July 30, 2009
(Switzerland)- Geneva's 10-day summer street party begins today. The streets of the center and lakefront burst into life with floats, parades and parties, street theatre and entertainment with a program of concerts featuring national and international performers. Operatic and folkloric shows are among the attractions while, mainly for children, there is a clown parade and a funfare.XXX
XXXMore than 100 free concerts at the Scène des Clubs in the English Garden and at the Scène Ella Fitzgerald in La Grange Park. From variety to jazz, from Latino to soul, from the rhythm & blues of the 50s and 60s to the disco of the 70s, from roots reggae to world urban music: there are artists and styles to suit all tastes! Up to 1.5 million visitors pour into the city to join in with the merriment that culminates in a spectacular fireworks display. “One thousand and one nights”: this will be the theme of the musical fireworks display that brings the Geneva Festival to a close. Over almost 55 minutes, rockets, multicolor explosions and other pyrotechnics will sparkle before the eyes of the public.
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XXXEach year a guest-of-honor country provides its own mini exhibition. During this edition, the Sultanate of Oman will be enthusiastically introducing itself to the visitors of the Festival. Known for its legendary hospitality and rich culture, it has embraced modernity while respecting its traditions. Oman is a country of contrasts with vast expanses of green and flowers, next to the shimmering blue sea are 1,000 miles of sumptuous beaches, mountains that tower as high as 9,000 feet in parts and the fascinating deserts with stones or golden sands. There are various tours that allow visitors to explore trails and dunes in areas that are still wild, as well as the luxuriant palm groves, all with complete respect for the environment. (from worldeventguide.com and fetes-de-geneve.ch)
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July 29, 2009
(Senegal)- Yahya Diop alias Yekini has once again proved his invincibility after beating his challenger Ibrahima Ndione "Gris Bordeaux" in a longed-for derby of the ending 2009 Senegalese wrestling season. While the spectators were expecting a fierce fist-fight, Yekini, 36, (290 pounds, 6'4") set a trap for Gris Bordeaux by letting him snatch his "dangerous" left leg.XXX
XXXWrestling (French: "la Lutte", Wolof: "Laamb") is Senegal’s national sport. However, this form of wrestling is very different from what is known in the West. Senegalese culture and life are exemplified in these wrestling matches. There is pomp, grandiose personalities, marabouts (religious leaders), mysticism, Islam, dancing, singing, sand, etc. As per usual, there is always a lot going on at one time. There is action everywhere. People vying are for attention and recognition on all sides of the arena. During the matches women dressed to the nines in "traditional" clothing sing, dance, and fan themselves. Drummers are banging away on their dembes or sabars. Marabouts bless their wrestling follower. The main attraction wrestlers come with an entourage consisting of bodyguards and assistants. The lesser known wrestlers have a coach and perhaps a friend that help them with the rituals. The majority of the major wrestlers are physically extraordinary in the sense that they are large, gusto, and muscular unlike the average skinny but strong Senegalese man. Wrestlers wear loincloths, like Sumo wrestlers, and tons of gris-gris (amulets blessed by marabouts that can be worn around the neck, arms, legs, waist, or across the chest).
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XXXThe rituals before the match are more advanced and complicated. The wrestler is usually chewing on something, a stick or a metal object. He digs up sand, writes in Arabic on the sand, and throws sand. He also dumps various unidentified liquids over his head. The wrestlers don’t stop moving. They run, walk, sway, crouch before their match. There isn’t any deep breathing mediation going on, instead they are keeping busy with the liquids and sand.
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XXXThe wrestlers start the match off by slapping, but the slaps don’t go beyond the hands. Then after a minute or two of the slap fighting things get serious and the wrestlers can throw sand at each other. Punching, slapping, kicking, and headbutting are also allowed. Oftentimes one wrestler will end up with his head in the other’s stomach and punching will ensue. The objective of Senegalese wrestling is for one of the wrestlers to make the other one fall down. Once one knee is on the ground the game is over. The Yekini and Gris Bordeaux match lasted exactly two minutes and thirty seconds and was broadcast on TV. (from anieinsenegal.blogspot.com and apanews.com)
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July 28, 2009
(Morocco)- The twelfth African Film Festival of Khouribga (a city 130 miles from the capital Rabat) has just come to a close, awarding Moroccan film "Zaman Al-Rifak" (Time of Friends) by Mohamed Charif Tribak the Grand Prix Ousmane Sembène. The film revolves around a young woman who defies her parents to pursue her education and discovers "the growing influence of Islamists at the university".XXX
XXXThe festival had opened last week with the screening of Cameroonian Daniel Kamwa's movie "Bamoun Love". Eleven other feature movies, representing nine African countries, namely Senegal, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Cameroon, Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco were competing in the festival. The jury, chaired by Mauritanian film director Abderrahmane Sissako, also included Nadia Al Fani (Tunisia), Lydie Diakhaté (France), Leocata Salvador (Belgium), Mano Rioual (India), Latifa Ahrar and Yassin Adnana (Morocco). The event, held by the African cinema festival foundation, was meant to celebrate different African cultures, with discussions covering everything from film piracy to promotions. It also aimed to make Khouribga a center for African cinema.
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XXXThe Khouribga African film festival, which has earned an international reputation by showcasing works by the continent's filmmakers, offered a convivial setting for artists from different countries to bring themselves up to date on African cinema. "This is a good opportunity to get a clearer idea of how good African films are, and to engage in serious discussions with a view to promoting the sector," said Moroccan actress Houda Sedki. Tunisian director Khaled Ghorbal agreed, noting that African filmmakers need such opportunities to exchange points of view and debate the issues they face.
