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The Alliance strives to provide a full range of activities for its members, students and guests: from French films to lectures to wine tastings and cooking classes, as well as art, photographic and didactic exhibits, and social events, including conversational get-togethers. For more details, call 713 526-1121. |
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Events |
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427 Lovett Blvd. Houston, TX 77006 Contact us by E-mail at frenchalliance@sbcglobal.net
THE FRENCH ALLIANCE/Alliance Française de Houston Phone: 713-526-1121
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The Wine School at the Alliance
By Charles M. “Bear” Dalton of Spec’s
The Wine School continues classes at the Alliance Française de Houston. Please call Jessica in Bear Dalton’s office at Spec’s, at 832 660-0250, for details on classes and reservations.
Click here to see the Houston Chronicle’s video of Bear Dalton, caught in a calm moment at the wildly successful Rodeo Houston Wine Auction, as he explains how to taste wine.
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BOOKS Mystery set in France
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Alliance favorite, Cara Black, author of the Aimé Leduc series will return to the Alliance Française de Houston this spring. Her March 30, 2009 appearance here at the Alliance will close out le mois de la francophonie. Cara will present the (anxiously awaited) latest book in her Aimée Leduc series. All of her novels are available at Murder by the Book.
You may want to add Cara Black to your reading list, as the Alliance staff has done, following her wonderful presentation here last year on the arrondissements of Paris and some of the events and locales that have inspired her stories. Cara, author of the Aimée Leduc series, which chronicles the adventures of a female investigator in Paris, spends a lot of time in Paris, but lives in San Francisco with her husband, a bookseller, and their teenage son. She is a member of the Paris Société Historique in the Marais and is an accomplished photographer. All of her books in the series are available at Murder by the Book, where manager David Thompson reports that this “arrondissement by arrondissement” series of books is very popular with Francophiles and mystery lovers alike. For more on Cara Black, visit her website here. Interview with Cara Black click here. Pour lire un article en français sur son Murder on the Ile Saint-Louis, cliquez ici.
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"Famously French"
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"Famously French" is a multi-part television documentary series devoted to revealing some of the great things about France to English-speaking audiences. Written and directed by Alliance Board member, Malcolm Pepper, the show is hosted by French media celebrity (news anchor, correspondent, journalist, writer, director) Philippe Labro and French TV star Sandra Lou. The first installment is devoted to the region of Alsace, and had its Houston premier at the Alliance. "Famously French" presents France in English, at its best, striking a balance between old and new, traditional and cutting-edge, simple pleasures and high culture, unique old-world craftsmanship and the latest technology. Each part of the series will focus on a different region, highlighting specific points of interest, regional specialties, geography, art, food, wine, and much more. "Famously French" illustrates, in the most spectacular way, what the most informed travel guides just allude to. Click here to see “Famously French” on-line.
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News from Alliance members |
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Alliance member Gina Liuzza is the proprietor of Méli-Mélo at 5617 Morningside in The Village, and an active member of Les Dames D’Escoffier, an international organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the achievements of women in the culinary professions and to fostering excellence through educational and charitable activities.
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Since 1993, Méli-Mélo has brought its own interpretation of Les Arts de la Table to the city and beyond. Gina travels to France regularly to make purchases for the boutique: an exclusive array of hand-painted French faïences and pottery, glassware, beautiful French table linens for both casual and formal occasions, santons and provincial fabrics, and accessories. You are invited to stop by the store and browse, or click here to see the Méli-Mélo website.
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Cara Black |
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New Photos - Fikry Botros
By popular demand, and following his popular exhibition of Texas photos, photographer and Alliance student Fikry Botros will hang a new exhibition of photos. You’re invited to the vernissage, or opening reception, on Friday, February 26 from 6-9 pm. All are welcome. Don’t miss this opportunity to see more of the world through Fikry’s lens. |
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News from our favorite chanteuse Deborah BOILY |
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Broken Spoke Café
Alliance favorite Catherine Duwez has found the perfect spot to bring her Belgian cuisine to Houston: The Broken Spoke Café on Washington. Practice your French, sample Belgian beer and try her deservedly famous mussels, any other of her European specialties, or an all-American hamburger. The frites are the BEST anywhere! And the Broken Spoke’s bistro atmosphere is relaxed and inviting. Check out their latest Houston Press review, and watch for news of Alliance get-togethers there. |
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Catherine Duwez of the Broken Spoke and Joanie Patrick, Alliance Executive Director at the café |
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« Cette tournée est organisée par la Délégation Générale de l'Alliance Française aux Etats-Unis, en partenariat avec la Radio des cinq académies de l’Institut de France (Canal Académie) » « This lecture is organized by the Délégation Générale de l'Alliance Française aux Etats-Unis, in partnership with the Radio des cinq académies de l’Institut de France (Canal Académie) ». |
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Our own ‘Ciné Lounge’ will meet again on March 5 at 7 pm to screen the hilarious, original Cage aux Folles 1, in French with subtitles in English. Pot-luck.
