Paris In New York

A fun afternoon for the kids at the FIAF - Saturday Dec.8

Explore the richness of the French language and culture with your petits enfants through different activities At 2pm - Ages 7 & up

Tales of the Night - Les contes de la nuit
Directed by Michel Ocelot, 2011. Animated. 84 min.
In French with English subtitles

A hit at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival, Tales of the Night follows three young writers who meet in an abandoned cinema to create six fairytales. Travel with them as their imaginations take them to exotic lands.

Haskell Library
Open House & Story Time

From 3–4:30pm - Ages 3–6

Explore the Library’s kids’ collection and enjoy story time and arts and crafts in French from 3:30–4:15pm.

Puppet Show
The Princess, the Frog, and the Pea

Saturday, December 8 at 3:15pm

Ages 3 & up

Back by popular demand, Goat on a Boat presents a puppet show that combines three classic European fairytales into a unique, funny adventure.

Told in French and performed in English by Liz Joyce.

Music & Dance
French Boom
With DJ Dima Dubson

At 5pm - Ages 3 & up

Celebrate the holidays with some dancing!

Parents and kids are invited to groove to the French beats of NY-based DJ Dima Dubson.

French Children's Book Sale - from 10am–5pm

Discover unique children's books in French for all ages and levels. Buy the perfect holiday gift for the young Francophiles in your life! 

This week-end - A taste of France for Kids and Adults

Where to taste sweet delis from France, buy cute French clothes or books, and meet French people in a fun environment ? 

The Lycée Francais de New York is opening its doors to the public this week-end for its 2012 Fall Festival. Spread between Friday evening, November 9th and Saturday, November 10th, participants will enjoy various tastings of cocktails, high end chefs, a book fair, a vendors’ fair as well as many fun activities for children. 

Friday Night: TASTING SOIRÉE: Friday, November 9th, 7pm - 10pm

This Tasting Soiree cocktail party (for adults only) gathers more than twenty top New York City restaurants and caterers including: Ajna Bar, Bar Italia, Canyon Road, Cuis’in, DBA Bareburger, Fleur d’Oranger, Le Gamin, Great Performances, Kayser, Lactalis Deli, La Grande Pomme, la Marina, Moulin à café, Orsay, Pernod Ricard, Pinkberry, Sushi Shop, Vegan divas, etc…

Adults only.  $40 in advance, $50 at the door.  Ticket price includes food tasting and open bar.

FAMILY & SHOPPING DAY: Saturday, November 10th, 10am - 4pm

Get a jump start on your holiday shopping

Free admission and open to the public.  Featuring more than 40 vendors selling a variety of items for every age and every taste including:

Jewelry, fashion accessories: Two B’s Accessories, Avenue Chic, Minh-thu Le Roy, Violette, Gabrielle Vallarino, Bonnie Jennifer, Diane Rihs, L’atelier, Sugar and Vine, Bridget Gem’s, Tru Tru Design, Nathalie Regnault Sann, Blu Aura by Monica & Saide LLC

Adult and children’s clothing: IL GUFO, MUNY DESIGN INC., Kidini, Alessandra Battistoni, Busayo, Untuckit

Food: Alain Milliat, Canele by Celine and Kusmi Tea, Le Palais Des Thes, Fleur D’Oranger, Simply Gourmand, Antonia Ressle, Macaron, Cuis’in

Books: William Hall/High Valley Books, Krystel Abimeri, Bayard Presse

Home décor: Annabelle’s Pottery, Theoreme/Agnes de Villarson, Pia Rossi, Lee Baratier, Gregoire Ganter Photography, Adventure Shop, Craftspring, Retro NY Metro Inc.

Toys and children’s items: Raphaele Guerin, Patrick Martinez, Clafoutis, Little Pim

Beauty: Caudalie Spa

Movies: vente de tickets pour le Festival In French with English Subtitles

The Fall Festival vendor list wouldn’t be complete without the French Book Fair. This popular booth features new books for both adults and children including pictures books, atlases, novels, comic books, first readers, and many more.  100% of the proceeds from the sale of the books go directly to the Lycée Français.

Finally, children will be entertained with a variety of activities and classes for kids of all ages including: music classes, basketball, dance, soccer, yoga, story time, djembe, Brazilian bracelet making and many more.

For more information on the Fall Festival, please contact: Marysella Castillo [email protected] or call (212) 439-3853

 

 

 

Friday, December 16th: Art and Craft at the Jacadi Boutique

Friday, December 16 
3–4pm / 4:15–5:15pm
For parents and kids ages 5–8

Jacadi and FIAF celebrate the holidays with an afternoon of seasonal arts & crafts. Children will create snowflakes and gingerbread ornaments, and learn a special French holiday song!

As a proud sponsor of FIAF's signature à petits pas French immersion program for toddlers, Jacadi, in conjunction with FIAF, presents the fourth in a series of customized workshops designed to bring French language and culture to parents and their children at select Jacadi stores in the metropolitan area.

Jacadi Madison Avenue Boutique 
1242 Madison Avenue at 89th St
New York, NY 10128

Free! 

Space is limited. RSVP by Wed, Dec 14.
Contact Guitty Roustaï at [email protected] / 646 388 6605

Great Photographer between Paris and New York

I met Picola at the wedding of my nephew in France in September and was very impressed by the work of this French photographer who lives in NYC.

