Rébecca Bournigault
The 'Foire Internationale de l'Art Contemporain', France's biggest art fair, is not to be missed. 600 artists and 164 galleries from every corner of the universe. Every day the fair has special events: films, lectures, shows.
October 10-15. Hall 4, Paris Expo. Porte de Versailles. 10/10 and 10/12: noon-8pm. 10/11: noon-10pm. 10/13, 14: 11am-8pm. 10/15: noon-6pm. 90F. Mo Porte de Versailles. www.fiac-online.com
Les Nocturnes de la Rive Droite
The Right Bank is tired of trying to be as cool as the Left Bank. For the 5th year, the Matignon-Saint-Honoré neighborhood remains open until 10pm to celebrate art in its many forms: old and new, painting, photography, sculpture, furniture, etc.
October 10. Avenue Matignon, Faubourg Saint Honoré, rue Jean Mermoz, rue de Penthièvre, rue de Miromesnil, rue du Cirque, ave Gabriel.
Nan Goldin
This is one of the big shows of the "rentrée". The American photographer is showing 300 prints, 200 never shown before, at the Pompidou Center. Goldin is the chronicler of the underside of America, since her well-known Ballad of Sexual Dependency. Her friends are junkies, cross dressers, people who live on the margins of respectable society. Until December 10th.
Pompidou Center. Mo Châtelet, Rambuteau, Les Halles. 10. 01 44 78 12 33.
"Lost in the Supermarket"
The company which makes "Pastis" has opened one of the most dynamic art centers in the city, L'Espace Ricard. The gallery has invited seven young artists to work around the theme taken from a song from the cult band The Clash. It is very funny, creative and intriguing.
Espace Paul Ricard. 9, rue Royale. 75008. Mo Madeline, Concorde, 01 53 30 88 00. Mon-Fri 10am-7pm. Until Oct. 30. Free.
"The Green Fairy".
In 1915, the favorite drink of Paul Verlaine, Rimbaud and many other poets, "absinthe", was banned in France. It worked a little bit like crack cocaine and destroyed brain cells. It is back, but with a "lighter" formula. To taste it, try the Café Charbon, the hip bistro in the trendy 11th. 109, rue Oberkampf. 75011. 01 43 57 55 13.
La Flûte Enchantée
Mozart's masterpiece is staged for the first time in a circus. It is truly enchanting. Mozart would be delighted to see a huge white horse, trapeze artists, jugglers giving a new life to the opera. and it is not a gimmick. Tues-Sat 8:30pm. Sun 3:30. Info 08 92 70 25 02. 150-450F. Chapiteau du Cirque Gruss. Bois de Boulogne (the itinerary is marked throughout the bois).