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XXXThe festival included the documentary "Mère Bi" by Senegalese director Ousmane William Mbaye, which was produced in homage to his mother Annette Mbaye from Erneville. This woman of letters, who founded a periodical devoted to film, has become an icon for the rights of women in Africa. Ivorian director Timité Bassori, one of the pioneers of African cinema, was also honored. "His films will live on in the annals of film-making," said the chair of the jury, Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako. (from magharebia.com)
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July 26, 2009
(France/Belgium/Luxemburg)- Coco Chanel changed the face of fashion. Bravely modern in the early 1920s - a time when corsets were compulsory - she got women out of their fussy dresses and into trousers, short skirts and stylish fitted jackets. She gave us the little black dress, created Jackie O's famous wardrobe and that famous Chanel fragrance. She was still working when she died in 1971 aged 87.
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XXXThe new feature film "Coco avant Chanel" is the story of the young Coco and the path that led her to become a designer. She's played by French actress Audrey Tautou who described the designer saying "she had a lot of look and talent taste and this look and observation. That was her genius. She was such a brilliant woman she was a genius. Everything she did, everything she built is still actual and modern because she was a unique woman." Coco never married but was rumored to have had many affairs.
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XXXThe film centers around significant relationships Coco had with two men. Rich playboy lover Benoît Poelvoorde - who introduced her to her future clientele. And her great love, Boy Capel who also financed Coco’s first boutique. It was a tough role for American actor Allesandro Nivola - who plays an Englishman that speaks in French throughout the film - he only had a basic grasp of the language when he got the role. Nivola said "it was completely exhausting and nerve wracking not to mention that I needed to learn to play polo, and play piano and waltz and…"
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XXXAudrey Tautou has had the seal of approval from current Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld for her portrayal of Coco. While director Anne Fontaine says the film couldn’t have gone ahead without her in the starring role. "Physically she is incredibly close to Gabrielle Chanel. It’s incredible when I met Audrey, in 4 or 5 minutes I thought it’s incredible she's there in front of me." Tautou said "to play her how we know her like at the end of the movie is not that difficult because you have all the books videos and pictures, witnesses to play her before that it's more unknown world so it's more difficult to propose a character who has the potential to become the person that everyone knows."
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XXXLike Chanel, Audrey Tautou is famed for her elegance and delicate beauty and while it was masculine tailoring that impressed Chanel, it’s masculine pastimes that Tautou loves, especially rugby and the All Blacks. Coco Before Chanel, which came out in April in France and Belgium, will be released in the U.S. on July 31. (from 3news.co.nz)
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July 24, 2009
(USA)- The Museum of the Moving Image in New York has organized a film series celebrating the 50th anniversary of the French New Wave (through August 30). The series is being presented at the Museum of Arts and Design in Manhattan. (The theater at Moving Image is currently closed, as the Museum undergoes an expansion and renovation). The series, entitled French New Wave Essentials, will present the best and most influential films of this period, many being shown in recently restored 35mm prints. Ranging from timeless masterpieces such as Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless and François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows to rarely seen works including Agnès Varda’s films Cleo from 5 to 7 and Le Bonheur, screenings are held at the Museum of Arts and Design at 2 pm and 4 pm each Saturday and Sunday.XXX
XXXFrench New Wave Essentials gives audiences an opportunity to relive one of the most legendary moments in 20th century culture, through beautifully presented screenings of some of film history’s most famous works. Included in the series are two films that prefigured the New Wave: Jean-Pierre Melville’s soulful, American-influenced gangster drama Bob le Flambeur, and Roger Vadim’s wildly popular And God Created Woman, a celebration of the modern spirit of post-war France in the form of Brigitte Bardot. The remainder of the series is dedicated to masterpieces by the loosely allied group of writer-directors who revolutionized world cinema beginning in 1959: François Truffaut (The 400 Blows, Jules and Jim), Jean-Luc Godard (Breathless, A Woman Is a Woman, Vivre Sa Vie, Alphaville, Pierrot le Fou), Eric Rohmer (La Collectionneuse, My Night at Maud’s), Claude Chabrol (Les Bonnes Femmes), Alain Resnais (Last Year at Marienbad), Jacques Demy (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg) and Agnès Varda (Cleo from 5 to 7, Le Bonheur). (from frenchculture.org)
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July 22, 2009
(Canada)- The World Cup and Vélirium International Mountain Bike Festival is Canada's biggest mountain bike festival and is being held at Mont-Sainte-Anne, Québec from July 11 to 26. The seventh edition of Vélirium, which ends with the 18th edition of the UCI mountain bike World Cup, features the World Cup Cross Country, 4-Cross and Downhill events, as well as the National Championships Cross Country and Downhill competitions.XXX
XXXOrganizers are using the Vélirium 2009 as preparation for the 2010 Mountain Bike World Championships, which will be hosted in Mont-Sainte-Anne as well. "The 2009 edition has geared up to treat over 2,500 athletes and 60,000 visitors to an extra special event," said Gestev VP Chantal Lachance. Key races that are part of this year's festival include the Downhill Québec Cup and the Vélo Mag Raid cross country race. The Genuine Innovations Freeride Cup was also run during the second weekend of the festival. In the final weekend, amateurs and pros will test their legs in the Cross Country Québec Cup (July 24). The next day, pro downhillers and four crossers will race the UCI World Cup, and the festival will conclude with the cross country portion of the UCI World Cup (July 26).