PICOLA took beautiful photos of the event . The nice thing is also that photographs has been distributed freely to everyone about 7 days after the event. We were able to download them by a link sent in our email box. Very easy and practical...

So, we had the opportunity to spend a great day without the obsession of succeeding in making photos !

A wedding gallery from PICOLA can be found there

Click here to watch the trailer online.

www.picola.fr

 

 

Bastille Day in Brooklyn - Petanque ! July 10th - Smith Street

Brooklyn's annual Bastille Day celebration featuring the largest petanque tournament in the U.S., drinks by Ricard, food, two live bands and a guillotine. Smith Street between Bergen and Pacific transforms into sandy petanque courts while area restaurants such as Bar Tabac and Robin Des Bois serve food & drink.

Petanque tournament: 80 teams from all over the world
Great food and drink all day
LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY with 3 bands
Sponsored by RICARD LE SOLEIL DE MARSEILLE
Celebration starts at 11AM until 11PM so COME and HAVE FUN with us!

+ Game for kids & Penalty kick contest

+ REGISTER NOW for the Petanque Competition at the Restaurant
(Participation fee: $20 for 2)
For more information click here
At 2.30PM join the Ceremony with the French Consul General M. Philippe Lalliot and M. Marty Markowitz Borough President.

Bastille Day on 60th Street - Sunday, July 10, 12-5pm

 

Each year, to commemorate France’s own Independence Day on July 14, 1789, Bastille Day on 60th Street brings the best of France to New York.

The street is closed for a whole afternoon of activities and delights for the entire family. Kids can play a round of pétanque or get their faces painted at the Kids Corner booth. From tasting delicious treats to listening to music at our day-long concert, everyone will enjoy the attractions provided by artists and artisans from various regions of France, as well as other French-speaking countries. 

more info

Wall Street Journal - "Learning to Be French in Brooklyn"

By KAVITA MOKHA

French dual-language programs, which didn't exist in New York City public schools five years ago, are booming across the city, spurred by lobbying efforts from the French community.

By September 2011, six elementary schools, one middle school and one charter school will have French programs. In Brooklyn, Public School 133 in Park Slope and P.S. 110 in Greenpoint are expected to unveil programs starting this fall.

View Full Image

Julie Platner for The Wall Street Journal

Students at P.S. 58, the Carroll School in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, which offers a French language program.

The growing number of French programs reflects the growing number of French. A survey conducted by the U.S. Census found 14,000 French lived in New York City in 2009, up from 12,000 in the 2000. The French consulate in New York says the true number is far higher—approximately 75,000 French living in New York state, most of them in New York City. About 3,000 French families have settled in the Carroll Gardens-Gowanus-Park Slope area of Brooklyn in the last 10 years, said Fabrice Jaumont, the education attaché at the French Embassy.

While there are a handful of private French bilingual schools in the city—Lycée Français of New York; the French-American School of New York; and Lyceum Kennedy among them—the high cost of attendance put them out of the reach for many younger French families.

The French dual-language programs in public schools, by contrast, are free. "There was a lot of thirst among them for programs like this, because four years ago, if you couldn't spend over $20,000 to send your child to a private school, you didn't have a choice," said Marie Bouteillon, the first teacher hired for Carroll School-P.S. 58's dual-language program in 2007.

That program started with a kindergarten class of 24 students, split evenly between native French speakers and non-French speakers, and with one teacher. It now enrolls nearly 200 students across four grade levels, with eight teachers, and has a growing waiting list for admissions this fall.

At Le Petit Paradis, preschoolers are learning their ABCs in both English and French. Aside from bilingualism's practical benefits, parents and experts alike say speaking multiple languages offer other advantages. WSJ's Christina Tsuei reports.

Dual-language programs have been offered in city public schools for more than a decade. Eighty of the city's 96 such programs are dedicated to Spanish, while seven are in Chinese and one each in Russian, Korean and Haitian Creole.

In 2005, French expatriates formed a group, Education Française à New York, to push for French after-school and dual-language programs in public schools. The group began by initially offering after-school classes in neighborhood public schools run by volunteers.

These programs benefited from funding from the French government, which offers special grants to support classes in French as a mother tongue, where no French schools are otherwise available for French citizens living abroad. Mr. Jaumont of the embassy said the French government helped out because the existing French schools in New York City were out of space, and they were too expensive for many young French families to afford.

What began as a gathering of French parents to discuss the educational needs of their children soon gathered momentum.

"Some of us first met other French parents in Carroll Park, and we started meeting more French people in bars and restaurants across the city, and fairly rapidly we were able to get a critical mass of parents who were interested in pursuing French bilingual programs for their children," said Catherine Poisson, president of Education Française à New York. "We started going to principals of various schools trying to establish after-school programs first and then dual-language education."

Meanwhile, the Carroll School and the French Embassy, pushed by a shortage of teachers qualified to teach French dual-language programs, approached Hunter College last year about adding a French track to its existing Master's in early-childhood bilingual-education program. Hunter will begin offering the French track starting this fall.

While a large number of the children enrolled in the public school dual-language programs are French, the programs also cater to children of other Francophone immigrants from countries like Switzerland, Canada and Senegal. The programs include an equal distribution of students who speak French at home and those who speak English or another language with their parents.

