Quoi de neuf: Best Croissants in Paris, Free French Film Event and More

Quoi de neuf · Communiqué

Free French Films April 4-6 in Portland

Feel like catching a French film? PSU's French Section and FAIS are

teaming up to present PSU's 3rd French Film Festival, free to the public, April 4-6. The Alliance will sponsor a reception (snacks and mineral water) at 6pm on Friday, April 4, at 5th Avenue Cinema in downtown Portland; it is also free. The reception is prior to the film, Cousin Jules, which is a documentary about a blacksmith in France in the late 1960s. (Note to students: the films were chosen for artistic merit; this particular film is light on dialogue). For the complete festival film schedule (all are subtitled) click here. No need to pre-register.

"Go Anywhere" Raffle Sales Are Brisk

Last week we launched the sales of raffle tickets for two round-trip Economy Class ticke Eiffeltourists

ts on Delta Air Lines. The tickets can be used for travel to Paris or anywhere served by Delta Air Lines-operated flights. Buy raffle tickets online by April 17; click here. The drawing will be on April 19; no need to be present. Maximum 800 tickets to be sold. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit education missions of the Alliance and the FACC. Bonne chance!

Are You a Maigretphile?

Georges Simenon was a Belgian writer, famous for his novels, des romans policiers, involving le Commissaire/Inspecteur Maigret. Many

of Simenon's novels are available in the Alliance lending library. We've learned from member Kimberly Shute that a large collection of full length (1.5 hour) Maigret episodes are available on Youtube for viewing, for free. In French with English subtitles, the videos are an entertaining way to tune your ear to idiomatic expressions that play a key role in daily conversation in French. Click here for a sample. French actor Bruno Cremer, shown here, was best known for his work on the TV series which ran for 6 years.

News Around the French Language Centre

Spring Term: Over four hundred students will attend Alliance classes and private lessons in the spring term which begins the week of March 31st. The average class size is 6-7 students; most still have an opening. Call 503.223.8388 or view the class lists online. Experience why one recent student described his class as: "Super - formidable, and continued, "I learned a lot, a

nd best of all, somehow managed to be able to 'see' things to which, in the past, I have been blind."
Parking: Large construction cranes are being put in place for the building project near the Kamm House. Fortunately our staff and students have free parking a block and a half away, and can avoid the roadblocks by using the new lot. Click here for the latest parking info and maps.
Sold Out: The April 4 presentation on immersion programs and the May 2 sessions on venting in French are sold out and have waitlists.
Staff News: The Alliance welcomes Rachel Hunter and Melanie Hindman to our teaching staff, and will also welcome two new interns this spring and summer. Bios of all 16 staff members are online; click here.

Boulot Releases Event Menu: St Tropez

James Beard award winning chef Philippe Boulot has just released the menu for the Soirée St Tropez event at Multnomah Athletic Club on

April 19. Click here to view the menu, including the comprehensive event description by event committee member Cindy Danbom. About 45 tickets are still available for the event. Says Executive Director Linda Witt, "The auction will be truly exceptional - a superb mix of local temptations in all price ranges (restaurants, hotel stays) and unique trips abroad including séjours in premium properties in Normandy, Paris and southern France." Bidding on many items will be open to the general public and the event-goers. Look for live links in the next bulletin.

Dates to Remember

Apr. 4: Immersion Programs Presentation

Apr. 4-6: PSU 3rd Annual French Film Festival

Apr. 19: SOIREE ST TROPEZ at the MAC - Tickets Available

May 2: Venting in French

Quick Web Links

Call for openings in the Spring Term that starts March 31.

503.223.8388

Conversation

Groups

Hosted by Alliance staff or board members. Drop-ins welcome; membership is encouraged but not required.

NW Portland

St Honoré on NW Thurman on Wed., Apr. 2 & 16 at 6pm.

SE Portland

At St Honoré on SE Division, Monday, April 7, at 6pm.

At Chez Machin, Mon., April 14 at 7:00p.m.

At Vie de Bohème weekly on Sundays, 4-5:30 p.m.

Vancouver

At Gustav's in Vancouver, Tues., Apr. 1 at 5:30 p.m.

In-Kind Sponsors

Perrier

www.pariscentral.com

Best Croissants, Convo Group News, Consular Visit & More

Best Croissants in Paris: The Wall Street Journal just published an informativ

e guide to the best croissant places in Paris, by an author who has lived there 27 years. Click here for the online article.

New Conversation Group at the New St Honoré Location: Meet Dominique Ge Dominique Geulin and Philippe Boulot

ulin, the owner of St Honoré Boulangerie, on Monday, April 7, at the inaugural meeting of the new French conversation group at St Honoré's new location at 3333 SE Division. Monday, April 7, 6-7pm. No registration needed; open to the public; all levels of French are welcome; free. The group will meet monthly, beginning with the April 7 session!

Seeking French-speaking after-school nanny 3-4 days a week starting August-$15-20/hr: Alliance members are looking for a long-term relationship with someone trustworthy, loving, reliable and experienced to do the "after-school routine" with their two boys (ages 3 &5). There will be a lot of driving involved childcare in pick-ups, so a safe driver is a MUST. Thereafter responsibilities would include taking them to any after-school activities and returning home to start dinner/prepare for evening. Fluency in French is a requirement. Please email Heidi for full details at: ms.heidimay@gmail.com.

Multicultural Parenting: Alliance member Jing Dipiero will screen her documentary, Growing up Together, at Clinton Street Theater (PDX) at 2:30pm on Saturday, April 12. It captures her parenting journey in a multi-generational and multicultural (Chinese, French, Italian, American) family. Immediately following the film will be a panel discussion with Margie Kircher, child development therapist with 25 years of experience, and other parenting specialists and journalists. Click here for the show info and visit Jing's website for additional information.

Consular Tournée: Appointments with visiting consular staff (from the French Consulate in San Francisco) do book up early, so here's a notice of the next one planned for Portland and Seattle. This message is from the Consular Office of Françoise Aylmer in Portland: Nous vous confirmons la prochaine tournée consulaire à Portland les jeudi 12 et vendredi 13 juin. Le consulat mettra en ligne d'ici peu sur le site internet du consulat un message annonçant cette tournée consulaire, ainsi que la prochaine tournée consulaire prévue à Seattle (qui devrait se dérouler les 21, 22 et 23 mai). Veuillez appeler le 503.725.9976.

Share an Immersion Program, Save Money! Alliance student Jaya Bilakanti of Portland will be traveling to France on April 26 for a one-week immersion program in Burgundy with Claudine Alberti. Jaya is a low-beginner (102) and is seeking a female roommate/student to share the instructor and the apartment during the immersion week - this is a great opportunity to save money on a quality immersion program. Contact Jaya at jbilakanti@aol.com or 503.913.5180.

Save the date: On April 12, 1-3pm, Oblation Papers & Press in the Pearl will have a French-themed book-signing and sales event for Francophiles. Save the date for now, and look for more details in the next bulletin!

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