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XXXUrban Delirium YOP Tropix and Quebec City are hosting today, and for the first time ever, a giant BMX Big Air (made out of dirt) contest. Five Pro-riders (from Australia, USA and Canada) are putting on a stunt show in the heart of Québec City to take the crowd to another level of bike-riding. (from whatsonwhen.com, cyclingnews.com, and velirium.com)
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July 21, 2009
(Belgium)- The tiny French-speaking country of Belgium is celebrating its national day today ("le 21 juillet"). In 1815 the Congress of Vienna assembled to redraw the map of Europe in the wake of Napoleon’s defeat. The peace settlement adopted at the Congress again united Belgium and Netherlands, this time under a Dutch king, William I. Catholic Belgium, however, did not want a Protestant ruler, even though the country prospered under the Dutch. The outbreak of a revolution in France in July 1830 inspired a Belgian uprising in August. Dutch troops were driven from Brussels, and on October 4 a coalition of the normally antagonistic Catholics and Liberals proclaimed Belgian independence. The great powers—Austria, France, Britain, Prussia, and Russia—accepted Belgian independence, and the Dutch were unable to overcome such a formidable group.XXX
XXXToday is also the last day of The Francofolies, which take place every year in the water city of Spa. The four-day event aims to please music lovers of every language. Francophone chanson dominates, but the festival in no way ignores other genres. This year, more than 250 concerts have taken place in five different venues, and if that's not enough, festivalgoers could head to the Bars en Folie throughout town hosting yet more (free) concerts as well as a Franc'Off previewing the best of up and coming Belgian and French talent. (from encarta.com and whatsonwhen.com)
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July 19, 2009
(France)- Last week Nickelodeon, environmental campaigners WWF France and Paris’s Pavillon de l’Eau joined forces and launched the first ever Spongebob Eco exhibition (July 10-November 21) which will give fans a chance to see SpongeBob in a different light. It all started four months ago when Nickelodeon approached Eau de Paris who own the Pavillon de l’eau in a bid to launch a unique exhibition on water preservation in the centre of Paris.XXX
XXXAccording to Maggie White who works for Eau de Paris, the myth that French people only drink bottled water has finally died. "The water quality in Paris is excellent and around 70 per cent of Parisians drink tap water," she says. "The city is really committed to different actions to preserve water resources. Fifty per cent of its production comes from underground water so they’re all about water protection and organic food growing."
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XXXThe famous yellow cartoon character from Bikini Bottoms who is said to have a following of over 80,000 fans first appeared ten years ago, giving pleasure to people of all ages. Why is the cartoon star suitable for raising awareness in terms of renewable energy protection of the planet? He's a perfect symbol, according to White. "Via the exhibition you realise that the sponge does a lot of cleaning in the ocean so we try to make a parallel with how our water plants treat and clean the water and how Bob treats and cleans salt water."
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XXXThe exhibition can be divided into three parts. On the ground floor people can check out famous paintings by Magritte, Leonardo DaVinci and Dali with a SpongeBob twist. "A playful revitalization of masterpieces and a great way to raise awareness on looking after the planet," as one parent put it. "The idea is to give kids a taste for classic art and make them want to go and see the real thing," says White. On the first floor there is a whole part dedicated to the world of Bob and finally a little section how to lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle with every-day tips to help save the planet.
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XXXIn its first week the exhibition has attracted thousands of people from all over the world, mainly Bob fans. A group of teenagers sprawls out on pouffes in the shape of drops of water were recovering from the excitement: "It was Bobtastic!" sighed one of the girls. "I’ve been a huge fan of his for the past five years so it was a real pleasure. I just wished they had an actual shop that sold merchandise like that on display." That's something Maggie White was quick to point was avoided on purpose so as not to make it a "SpongeBobland" type of attraction. (from rfi.fr)
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- show me the location of the exhibition on a map!
- visit the official page of the exhibition
- visit the WWF global website and WWF France
- learn more about SpongeBob on Nickelodeon
July 18, 2009
(Canada)- From July 16 to 26, 2009, Festival International Nuits d'Afrique invites you to come thrill to the music of more than 400 artists from Africa and the Caribbean. The 23rd edition of this international event will bring thousands of spectators eager to discover the music and culture from another world. The Festival offers around 50 free or low-cost concerts presented indoor or outdoor making it the largest North American gathering of major artists coming from more than 30 countries. Nuits d'Afrique represents several days and nights of euphoria for Montrealers and tourists coming in great numbers to attend and participate in the activities such as the original Marché Tombouctou. Greatly highlighting Montreal's multiculturalism, Festival International Nuits d'Afrique is thus an event not to be missed for its unique atmosphere and the quality of its artists.XXX
XXXOn July 23, 24, 25 and 26, visitors and locals will say hello to the Village des Nuits d'Afrique event, with an atmosphere found nowhere else besides Africa, the Caribbean or Latin America, an effervescent spot where you can chat for the fun of it with merchants at the Marché Tombouctou, competing ingeniously to sells their trinkets, percussion instruments and traditional beauty products and jewels. It’s a friendly place where you can sit at café tables or on the grass for an informal meal, enjoying grilled chicken with yassa sauce (a typical Senegalese dish), spicy Jamaican-style jerk beef, or ice cream in exotic flavours. Above all, it is a sort of cultural melting-pot where you can sing and dance non-stop with artists from all over who, one after another, fill the Loto-Québec main stage for assorted shows and workshops. (from montreal-travelguide.com and festivalnuitsdafrique.com)
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July 17, 2009
(Belgium)- The Dour Festival has taken place every year since 1989 in this southern Belgian town and is now established as one of Europe's best alternative music events. Four days of celebrations for 144,000 fans, an immense camp site, 6 stages and more than 200 groups and DJ's... Dour is a festival which is aimed at discovery, diversity, tolerance and fun. Its low prices, its substantial high quality playbill make this a major event in Europe for current and alternative music.