Having both native French speakers and English speakers In the classroom has helped both students and teachers, says Ms. Bouteillon. "One example is that of Francophone parents, who recorded themselves reading poems, short stories and spelling tests to help Anglophone parents and students with French homework," said Ms. Bouteillon, who is now the instructional coach at the Carroll School.

For many French parents, the programs have a broader draw than merely raising their children with two languages.

"It's not just learning the language," said Lea Sloan, whose father is French and mother is American and who was involved in efforts aimed at establishing a French program at P.S.110 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where her 5-year-old daughter Mia Sloan will begin attending kindergarten this fall. "It's a whole experience, because my kid will want to go to France and have attachment with the country, the culture and the food through the language."

Looking for a French Babysitter ot Tutor ?

Just send an email to "Un petit Monde" with your request and a French student will contact you very promptly.

Jessica Schinazi, brillant student at Columbia University, created "Un petit Monde" in 2006 while she was still student in High School at Lycee Francais de New York. She was answering to a high demand among the expatriates to find babysitters for the same day or the next...

The network of Students she gathered along the years is very impressive. They can babysit, help you organize a French Birthday or also prepare your kids for French Tests.

Her network is worldwide as she can help you find babysitters in Paris, London, Barcelona, Washington, San Francisco and sson Brazil, Canada and China

[email protected]

 

 

Today..It is Crepe Day in France !!!

Every February 2nd, since the middle age in France,we have been celebrating the Chandeleur, or Candlemas. La Chandeleur, or Fete De la Lumiere, is a very fun day for the kids.

 

Not only do they eat a lot of crêpes, but they also can practice a fun game of fortune telling while making them. It is traditional to hold a coin in your write hand and a crêpe pan in the other, and flip the crêpe into the air. If you manage to catch the crêpe in the pan, your family will be prosperous for the rest of the year.

Like the Groundhog Day in the US, the Chandeleur have all kind of proverbs:

"A la Chandeleur, l'hiver cesse ou prend vigueur"= on Candlemas, winter ends or strengthens

"Quand le soleil de la Chandeleur fait lanterne, quarante jours apres il hiverne..." = when the soleil is hidden, forty days later the winter is hibernating

"Chandeleur couverte, quarante jours de perte" = Candlemas covered (in snow), forty days lost

My recipe for 20 crepes:

1 3/4 cups of flour

4 tablespoons of sugar

1 teaspoon of baking powder

3 tablespoons of vegetable oil (not olive oil because the taste is too strong)

4 eggs

1,5 cups of milk

0.5 cup of water (a little bit more if batter too thick)

Mix first all the dry ingredients, then add the oil and the eggs one by one, then the liquid little by little to obtain a smooth batter with no lumps.

Let the batter rest for a while.

Then take a "crepiere" (a shallow non stick pan). Order at amazon.com

Warm the pan on hot burner, then with a brush put some oil, then with a ladle, pour the batter slowly in the middle while turning the pan to make sure the batter slide all over the surface of the pan. Let it cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Using a spatula, flip the crepe over and cook for 1 to 2 minutes

Add Nutella, sugar or jam in the middle and roll them to serve.

And now a little poem for your kids...

 

 

Live Broadcast of France inter, the French Radio from NYC

 For one week only, the popular France Inter radio show, 5/7 Boulevard, will be broadcasting from the New York headquarters of the French Cultural Services, and you are invited to attend! Hosted by well-known presenter Philippe Collin, the show covers a wide gamut of cultural and social issues and features interviews with luminaries from all walks of life, all in a light-hearted tone.

As always, the show will be recorded live in front of an audience, of which you can be a part.

Five sessions will be held from Monday, January 31 to Friday, February 4, from 12pm to 1pm at the Cultural Services of the French Embassy (972 Fifth Avenue at 79th Street).

 Seating is limited, so please RSVP and indicate which session you would like to attend to [email protected] .

Please note that audience members must arrive before 11:40 am. Because the show is recorded live, latecomers will not be seated

Céline's "Forbidden" Writings: Madness or Method? conference at Maison Francaise NYU

Thursday, February 18, 7.30pm

Florence Gould Event. 

212-988-8750

Email: [email protected]
Web: www.nyu.edu/maisonfrancaise

 If the three remarkably virulent anti-Semitic works written by Céline between 1937 and 1941, that outdo in violence anything the Germans ever wrote, were not the work of a brilliant, world-famous author, one of the major novelists of the first half of the 20th century, they would have been long forgotten as the railings of pure, rabid hatred, not worthy of serious debate. Céline refused to have them republished after the war and no publisher would have agreed to do so; following his death, his widow extended this ban. Consequently, the three anti-Semitic ravings are not readily available (except surreptitiously on the web), but, as the product of the author of Journey to the End of Night, they have been the object of endless polemics. For some, Céline's hysteria against Jews were merely part of the anti-Semitic atmosphere in post-Dreyfus case France, and especially in the socially turbulent thirties; for others, his rantings are inexcusably abject and loathsome, and must be thus labeled, though not necessarily banned. Wyatt Mason's provocative New York Review of Books article brings the issue squarely front and center.

Michel Beaujour, Professor of French ,NYU; editor, Cahier Céline (L'Herne)
Denis Hollier, Chair, French Dept., NYU; author of Absent Without Leave
Wyatt Mason, Critic; author of Uncovering Céline (New York Review of Books, Jan. 14, 2010)
Guy Sorman, Journalist, economist; author of Le progrès et ses ennemis
Phil Watts, Chair, Dept. of French, Columbia University; author of Allegories of the Purge: 
How Literature Responded to the Postwar Trials of Writers and Intellectuals in France
Tom Bishop, moderator; Director, Center for French Civilization and Culture, NYU; author of From the Left Bank
In English.

