretty boring until the end, with no strong leader. But there is new talent emerging. A new generation is looking to make their mark on cycling. I’d like to see them ge t their chance. If Lance want s to raise awareness for cancer great, but does he need to break his own winning record? I don’t think so.