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XXXLike every summer the festival will be held by the spoil heaps of the old coal mining site "La Plaine de La Machine a Feu". From July 16 to 19, Dour is the festival that never sleeps with non stop music from 12am until 5am the next day. The festival campsite is available to people with a valid ticket and provides showers, fresh water and cooking areas. If you can't cope with sleeping in a tent, try a "festihut", which comes complete with bunk beds.
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XXXThe event has been sold-out for the past 3 years and the line-up features a broad range of acts, bringing together electro, reggae, punk, hip hop and rock and pop. Highlights in 2009 include Pet Shop Boys, Gong, Animal Collective, Killing Joke, Late of the Pier, Aphex Twin & Hecker, Chase & Status with MC Rage, Israel Vibration, U-Roy & Pablo Moses, Buju Banton and African Headcharge. X
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XXXLike every summer the festival will be held by the spoil heaps of the old coal mining site "La Plaine de La Machine a Feu". From July 16 to 19, Dour is the festival that never sleeps with non stop music from 12am until 5am the next day. The festival campsite is available to people with a valid ticket and provides showers, fresh water and cooking areas. If you can't cope with sleeping in a tent, try a "festihut", which comes complete with bunk beds.
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XXXThe event has been sold-out for the past 3 years and the line-up features a broad range of acts, bringing together electro, reggae, punk, hip hop and rock and pop. Highlights in 2009 include Pet Shop Boys, Gong, Animal Collective, Killing Joke, Late of the Pier, Aphex Twin & Hecker, Chase & Status with MC Rage, Israel Vibration, U-Roy & Pablo Moses, Buju Banton and African Headcharge. X
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XXXEvery year at Dour you get a unique international bill (bands were coming from 28 different countries last year) that’s different, alternative, independent, ambitious and sharp with an accent on new discoveries. All that at a very low price that can’t be beaten. Since its beginning the Dour Festival has owed much of its appeal to its incredible atmosphere. A multi-cultural audience that shares a love for music and partying creates a fun vibe throughout the site. The Dour Festival has become the unmissable music event of the summer for thousands of kids across Europe. (from whatsonwhen.com, wallonie-tourisme.be, travelhouseuk.wordpress.com)
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July 16, 2009
(Morocco)- The Marrakech Popular Arts Festival is a week-long event starting tomorrow, where buildings throughout Marrakech are transformed into al-fresco venues for traditional folk performances. The 16th-century El Badi Palace that now stands ruined, as an unjustified reference to its glorious past, was once the heart of the powerful Saadian Dynasty. It becomes the center of events and throughout the Popular Arts Festival, and its courtyards are packed with folk performers from all over Morocco and spectators.XXX
XXXDuring this festival, the fun loving Moroccans and tourists throng at the town and make the already-packed streets even more crowded, with every element of Moroccan culture combining to create a vibrant celebration. Artists, craftsmen, vendors, acrobats, fire-swallowers delight visitors at every corner of the city. You can expect to see all kinds of music and dance performances, from the Berber musicians and dancers of the High Atlas to the Andalus-inspired musicians of the North, and from the trance-inducing music of the Southern Gnaouas to the art of the belly dancer. One event not to be missed is the "Fantasia", a choreographed trick horse-riding spectacle, one of the most popular features of the festival which is held each evening in a field near the Bab Jdid just outside the city walls.
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XXXMarrakech is the second largest city in Morocco. It is a popular holiday destination with Europeans, as although it is in Africa, it is only a short flight away. Morocco is bursting with Arabic culture and charm, and this is particularly evident in Marrakech. Marrakech visitors are amazed by the city when they appear to be sent back in time. The streets are narrow, with hidden souks and souvenir shops. The bustling markets are full of herbs and spices and handmade crafts, including rugs and scarves. Marrakech has great examples of traditional architecture, adding a sense of mystery and beauty to the city. The Moroccan city has a range of places to eat and drink, with small bars and restaurants offering traditional Moroccan food. (from travel-only.blogspot.com and asiarooms.com)
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July 15, 2009
(France/Guadeloupe)- The festival of Gwo Ka, key event of the summer holidays, took place last week and welcomed artists and public in the streets of the municipality of the village of Sainte-Anne and on the municipal beach. Friendly and warm, the festival of Gwo Ka also wants to be eclectic and is always the opportunity to get involved with personalities and musicians living in or outside the archipelago. Created in 1987, the festival has become over the years an annual large-scale cultural event for all the region.XXX
XXXThe constant evolution which distinguishes the Festival of Gwo Ka of Sainte-Anne concerns its educational and artistic structure. The festival has allowed the opening of several schools which have renewed an art always in movement. If the Ka today collects the crowds, it was not always so. Censored by the "Black Code" which regulated the life of slaves, this music of the people was disdained for a long time. It required the stubbornness of some passionate people to restore its letters of nobility and demonstrate its historic and rhythmic wealth.