Holidays gift ideas : French songs for children

I just received this wonderful collection of discs for kids. 

With very soothing melodies and words from childhood everyday life, Muriel Vergnaud's songs are a great way for your children to learn French

To download

Muriel Vergnaud, flutist and composer from France, is also the founder of LiveYourSong -Multi Arts French program for children.For years, she taught her unique concept of learning French through singing and movement in numerous NYC schools. 

www.murielsworld.com

"J’ai dans mon panier un petit caillou,
deux, trois petits cailloux blancs,
j’ai dans mon panier un petit caillou,
petit caillou de rien du tout.
Entre les petits caillous, je marche à petits pas.
J’ai dans mon chapeau un petit caillou,
deux, trois petits cailloux blancs,
j’ai dans mon chapeau un petit caillou,
petit caillou de rien du tout.
Entre les petits caillous, je marche à petits pas.
J’ai dans mon foulard un petit caillou,
deux, trois petits cailloux blancs,
j’ai dans mon foulard un petit caillou,
petit caillou de rien du tout.
Entre les petits caillous, je marche à petits pas."

Some news shops and restaurant in Carnegie Hill...

Last week, I decided to stroll in "little Paris" - this is how I call Carnegie Hill. Not only you hear lots of French speakers walking on the pavement, but almost every shop is French or carry French stuff.

Here are some of my discoveries.

Jacadi has moved to 89th street and opened Obaibi, its sister store concept, at its former location on Madison and 92nd. Obaibi is the casual version of Jacadi with a more affordable price. Until now, I basically refused to shop for French clothes in NYC when I can buy them 3 time less in Paris. But this time, I can save a flight ticket and go to Obaibi. The prices are almost the same than in Paris.

 

 

 

Another interesting new shop on Madison: Crewcuts. Not a French store, but they carry the natural rubber Aigle Boots and the stylish canvas Bensimon Shoes for kids

 

After stopping at Dean and Deluca to get a French baguette, Olive Oil from the Nice region,some saucisson and French imported Ham for dinner, I had lunch at Le Paris, the former Bistro du Nord @ 93rd and Madison. Same owner, same coziness and Gallic flavor but new menu, new decoration and new very nice waiters. I had one of the best Blanquette de Veau I ever had ! 

An old lady came and sit next to me. She didn't know what to pick and was going to go for the easy omelette aux fines herbes. But I convinced her to taste the Blanquette instead, explaining that it is a classic traditional meal that Grandmas make for their grandkids. She tried but somehow wasn't enjoying it as much as me as those flavors were mixed with childhood memories...

Anyway, I highly recommend Le Paris if you feel nostalgic of Paris.

French Institute - Many interesting events in October

Among others, I would recommend:

. the Cross Cultural Workshop : Interesting in moving to France ? How to assimilate quickly...

Mondays, 6–9pm 
October 5 and November 2: Vivre en France / Living in France 
October 19 and November 16: Travailler en France / Working in France

. Theatrical event :

Fabrice Luchini : "Le Point sur Robert"

Wednesday & Thursday, October 7 & 8, 2009 at 8pm
Florence Gould Hall

The French actor, winner of multiple Cesar Awards, will also present the movie The Discreet. 

Tue, Oct 6

. For the kids:

Cook in French (5-11yrs)- Sat, Oct 3

Bookmaking (4-6yrs)- Sat, Oct 10

Bookmaking (7-10yrs)- Sat,Oct 10

L'Heure du Conte - Thu, Oct 1 (3-6yrs): storytime program with French stories and songs

A Petits Pas Story Hour (2-3yrs) - Thur,Oct 8 : French stories for toddlers

Cine-club des Frimousses (3-8yrs) - Thur, Oct 8 ; french movie club

More Info, go to www.fiaf.org

Il etait une fois...Sophie La Girafe

One of the most famous toys in France is available now at Albee (@Amsterdam and 95th)

Soft, light, easy to grasp, Sophie La Girafe has been a legendary success with millions units sold in Europe since 1961. Babies loves her bumpy and cute head to sooth their teething gum.

Handmade in the French Alps with the phthalate-free rubber, Sophie La Girafe is one of those iconic objects for most of the French parents.

You can also find it at www.amazon.com

Holidays Gifts with a French Flair- Le Marché de Noël

Shop and meet French people at Le Marché de Noël.

Tomorrow Friday 12th and Saturday 13rd, Accueil New York, a French Association, organizes  a traditional Christmas market for the French expatriates.

Don't miss the hand-made fabrics and apparels from Louda Collection. They are used by some of the most prestigious Parisian fashion houses.

10% of sales will be benefit the Entraide Francaise, whose mission is to provide support to French visitors or residents in difficulties

Location:

@louda Popova and Gilles Larrain

95 Grand Street 

Cash only

Holidays - Idees Cadeaux - French Songs for children

The Lycee Francais de New York gathered music and lyrics of 65 favorite French children's songs in a book and CD.

Jacques Letalon, music teacher at the nursery level, sings with his students some of the classic songs that every student knows and loves : Freres Jacques, le Pont d'Avignon, Au feu les Pompiers, La Barbichette, Pomme de Reinette, Une Souris Verte, Promenons-nous dans les Bois, Jean Petit qui Danse, Gentil Coquelicot and many more !

