News for the week of February 4

Chapter news

Castalia Quartet with Jenna Anderson, violin, Leslie Van Becker, viola, Alice Eppinga, cello and Mary Scanlan, piano, will be performing at the Grand Rapids Art Museum on Sunday, February 11, 2:00 p.m. for the Museum's Sunday Classical Concert Series. The program will feature music by women composers, and is free with admission and free to Museum members.  Mary Scanlan is a long time member of our Alliance Française chapter. Go hear the music

Reminder: This year's Mardi Gras celebration will be held at 6:30pm on February 13, at the Villas of Ada Clubhouse, 830 Bridge Crest Drive, just off Ada Drive.  

Une soirée de conversation!  Come join us for an evening of French conversation.  Beginners through advanced - all are welcome.  Wed. Feb. 7 from 6:45 to 8:00 at 1825 Weymouth Dr. SE, Grand Rapids.   Wine and a light hors d'oeuvre will be served.  Je vous attends! For more information please contact Linda Fitzgerald at or 616-827-7214. Please RSVP by Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Our next book club selection for March 20 at Schuler's was is Billie, a story about a unique friendship between two young people. The book was the  number one best seller in France by French author Anna Gavalda.  For more information please contact Marijke Wiersma.

How well do you know Paris?

Today we look at the 6th arrondissement.

1. How many Académies does the Institut de France house?

A. 4
B. 5
C. 6

2. The Zadkine Museum, on the rue d'Assas, houses of the work of Ossip Zadkine. In what art did he distinguish himself?

A. Sculpture
B. Painting
C. Photography

3. What does the word "odéon" mean in Greek?

A. Circle of wind
B. Public place
. A room where one sings

4. Who was Mabillon?

A. A composer of operas
B. A monk who was passionate about diplomacy
. A portrait artist

5. What does the fontaine de Québec (situate din the place du Québec) resemble?

A. A trapper's hut
B. The ice cracking on a frozen river in spring
. A stylized caribou

Answers to last week's quiz on the 5th arrondissement: 1. B, Clovis around 500 AD; 2. A, sundial in the shape of a scallop produced in 1968 by Dali; 3. C; 4. B, the putrid odors emanating from the Biévre River before it was covered over; 5. A, Gaspard Monge (1746-1818)

Speaking of the past in Paris. . . "Amid the chic cafes and boutiques in the Marais, footnotes of antiquity around every corner." Read More

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