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XXXGwo ka is a family of hand drums. There are seven basic rhythms in gwo ka, and multiple variations on each. Different sizes of drums establish the foundation and its flourishes, with the largest, the boula, playing the central rhythm and the smaller, markeur (or maké) drums embellishes upon it and interplays with the dancers, audience or singer. Gwo ka singing is usually guttural, nasal and rough, though it can also be bright and smooth, and is accompanied by uplifting and complex harmonies and melodies. Rural Guadeloupans still use gwo ka drums in communal experiences called "lewozes"; this is the most traditional manifestation of gwo ka in modern Guadeloupe. Gwo ka is also played at Carnival and other celebrations. A modernized and popularized form of gwo ka is well-known on the islands; it is known as gwo ka moderne. Contrary to the European dances, it is the dancer (one or several) who imposes the rhythm, lively, sometimes acrobatic, or more languishing and more melancholic under the circumstances. In front of them, three “tambouyés”, a marker, which improvises soloes and two rolled which strike the basic rhythm. Singers, players of “cha-cha” (a gourd filled with seed) or of “ti-bwa” (wooden sticks), are added to the percussionists. (from lesilesdeguadeloupe.com and wikipedia.org)
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July 14, 2009
(France)- Public celebrations don't come much grander than France's Bastille Day. Be prepared for spectacular fireworks and the singing of La Marseillaise as the French celebrate 1789 and a swarm of revolting peasants. Major cities and rural towns alike congregrate for this huge annual commemoration.
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XXXBastille Day is the French national holiday, celebrated on 14 July each year. In France, it is called Fête Nationale ("National Celebration") in official parlance, or more commonly "le quatorze juillet" ("14 July"). It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern nation, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution.
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XXXFestivities are held on the morning of 14 July, on the Champs-Élysées avenue in Paris in front of the President of the Republic. The parade opens with many cadets from the École Polytechnique, Saint-Cyr, École Navale, and so forth, then other infantry troops, then motorized troops; aviation of the Patrouille de France flies above. In recent times, it has become customary to invite units from France's allies to the parade; in 2004 during the centenary of the Entente Cordiale, British troops (the band of the Royal Marines, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, Grenadier Guards and King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery) led the Bastille Day parade in Paris for the first time, with the Red Arrows flying overhead. Traditionally, the students of the École Polytechnique set up some form of joke.
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XXXThe president is used to giving an interview to members of the press, discussing the situation of the country, recent events and projects for the future. The President also holds a garden party at the Palais de l'Elysée. Bastille Day falls during the Tour de France and is traditionally a day when French riders try to take a stage victory for France, working harder than they might on other days. (from en.wikipedia.org and whatsonwhen.com)
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XXXThe president is used to giving an interview to members of the press, discussing the situation of the country, recent events and projects for the future. The President also holds a garden party at the Palais de l'Elysée. Bastille Day falls during the Tour de France and is traditionally a day when French riders try to take a stage victory for France, working harder than they might on other days. (from en.wikipedia.org and whatsonwhen.com)
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July 13, 2009
(France)- The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race throughout France and bordering countries which attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken down into day-long segments, called stages. Individual times to finish each stage are totaled up to determine the overall winner at the end of the race. The rider with the lowest aggregate time at the end of each day wears the prestigious yellow jersey. The course changes every year but it has always finished in Paris and in more recent years along the Champs-Élysées. There are similar races in Italy and Spain but the Tour de France is the oldest, the most prestigious and the best known. XXX
XXXThis year, running from Saturday July 4th to Sunday July 26th 2009, the 96th Tour de France is made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers). These 21 stages have the following profiles: 10 flat stages, 7 mountain stages, 1 medium mountain stage, 2 individual time-trial stages, 1 team time-trial stage. This year's Tour de France promises to be an exciting competition, with Lance Armstrong heading up the Astana team in an attempt to secure his record eighth competition win. But after three withdrawals from competition and near age 38, he admitted not to having the same confidence as usual.
(from wikipedia.org, letour.fr, and sportsya.com)
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July 11, 2009
(Algeria)- Thousands of artists and visitors from dozens of African and diaspora nations have converged on Algiers for the official start of the second Pan-African Festival. After a 40-year absence, the event returned as a large-scale endeavor to revive the continent's culture and arts. The event, set to run through July 20th, began in spectacular style with a grand parade wound through the streets of Algiers. Showboat-style floats from each African participating nation, along with thousands of performers, brought Algiers colorfully to life and raised anticipation for the official opening ceremony.XXX
XXXThe huge pan-African festival gathering more than 8,000 artists and writers from all over Africa, as well as Brazil and the United States who are guests at the giant festival where more than 20,000 Algerian artists will also be taking part. "Panaf is the biggest rally in the world of artists and intellectuals in the same place at the same time, which will include all facets of human culture," said a representative of the executive committee of the festival.
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XXXThe festival officially began last Sunday on Algerian independence day, with a megaconcert at a stadium in the capital prepared by choreographer Kamel Ouali. A parade of showboat-style floats representing each African country and the guest nations rolled through Algiers from Tafourah in the city centre to the old Bab El-Oued quarter, a working-class district. Among those on the bill are Algerian musicians Cheb Khaled and Ouarda El Djazairia, with Senegal's Youssou Ndour and Ismael Lo, Cesaria Evora from Cape Verde, dance troupes from all over Africa, and other musicians, dancers, stage and screen stars like actress Isabelle Adjani, and many less-well known younger performers. "We expect this gathering to lead to an emergence of fresh talent in music, the arts and the other activities on the program," Culture Minister Khalida Toumi said. "We also want this to be a kind of survey of the state of culture in Africa," he added.