Amazing illustrations by Otto Steininger

Vive la Musique !

$20 (without shipping)

Contact the Development Office at LFNY : 212-369-1400 or PNY at [email protected]

No more insipid jars for babies and toddlers...

Making your own food for your babies and toddlers is often a brainer. Then jars often become the easy way !!! But no adults would eat those...for sure !

Since I discover the Beaba Babycook, my life is so much easier. It takes about 20mn to prepare, cook, mix and clean the mini-robot.

Designed in France, the Babycook is multitask. Steamer, blender, reheater and defroster, it prepares fresh and  healthy meals. Vitamins and flavor are preserve with the steaming process. Fast and easy to use, that's what I like about it.

To learn more, you can watch the video at http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/sku5279732/index.cfm

$149.95 at Williams-Sonoma

You can also get the recipe book to help you find new ideas.

If you read French, another site full of recipes for baby meals is at www.bledina.com/fr/recettes_mamans

You can select the type of meals according to the age of your kids. Here is an exemple:

Gigot d'Agneau aux légumes variés
Blédina recommande cette recette à partir de 12 mois.
Ingrédients
courgettes	55g
tomates	40g
carottes	55g
pommes de terre	30g
agneau (ex gigot)	20g
Préparation
Cuisson au cuit-vapeur pendant 35 minutes. Préparation du gigot comme pour les adultes. Ensuite, mixer la totalité avec une noix de beurre.

Summer Fun in French for Kids and Teens at the FIAF

Le carnaval des animaux

Age 5-11

Age groups: 5-6,7-8 or 9-11

Bilingual groups available as well

In the Summer Fun in French program, children are immersed in the French Language through workshops and activities designed to both educate and entertain. Through this year's theme, Le Carnaval des Animaux,  they will enter a world of discoveries, curiosities, and questions, while learning how to observe, describe, and respect nature.

In one-week, two-weeks or three-weeks sessions, children will participate in art, theatre and culinary workshop, play games and sports, and take filed trips around the city, while integrating the theme of Le Carnaval des Animaux

French Institute Alliance Française 22 East 60th Street, NYC

Contact Guitty Roustai  646 388 6605 [email protected]

Villa for Rent in the Hamptons - August - Amazing views

Located in Hampton Bays on the Great Peconic, this house has 6 bedrooms (with one as a playroom), and 5,5 baths (Master Bathroom overlooking the beach). Very private location by the beach with exceptional views. Available for the whole month of August 2008. Wonderful for one or two families.

One hour and half far from the city, a two minute drive into town and ten minutes from Southampton.

To get more info, contact us directly at [email protected]

           

Pique-Nique at Central Park : Pizza delivery to your blanket...

This has nothing to do with Parisian or French habits, but I found the idea pretty convenient for an improvised Picnic this week-end. Place order with Slice (212-249-4353 or sliceperfect.com), then meet delivery guys at 72nd St., at Fifth Ave., or at Sheep’s Meadow, 66th-69th Sts., near beach volleyball court entrance.

Mother's Day: Offer her a Lunch prepared by a Chef and delivered to your home

Dont know yet what to offer to your mother or your wife for Mother's Day ?

Call quickly Cuis'In. Chef Eric Delalande will cook a Special Menu for your family and Cuis'In will deliver it to your house ready to be warmed up and served on Sunday between 8 and 11.30 am.

Appetizer :

Tomato Confites, Artichoke Heart and Pan seared Scallop Thin Tart

Choice of Main Course:

Veal Medallion, Mushroom sauce and mixed baby vegetables
-or-
Roasted Half Lobster, Tarragon butter, Tomato Concassee and Asparagus

Dessert :

Individual Strawberry Tiramisu

$140/person

Also you can get :

. 3 private cooking classes at your home with Chef Eric Delalande - $320

. The perfect gift for a Romantic dinner for two : Chef Eric Delalande will come and cook at your home an exclusive dinner for two - $450

. Dinner for 2 delivered anytime, ready to warm up - $220

To order, call at 646-468-6159
[email protected]
www.nycuisin.com

Marilyn Tov: Airy clothes for romantic kids.....

Marilyn Tov's designs draw inspiration from her native Paris and her East Asian heritage. Her vision is to "bring high-quality fabrics together with sophisticated designs to create easy-to-wear children's clothing that reflects the romance and poetry of her childhood in the City of Light".

Airy and easy-to-wear clothes designed in delicate Jerseys, cottons and knits with flattering cosmetic tones. Breezy white dresses, silkscreened tees and cotton toile tops..a classic, romantic French sensibility with the influence of her East Asian heritage. Tov lives in New York, where her voile cotton-and-jersey ensembles are manufactured.

You can find her clothes at ABC Carpet and Home
888 broadway
New York, NY 10003

or contact her directly at 917-293-3482
[email protected]

www.marilyntov.com

Download catalog_fall.winter08[1].pdf

A new bilingual preschool

What good timing ! When the Lycee Francais is reducing the spots in nursery, a new bilingual preschool just opened in the Upper East Side.

At Le Petit Paradis, your kids will evolve in an international environment, with children from various cultural backgrounds. The Teachers combining both Montessori and Bank Street, will also give your child the opportunity to learn French as a second language from a very young age.

