Paris Things to Do

Paris is one of the world’s top 5 favourite places in which to welcome in the new year. Not really surprising – it’s gorgeous, it’s romantic, and it has wonderful champagne. This is a city of hopes and dreams and that’s what New Year’s Eve is all about, right?

Oozing with atmosphere, Paris has long been the destination of choice for stylish shoppers, romancing lovers, and exploring for family and food lovers alike. Few wouldn’t want to spend Christmas and New Years in Paris – perfect for Christmas shopping in the chic boutiques, or wining and dining against the romantic backdrop of the City of Lights.

104 Centquatre in Paris is an artists’ studio and exhibition space that’s reenergizing artistic life in Montmartre. Once home to visionaries such as Picasso, Dali, Monet, van Gogh, Montmartre inevitably became trendy and gentrified and too expensive for artists to inhabit.

Paris is a city so rich in tradition and history that it can be easy to miss the contemporary cultural scene. Make sure you don’t overlook the emerging and talented young artists whose work is on display at the Slick Contemporary Art Fair, which runs from 20-23rd October in 2011. Located in a 2000-square-metre marquee on the Esplanade between the wonderful Palais de Tokyo and the Museum of Modern Art, Slick will show thousands of new artworks with everything from painting and sculpture to new media and video installations.

Campra’s Opera-Ballet “The Venetian Holiday” (1710) inspired the title of this show, which fits well into the lasting fascination of Venice to Versailles. The serenity of Venice, Masterpieces of Vivaldi, and palace myths of Versailles come together for an exceptional event.

Experience the joys of jazz in the botanical gardens with the international Paris Jazz Festival. The program explores the crossovers and musical forms of Jazz, through Sunday picnic concerts, photographic exhibition ‘Giants of Jazz’, musical games and other games from around the world, workshops and discussions about music and nature until 31st July. Concerts are free after paying admission for the park.