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XXXThe festival will not just be in Algiers, for events are scheduled in other towns in the north of the country, including Boumerdes, Blida and Tipaza, where all the concerts and shows will be free and open to all. Nor is Panaf II purely a massive artistic festival, because literature from around Africa will be represented, ranging from novels to comic books, and some of the guests are writers and academics who have been invited to present their work and take part in symposiums on literature. There will also be conferences on colonization and the continent's struggle for independence. The first Panaf in July 1969, seven years after Algeria won its freedom from France in a bitter war, was devoted to decolonization, which still had to reach Namibia, Angola, Guinea-Bissau and other countries, while South Africa was then under the yoke of apartheid. Panaf II is about "the renaissance of African culture," Culture Minister Toumi said, adding that part of the festival's aim was to impress "minds and the imagination to show and tell the world that Africa is back." (google.com)
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July 10, 2009
(France)- France has thrown out a challenge to Hollywood as film giant Luc Besson announced the launch of a giant Cinema City to be built inside a disused power plant outside Paris by 2012. To be called "La Cité du Cinéma" (The City of Cinema), the huge complex on the northern fringe of the capital will gather together film sets, editing and light studios, post-production facilities, offices, theatres, and even a film school. "The machine about to be born here will be the world’s best dream machine," said Alain Terzian, head of the French producers’ association, speaking inside the vast early 20th century structure shut down three decades ago.XXX
XXXBeing refurbished at a cost of 140 million euros (197 million dollars), the power-plant built in 1929 to keep the Paris subway running, is a rambling 62,000 square-metre (-yard) complex complete with weeds, graffiti and splintered glass roofing. The director-producer-writer shot scenes from both "Nikita" and "Leon" among its metal girders, steel staircases and mammoth machine parts. "People are happy in the US, the stars will love coming to Paris to shoot," Besson said. But his dream-child was years in the making before winning support from the industry as well as from local and state authorities, as well as financiers.
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XXXThe 50-year-old director-producer-writer of blockbusters "The Big Blue", "The Fifth Element" and "Arthur and The Minimoys", said the notion of erecting Hollywood-style studios in a country which is the world’s third film-maker and Europe’s biggest dated back to the late 1990s. "When I was working on The Fifth Element, which had a 90-million-euro budget, I suddenly realized I couldn’t make the film in France, the studios weren’t there. I had to leave and work in London," he told a news conference. "I decided that day to fight for us to have studios worthy of Hollywood." Besson, who has been considered the "French Steven Spielberg" by some, made a directorial debut at age 24 and since produced more than 80 films.
Launch date for Cinema City has been set for 2012 just ahead of the Cannes film festival that takes place each year mid-May, and the two-and-a-half year building program is due to start next September. Under the scheme financed jointly by the Caisse des Depots financial institution and Vinci real estate conglomerate, space in the complex will be available for rent to film-makers, producers or post-production firms, for instance. So far, Besson’s own film group, EuropaCorp and Frontline, have signed up for space as have Tunisian film tycoon Tarak Ben Ammar’s Quinta group, as well as the Euro Media Group, Europe’s leading audiovisual firm.
"The fact that there was no centralized production facility in France was simply unbelievable," Ammar said. "We now have the possibility of working with a unique tool that will enable us to to compete with America," he added."
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XXXMeanwhile, The European Union competition authorities gave the green light last week to a French tax scheme to entice foreign film-makers to shoot movies in France. The new French scheme, championed by new French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand, is aimed at encouraging foreign film makers to come to France to make films with a link to French or European culture. The aim is not only to boost the film and associated industries in France but to spread the country's image and culture around the world. Several famous film directors and producers have already showed their willingness to work in France. The films, TV films and series in question will benefit from a 20 percent tax credit -up to four million euros- on their expenses in France as long as there is some element linked to French or European culture. (from frenchculture.org and google.com)
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July 9, 2009
(Canada)- For the past 42 years, the Québec City Summer Festival, the first of its kind in North America, has put on hundreds of exciting and varied shows and concerts for the entire 11 days of the festival, making it Canada’s biggest outdoor artistic event. With more than 300 shows in 11 days, the excitement that builds in the heart of Québec City is contagious. Out on the street and on the indoor and outdoor stages, performers get the crowds of 1.7 million ecstatic fans up in a veritable celebration of music. Rock, song, pop, electro, jazz, reggae, folk, hip-hop, funk, blues, classical music ?XXX
XXXFrom July 9 to 19, you will not be far from a musical beat from noon to midnight during this wonderful musical extravaganza. The first festival ever to open its doors to world music nearly 20 years ago, the Quebec Summer Festival boasts exceptional line-ups, a stunning location and an experience few, if any music festivals can match. Venues are scattered around the beautiful old town of Québec City, which was made a UNESCO Heritage Site in deference to its unspoilt architectural features.
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XXXThe Québec City Summer Festival was created in 1968 when seven young artists (Diane Lavoie, Constance Paré, Bernard Pelchat, Louis Ricard, Hélène Savoie, Hélène Trépanier et Michel Viel) and a group of businessmen came up with a plan to promote popular music by holding concerts in the city’s public spaces. In just four months and with a $17,000 budget, they managed to put together fifty shows, and the public loved it!