Christina Houri, the founder, who worked at "Le Jardin a L'Ouest" (another Franco-american Preschool in the Upper West Side), wants to develop a unique service using education, psychology, communication, caring and nurturing with elements of creativity, play recreation, enthusiasm, fun, humor and lots of love resulting in confidence, independence, high self-esteem and overall happiness. "That’s why we call it The Little Paradise!!"

"My goal is to create a cozy, relaxed environment where teachers are approachable and where parents can communicate with ease. I understand the important step it is for parents to choose someone other than themselves to take care of their child. I hope that children will benefit from our program, and that it will give them the foundation to become confident and fulfilled adults."

http://www.lepetitparadispreschool.com
Le Petit Paradis Preschool
1656 Third Avenue New York, NY 10128
Tel: 646-262-6549

Kids or Babies : A selection of French Websites that deliver in the US

Most of those websites are in French but they all deliver in the US.

. You are looking for a gift out of the ordinary for a new baby or you would like to decorate the room of your baby, I recommend to log on Le Berceau Magique.

http://www.berceaumagique.com

. You want to remember the melody or the paroles of a French lullabies , some original ideas of art projects for your kids or information on French traditional feast ? go to www.momes.net.

.You would like to find a cute little dress for your girl or a sailing Tea-shirt for your boy...a bit of New England style 'a la francaise". Order on www.cyrillus. com, a quality brand of clothing for all the family.

. For inexpensive but yet original shoes or clothes : www.dpam.com. Du Pareil au Même is a forerunner in children's fashion that favors strong creativity and the best price-quality ratio. Sorry the euro is not playing on our side...

. For subscriptions to French magazines for you or your kids from 1 to 17 years old, UNI-Presse offers a great portfolio of titles. The association set up by French publishers to promote French magazine publishing throughout the world, is the specialist in offering subscriptions to French magazines or newspapers for people living outside France. You can pay directly in the US by contacting [email protected] or at 646.938.5466

And if you are looking for the good old classics that have disappeared from the shelves of the bookstores in France, I highly recommend the publishing house that specializes in books and comics for children:Les Editions du Triomphe.

These are just few sites to start, more to come !
If you have any suggestions, don't hesitate to write a comment.

Corolle - the dolls that look and feel like real children and smell so good!

Any French girl might associate her childhood to this wonderful vanilla scent of the "Poupees Corolle".

The dolls are adapted for every age and stage, from birth to 5 years and up, so that children can truly « Grow with Corolle »:

From birth to 12 months, Babicorolle snugglies are super soft and ultra lightweight so they are easy for little hands to hold and to hug.
Designed especially for little ones 18 months and up, the Mon Premier collection is a complete play world of scaled-to-size baby dolls, fashions and nursery accessories.

Little girls 2 years and up will find the baby doll of their dreams in the Les Classiques collection: these beautiful baby dolls are available in six different sizes, and there are coordinating fashions and nursery accessories to choose from, too.
The Miss Corolle collection of toddler dolls, including Classic Dolls, Les Cheries (for ages 5 and up) and the captivating Les Dollies, has something for every young girl.

Corolle, the French company, is very well known worldwide for their dolls since it was founded in 1978. Winner of numerous toy industry awards including multiple DOTY awards (Doll Of The Year), Corolle's baby dolls and bigger dolls are highly regarded for their excellent quality and high standards.

You can find the Corolle dolls at :

Didis Children's Boutique
1196 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10128
www.didis.com

FAO Schwartz
767 Fifth Avenue
(Fifth Ave at 58th Street)
New York, NY 10153
www.fao.com

Private Sale : French books for kids

A Good Selection Of French Books at Reasonable Prices.

B2D2 Next Sale (kids of all ages welcome !)

March, Thursday 6th

From 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

If this date is not convenient for you or if you can't wait, call (646)824.7787 or send a mail to [email protected] for a private sale... and of course, you can bring your kids!

B2D2 can ship anywhere in the USA and also order books for you.

To order e-mail "[email protected]" or call 646.824.7787. www.b2d2.net

A Good Book Is A Good Friend

French loungewear ARTHUR just opened on Madison

French loungewear retailer Arthur is making its U.S. debut with a small shop on the Upper East Side.

Surfing on the growth trend of well-being and cocooning, Arthur has developed its own concept of "chic family homewear". The Arthur attitude : fantasy, humor and exclusive designs.

Like the Arthur chain based in Paris, the Manhattan store will sell the brand’s proprietary lines of pajamas, robes and underwear for men, women and children.

Arthur
922 Madison@73rd
www.arthur.tm.fr

Elitism and Nursery Schools in New York, reviewed by French journalists on TV5

Tonight, at 11pm, Envoye Special, one of my favorite show on TV5 Monde, is presenting the competition to get in the Nursery Schools in New York city. French journalists Lila Place and Laurent Dubois review the system of selection to be accepted in some of the private schools in Manhattan and how parents prepare their kids for College by picking the "right" Nursery School for them.
Interesting...it looks like the Lycee Francais de New York (www.lfny.org) is one of those competitive schools !!!

TV5 Monde is the only French television channel you can receive here in Manhattan.
You can receive TV5 on the channel 555 of Time Warner cable. Monthly fee for the subscription.
www.tv5.org/usa
Call 1-800-737-0455 for a list of other local cables and satellite companies

Sample Sales at Bonpoint

Stylish clothes for Kids imported directly from Paris.

