On the Seine

Ever long for dinner by candlelight with intermittent music, in intimate company with a view of the Seine? Le River Café peniche, with its spacious wood interior is the place you're longing for. In fact, I sang there last night. Every Wednesday, all year round, is jazz night, presenting jazz artists of grand caliber such as Michele Hendricks, daughter of famed singer, Bill Hendricks of Hendricks, Lambert & Ross fame. I usually sing Jazz there but last night's concert was a changeup from the norm. With bassist Nicolas Rageau and newcomer on the Paris scene, pianist Greg Lloyd, we alternately rocked the house and soothed the spirit with gospel, negro spirituals and inspirational songs. What's that? Songs like "I believe", "You'll never walk alone", "If I had a Hammer" etc. Get the picture? Or rather, the song? If you're a musician it's a tough nut to crack, after all, people are eating and speaking. But eventually they finish dessert and then they're all yours. Le River Café is situated on Quai Alexandre in Issy les Moulineaux. Check out their site for further info and check mine for our next performance there and elsewhere.

Clichy Plage ?

As promised, more about the beach installation called Clichy Plage (Clichy Beach). In the Clichy Stadium on Rue Villenueve, the city has followed through on an ambitious project, begun in 2007. Not what the title suggests though, only the small northwest corner is spread with sand. There, older patrons, mostly women, fully clothed and veiled, relax under umbrellas on lounge chairs while nearby, children swim in a removable pool, deep enough for them but hardly for an adult to swim. A lifeguard (maître nager) watches them cavorting and generally enjoying the unattended surprise of a free day at the beach. Free, yes but after this opening day, July 5th, adults pay 1€, children .50 centimes. Hey someone has to help foot the bill ! Ping pong tables are available as well as a football court, changing rooms and etc. The beach is open every day from 10am till 8pm and concerts are held on the podium Friday nights beginning at 8pm until 10pm. This is the one feature that seems not properly thought out.

The first concert of rock and French pop music could be heard throughout the immediate neighborhood on all sides of the "beach". This seems a burden for the immediate neighborhood. Are we to suffer for the greater good ? Ah well, no one thought to ask. Clichy Beach opens until August 3rd, 2008.

My favorite park, Roger Salengro, across the street was almost empty when I visited Clichy Beach on opening day but it remains to be seen how many people will attend the beach when obliged to pay. The women might return to the park which is free and beautiful but that's another story.