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XXXThe party will kick off and wrap up en français with two of Québec’s hottest acts, The Lost Fingers and Pierre Lapointe. In the days between, four international sensations— suprême NTM, Kiss, Plácido Domingo, and Sting—will bring their talent and energy to the event. At other venues around the city, Jeff Beck, Beirut, Sergent Garcia, and Girl Talk are sure to wow audiences with their musical prowess. (from ejazznews.com, infofestival.com, and whatsonwhen.com)
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July 7, 2009
(France)- The glory and excesses of Haute Couture for autumn/winter 2009/2010 are taking to the catwalk of Paris' Carrousel du Louvre for Haute Couture Fashion Week. A must for fashion fanatics. Fashion editors fight over tickets and skulk around catwalks in dark glasses and the paparazzi is out in force for an event which has all the decadence and opulence that street fashion lacks. Attendance is by invitation only; the rest of the world will be flicking through the fashion mags and surfing the net for a glimpse of the action.XXX
XXXFashion weeks take place all around the world, in all the major centres twice a year. These are the spring/summer collections and the autumn/winter collections for the ready to wear lines ("prêt-à-porter"). The four leading shows follow successively from New York to Paris to London to Milan. Other major shows take place in Australia (April and October), Berlin and Sao Paulo, with Delhi, Montreal, Tokyo and Los Angeles competing to be added to this sub-elite list.
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XXXThe couture shows are very high end, conceptual shows of fantasy and magic. These shows represent fashion as an art form rather than as a commercial enterprise. Only one percent of the world's wealthiest people can afford the couture garments, which are often made to order and hand sewn. The term "haute couture" (high dressmaking) applies to some of these shows. This is a protected term, that can only be applied to design houses who have met the stringent list of standards set by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris and are detailed on their annual list. It is however often erroneously used to describe all bespoke fashion, which is more accurately simply known as couture. The 2009 spring/summer season has only 29 design houses, including Chanel and Dior, who are authorized to call their collections haute couture, although they all produce a more financially profitable prêt-a-porter collection as well. (from lifestyle.iafrica.com and whatsonwhen.com)
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July 5, 2009
(Switzerland)- It started in 1967 with just three days dedicated solely to jazz, headlined by the Charles Lloyd Quartet with Keith Jarrett, Cecil McBee and Jack DeJohnette — names familiar to the most devoted of jazz devotees. Now in its forty-third year, the Montreux Jazz Festival has blossomed into a veritable musical garden featuring genres that range from blues to techno. Legends such as bluesman B.B. King have rubbed elbows with pop newcomers like James Blunt; sultry crooner Isaac Hayes has even mingled with the thrash metal band Slayer.XXX
XXXKing is coming back for the 2009 event, which runs July 3-18, along with other repeat performers Herbie Hancock and guitar master Jeff Beck. Prince will also return to the Montreux stage, closing out the famed jazz festival. In all, some 1,000 musicians are booked for the festival, which remains true to form with its eclectic line-up. The 16-day bash is set to include the likes of the Dave Matthews Band, Grace Jones, New York Salsa All Stars, Alice Cooper, and even a night that promises a throwback to the 80s with Ray Parker Jr., Kool & the Gang, and Earth, Wind & Fire Experience.
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XXXKing is coming back for the 2009 event, which runs July 3-18, along with other repeat performers Herbie Hancock and guitar master Jeff Beck. Prince will also return to the Montreux stage, closing out the famed jazz festival. In all, some 1,000 musicians are booked for the festival, which remains true to form with its eclectic line-up. The 16-day bash is set to include the likes of the Dave Matthews Band, Grace Jones, New York Salsa All Stars, Alice Cooper, and even a night that promises a throwback to the 80s with Ray Parker Jr., Kool & the Gang, and Earth, Wind & Fire Experience.
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XXXAnd what is better than two solid weeks of top-name concerts? Two solid weeks of free music, filling up almost every hour of your day. The party starts at Parc Vemex with a daily midday jazz concert, after which the “Music at the Park” stage opens up to other genres. The Montreux Jazz Café opens its restaurant doors at 6pm; arrive early to get your seat for the free Jazz Sessions starting at 8:30pm. For late-night partying, the electro MDH Club has a series of live acts and DJs — and no cover charge. Perhaps the most bipolar of the free-music venues is the lakeside Club 41/Cocktail Garden. Open at 4pm, the mellow Cocktail Garden sends melodies drifting out across the waters of Lake Geneva; come 11pm, the same site turns into Club 41, a haven of house music. Competitions hosted by the Montreux Jazz Foundation 2 let you be among the first to hear the future of jazz. Aspiring musicians compete in solo piano, guitar and voice, with the top names in the genre judging the categories of improvisation, blues and composition. All performances are free.
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XXXWith stunning vistas, Montreux, the Swiss town that lends the festival its name, is a destination in its own right. A rack railway lets trains carry visitors up the steep passage to Rochers-de-Naye, an alpine ski resort overlooking Lake Geneva. On an island in the lake is Chateau de Chillon, or Chillon Castle. Made famous by George Gordon Byron, better known as the romantic poet Lord Byron, in "The Prisoner of Chillon," the castle is now a museum and hosts some of the festival’s "Creation" sessions, fusing music and performance arts. (from egypttoday.com)
XXXWith stunning vistas, Montreux, the Swiss town that lends the festival its name, is a destination in its own right. A rack railway lets trains carry visitors up the steep passage to Rochers-de-Naye, an alpine ski resort overlooking Lake Geneva. On an island in the lake is Chateau de Chillon, or Chillon Castle. Made famous by George Gordon Byron, better known as the romantic poet Lord Byron, in "The Prisoner of Chillon," the castle is now a museum and hosts some of the festival’s "Creation" sessions, fusing music and performance arts. (from egypttoday.com)
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Discover more:
- show me the location of the event on a map!