Oct. 23-26. Tues.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

at 317 W. 33rd St., b/t Eighth & Ninth Aves. (718-747-1656).

Here is the new Paris in New York addition...

Solenne Sara was born on September 26th, 2007.

About to give birth...

After a very nice summer in France where access to internet was very difficult, here I am, back in New York, about to give birth to a cute franco-american little girl.

One thing I have discovered lately about the medicine here in Manhattan, is that when you are pregnant over 38 years old, you can spend half of your time in waiting rooms of the various doctors in charge of your care. When a Manhattan doctor takes you in as a patient, they do it with the utmost seriousness and you suddenly you are overwhelmed by sonograms, fetal monitoring, blood tests...I have found that you need to be patient, make be sure that you eat before, bring some water and books with you and definitely no appointment behind!

Here is some contact information of French speaking doctors in Manhattan:

Gynecologists:
- Buterman Irving. 950 Park Avenue. 212.472.8200
- Colcher, Paul. 225 East 64th street. 212.308.4988
- Wind, Richard. 62 Crosby Street. 212.431.1600

Pediatricians:
- Cohen, Michel. 22 Harrison Street. 212.226.7666
- Goldstein, Judith. 186 East 76th Street. 212.585.3329
- Lancry, Karen. 715 Park Avenue. 212.737.1800
- Landau, Erika. 11 East 86 Street. 212.535.3131
- Moureaux, Paule. West Side Pediatrics. 11 East 86th street. 212.535.3131
- Pleno, Moise. 401 West 118th Street. 212.666.4610
- Yapalater, Greg. 715 Park Avenue. 212.737.1800

This is far from being a complete list. Don't hesitate to send me new contacts or comments on those doctors.

Pour le bonheur des enfants...fun for kids in Paris

Paris can be also fun for kids. Not only the discovery of different tastes at the market, but also the Maneges everywhere in the city.

The maneges are the modern version of a Carrousel. Instead of wood horses going up and down, kids can ride helicopter, planes, Formula One car, motorcycle,...on the sound of techno or kid show music. In every park, in any tourist place, you can find them. 1 or 2 euros per ride. Not cheap if your kids love them ! But so much fun...

I recommand les Jardin des Tuileries where you can also ride la Grande Roue (Ferris Wheel) with your kids and have a wonderful view of Paris from up high and then take them for a more cultural visit in Le musee du Louvre.

If you want to go to the Eiffel Tower, plan to spend 2-3 hours in the queue. Don't take the lift, but climb the stairs to the second floor. I did it with my 5 years old son and 6 month pregnant...
After your visit, have your kids ride the pedal kart on the Champs de Mars. My son would spend hours over there. 2 euros for 7 turns . They are exhausted after that. Good to regulate the jet lag...

Another great place in Paris for kids from 3 to 12 years old is the 50 acres park named Jardin d'Acclimatation in the northern part of Bois de Boulogne. Only recommandations, bring a lot of euros and plan to stay the day over there, unless you leave your kids to the wonderful Ateliers ( sort of camp) where they will cook, plant, taste, discover chemistry, paint,...

In the same park, you'll find a house of mirrors, an archery range, a miniature-golf course, zoo animals, a puppet theater (performances Wed, Sat, Sun, and holidays), a playground, a hurdle-racing course, junior-scale rides, shooting galleries, and waffle stalls. You can trot the kids off on a pony (Sat and Sun only) or join them in a boat on a mill-stirred lagoon. La Prévention Routière is a miniature roadway operated by the Paris police: Youngsters drive through in small cars equipped to start and stop, and are required by two genuine gendarmes to obey street signs and light changes. Inside the gate is an easy-to-follow map.
www.jardindacclimatation.fr

French Events in Manhattan, this summer

Eventhough, most of the French people living in NYC flee back to France for summer, you can still enjoy some very interesting French Events in town.

. La Comedie Francaise at the Lincoln Center : July 10 to 15th

Lincoln Center Festival 2007 will present La Comédie-Française, one of the world’s greatest theater companies, in the U.S. premiere of Les Fables de La Fontaine, directed by Robert Wilson. In Wilson’s visually striking interpretation, 19 of La Fontaine’s allegorical tales are brought to life by some of France’s finest actors. Wilson originally staged Les Fables de La Fontaine for performances at the Comédie-Française in 2004. When it was greeted with wide critical and public acclaim, the production was repeated in 2005. Featuring a company of 15 actors, Les Fables de La Fontaine revolves around the animal characters of the tales—lions, birds, foxes, and crows—with their parables of human behavior seen through the eyes of a 21st-century theatrical visionary. Performances: July 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, Gerald W. Lynch Theater.
www.lincolncenter.org

. Bastille Day : sunday, July 15th. Noon to 6pm

On July 14, France celebrates Bastille Day and commemorates the 1789 storming of the Bastille prison, which marked the beginning of the French Revolution. New York is joining in the celebration with some fun events for the whole family: petanque, pastis, accordeon, waiter's race, French Cancan...a Street Fair with French Flair organized by The Alliance Francaise and French Tuesdays.