- go to the official website of the festival
- watch videos from last year's festival
July 4, 2009
(Switzerland)- Around 35,000 people flock at Geneva's Centre Sportif du Bout du Monde to celebrate the biggest outdoor 4th of July party outside the USA. This open-air American Independence party sponsored by the American International Club (AIC) of Geneva attracts people from over the French border as well as Swiss from surrounding regions. Drinks, music, fireworks, entertainment and attractions make it a great family outing. The first 4th of July celebration organized by the AIC in Geneva took place in 1952. The program included a little music, some dancing, one carousel, refreshments and a short firework display. Over the years, this family outing has become one of Geneva's biggest and most popular events and attendance has increased annually.XXX
XXXThe AIC, founded in Geneva in 1951, is an international social & business club with approximately 1,000 members. The Club’s activities include: a monthly speakers’ luncheon program that attracts name speakers from around the world, professional programs, cultural events, sports activities, an annual & exclusive CEO forum, civic concerns, and special events such as the annual 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and US Presidential election night events. (from whatsonwhen and amclub.ch)
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July 3, 2009
(USA)- "The Ultimate Party Weekend" is kicking off tomorrow in New Orleans and continues through Sunday the 5th as the Essence Music Festival returns to New Orleans for its 15th anniversary. The Louisiana Superdome will be rockin’ for the July 4th Weekend with an eclectic mix of soul, R&B, jazz, hip hop, gospel, native African music and – of course – a tasty New Orleans gumbo of some of our brass-iest brass bands, soulful soul singers and hip hip-hoppers. This year’s EssenceFest headliners include award-winning, multi-platinum singer, songwriter and actress Beyoncé; up-and-comer Maxwell; and three legendary singers with genres all their own, Al Green, Lionel Richie and Anita Baker. And, as icing on the cake, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly will close out the festival as they have done every year since its inception. The weekend also includes three days of Empowering Seminars, free of charge, at the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center, headlined by power speakers Bill Cosby, CeCe Winans, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Rev. Al Sharpton, Donna Brazile, Roland Martin, Tom Joyner and many other influential personalities in a wide variety of fields.
Meanwhile, the annual 4th of July celebration will offer activities and entertainment for the entire family along the riverfront, ending with a spectacular fireworks show over the Mississippi River. There will be music, food, and drinks, as well as children’s activities and Mardi Gras-style parades with the Bone Tone Brass Band. A "COOLinary" celebration will feature special menus and pricing at restaurants throughout the city. In addition, The National D-Day Museum will be open on the 4th of July and will feature the Jefferson Symphony Chorus, which will perform a concert of patriotic songs. Making its debut on July 3 is the Air Crew Artifacts Exhibit, with gear and outfits worn by flight crews on both sides of the war. For the Little Ones, New Orleans City Park will provides the largest stand of Live Oaks in the world so there will be a lot of of shaded area for the playtime. The park also has Storyland, a wonderful nursery rhythm theme area for toddlers. The Carousel Gardens, featuring an antique Carousel, will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. XXX
XXXThe Go 4th on the River Dueling Barges Fireworks Extravaganza is the annual Independence Day Celebration along the New Orleans Riverfront with all-day activities for everyone. New Orleans Summers are hot – and there is no hotter place to be for the Fourth of July than in the Crescent City. Spend the day exploring the French Quarter before settling down for the show. There are a lot of different locations to catch the excitement along the river, so no matter where you watch, you’ll be front and center for the action! (from goneworleans.about.com, neworleanscvb.com, and neworleansonline.com)
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- show me New Orleans on a map!
- visit the official website of the Essence Music Festival
- see the official program of the "Go 4th on the River" events
- discover New Orleans with this tourism website
- see pictures of the 4th of July fireworks in New Orleans
July 1, 2009
(Canada)- Canada is celebrating "Canada Day" today (French: Fête du Canada), formerly known as "Dominion Day". This federal holiday marks the anniversary of the July 1, 1867 enactment of the British North America Act which united Canada as a single country of four provinces. Canada Day observances take place throughout Canada as well as internationally. XXXFrequently referred to as "Canada's birthday," particularly in the popular press, the occasion marks the joining of the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada being divided, in the process, into Ontario and Quebec) on July 1, 1867. However, though Canada is regarded as having become a kingdom in its own right on that date, the British Parliament at first kept limited rights of political control over the new country, which were shed by stages over the years until the last vestiges were ended in 1982, when the Constitution Act patriated the Canadian constitution. Canada Day differs from Independence Day celebrations in other countries in that it does not commemorate a clear-cut date of complete independence.
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XXXMost communities across the country are hosting organized celebrations for Canada Day, usually outdoor public events, such as parades, carnivals, festivals, barbecues, air and maritime shows, fireworks, and free musical concerts, as well as citizenship ceremonies for new citizens.
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XXXThe July 1 date of Canada Day also coincides with Quebec's traditional Moving Day. Because so many apartment rentals in the province are done on fixed-lease terms extending from July 1 to June 30 of the following year, some residents of Quebec who might otherwise attend Canada Day festivities are instead occupied by moving to new apartments... (from en.wikipedia.org)
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