On 60th street from Fifth to Lexington Avenue, everyone is invited to be French for a day...

http://www.bastilledayusa.com/

. Citroen Automobiles and Velosolex motorized Bicycles Tour around Manhattan on July 15th

Have fun to look as the famous "2CV" driving down the city. Meeting point at Riverside Drive south and 122th (Grants Tomb). The route

Don't miss on TV:

. Le Tour de France : July 7th to 29th

. "France Will Never Forget"
On June 30th at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, more than 3000 people will form a chain on the beach and write together on the sand "France will never forget. Thank you America"

Broadcast on TV on July 4th.

Three Public Schools in Manhattan will offer French classes

Three New York City schools are opening a French-English Dual-Language program in the Fall :

. PS125 (Upper West Side): French-English Program (grade K) & Gifted and Talented Program (grade K)
. PS58 (Brooklyn): French-English Program (grade K)
. CIS22 (Bronx): French-English Program (grades 5 and 6)

Admission to these programs is still open for September '07. Some of the schools are also hiring. Please enquire directly with each school.

Petit Bateau - Sample sales - All at 50-70% off

Petit Bateau presents their children's, infants and women's clothing sample sale!

Petit Bateau has always been France's most famous children's line, surrounding babies with the quality and comfort of soft, pure and natural 100% cotton. Since 1893, families in France has been wearing Petit Bateau underwears from generation to generation. One of the favorite Grand-Mothers' gift for a new born.

Event Begins: 5/15/2007
Event Ends: 5/18/2007
Event Times: Tue-Fri 10am-7pm
Location:
247 W. 35th St. (btwn 7th & 8th Ave)
Main Fl
New York, NY 10001
(212) 239-7272

Avene, Lierac, Vichy, La Roche-Posay...French dermo-cosmetics products available in NYC

All over the city, you can now find the French dermo-cosmetics products that you used to bring back in your suitcase from France : Avene, Vichy, La Roche-Posay, Lierac.

Recommended by dermatologists worldwide, those products follow strict guidelines including a medical approach to skincare, efficacy proven through clinical studies and tested on sensitive skin by dermatologists. All those products are Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic.

Duane Reede and Eckerd have opened new upscale skincare centers to present those major dermo lines from France. Their expert - extensively trained by French skincare professionals – offer a personalized skin profile utilizing skin analysis, designed in conjunction with dermatologists.

Rich in soothing and softening thermal spring waters, those products adress a variety of skincare concerns including acne, aging and dryness. I particularly like all the products from La Roche-Posay from Ceralip (lip balm) to the Lipikar ( Body Emolient Lipid-replenishing Lotion Pump) or their sunscreen products.
For the cold, I recommand Anti-Redness from Avene, which is a rich moisturizing cream ideal for the face of your kids in winter.

Eckerd

495 Broadway
Manhattan, NY
(212) 334-0431

Four World Financial Ctr
NY, NY
(212) 608-8416

1299-1301 Second Avenue
NY, NY
(212) 772-0104

Duane Reede
460 8th Ave (one Penn West)
34th St/8th Ave, Manhattan, NY
(212) 244-4026

535 5th Ave
44th/45th St, Manhattan
(212) 687-8641

773 Lexington Ave
60th/61st St, Manhattan, NY
(212) 829-0651

625 8th Ave
40th Street, Manhattan, NY
(212) 273-0889

Looking for French books for your kids ?

B2D2 offers a large selection of stories for kids and teens in French. From activity book to novel, image book to historical book or graphics book (BD),...a good choice to help your kids grow up, dream, develop vocabulary and imagination...

www.B2D2.net

Next sale on March 28th.
To order, just send an e-mail at [email protected] or call 646.824.7787

Medics in the US (more like placebos ?)

I have been knocked down by one of those unforgiving viruses that your kids always bring home even though you have them wash their hands, avoid their sick friends,...

In New York, this year, we have been pretty unlucky. It started in December with a terrible long-lasting gastric flu, then we got the bad double ear infection and now in January, welcome to the laringitis with streptocoque...a nice program indeed!

I though that today, as I am not feeling well, I will play the real French person. As everyone knows or will learn, French people love to complain...Let say I deserve it, no ???

So, how about the medics in US ?

Well first, I want to file a complaint about those huge ugly vitamins that they force you to take and that stay stuck in your throat as you swallow them. Have the Americans a larger throat than the French ?
Why making them so big ??? The French vitamins which I believe have the same effect as the American ones are twice as small ! How come ?

Since I do not like taking medics, I prefer to take them as fast as I can. But between tops that refuse to open (most of the time because I lack the strenght of Popeye to push it down and twist it fast enough), and the protection of tablets that break my nails each time I try to peel it off, I always end up not taking them.
Yes, yes, you are going to tell me that the containers need to be child proof...But how come in France, they don't do the same for the kids ??? I could be wrong but maybe little French munchkins are pretty smart and strong???

My last complaint is about the lack of medics for kids to make them feel better. If your kid gets a virus here, the pediatricians send you back home with a bill of 100 dollars and a prescription for Tylenol every four hours or Motrin every six hours.
What about soothing their throats ? What about helping their little stuffy nose to decongest ? What about calming the vomiting if it occurs...
If you are lucky, you may find a pediatrician who doesn't believe in the stiff upper lip cures all approach and will send you over the counter and get some of the very few medicaments of comfort that you can find here.
Please let me know if you have been so lucky because I haven't.

I say no more suffering !!!

OK, I am done complaining. Sorry... I am still feverish and my son is lying on the sofa complaining about his stuffy nose and bad coughing. I won't do it again...Promise !