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On Saturday, March 6, as one of the events in the month of francophonie, in a joint effort with the American Association of Teachers of French, Houston chapter, we will welcome Jean Pruvost, lexicologist, Director of the CNRS laboratory at the University of Cergy-Pontoise, where he runs the Master of Sciences in Language Program, and researcher at the École Pratique des Hautes Études. He will give a talk in French on “The Male/Female Relationship in the French Language from Yesterday to Today.” Jean Pruvost est professeur à l’Université de Cergy-Pontoise, où il enseigne la lexicologie et la lexicographie et dirige un Master Sciences du langage ainsi qu’un laboratoire du CNRS, Métadif (Lexiques Dictionnaires Informatique) consacré aux dictionnaires. Il organise chaque année la Journée des dictionnaires, rendez-vous international des lexicologues et lexicographes. Auteur de plus de 340 publications dont deux Que sais-je ?, il a obtenu en 2000 le Prix international de linguistique Logos pour Dictionnaires et nouvelles technologies (PUF) et en 2007 un Prix de l’Académie française pour Les Dictionnaires français, outils d’une langue et d’une culture (Ophrys). Le rapport femme/ homme dans la langue française d’hier à aujourd’hui Dans les dictionnaires du Grand siècle, celui de Richelet en 1680 par exemple, la définition donnée de la femme nous paraît aujourd’hui consternante : « Créature raisonnable faite de la main de Dieu pour tenir compagnie à l’homme. Prendre une femme est une étrange chose, et c’est bien fait d’y songer toute sa vie. » S’y ajoute le fait que les défauts sont toujours attribués aux femmes et les qualités aux hommes. Ainsi, pour le mot intelligent, l’exemple sera « il est intelligent » et pour imbécile, « elle est imbécile ». Il faudra attendre la fin du 20e siècle pour qu’une femme, Marguerite Yourcenar, entre à l’Académie française et c’est aujourd’hui une femme, Hélène Carrère d’Encausse qui en est Secrétaire perpétuel. Mais attention…, selon ses vœux, c’est Madame le Secrétaire perpétuel. Il existe ainsi un nouveau débat à propos de la langue française et des fonctions et métiers. Madame le professeur ou la professeure ? L’auteure, l’écrivaine ? L’usage semble être en cours de changement.
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Conférence en français Dans le cadre du mois de la francophonie 2010, l’AATF (American Association of Teachers of French, Houston Chapter) et l’Alliance Française de Houston présentent JEAN PRUVOST. Sa conférence à l’Alliance aura lieu samedi, le 6 mars à 15 heures et sera suivie d’une réception en l’honneur de Jean PRUVOST. Entrée libre. |
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Mars 2010 le mois de la francophonie: La Guinguette: Date: Sunday, March 21st To celebrate the International Day of Francophonie, the FACC, the French Alliance, the Swiss American Society and the Belgian Trade Commission team up to give you a must-see Francophone BBQ! This year features: Belgium Beer Tasting, Swiss Artists and Masters at Work, and The Broken Spoke Café. Our friends from the Broken Spoke Cafe will prepare the traditional Guinguette menu with a Belgian Touch accompanied by the traditional “Bierre-Frites”. The Belgian Beer tasting presented by the Belgium Trade Office will give you a unique chance to discover new aromas. “Swiss Artists and Masters At Work” will showcase traditional Swiss artisanal professions and bring you inside the creation process. From art to music and culinary creations, the Swiss-American Society will surprise you with exclusive insights into exquisite creation processes. Qu’est que c’est qu’une Guinguette? In the 18th century, consumerism took isolated villages outside Paris by storm. Commodities, including alcohol, outside the city limits were considerable cheaper. Guinguettes became the fashion, offering food, drinks and dancing in a picturesque country setting. Today a guinguette is refered to in France as a waterside refreshment place. |
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Et Voilà Théâtre
Créée à Houston, Texas en 1998 au sein de "Houston Accueil", notre troupe se constitue en association indépendante en décembre 2000. Et Voilà Théâtre est une association à but non lucratif dont la vocation de départ est de promouvoir la langue française à travers l'expression théâtrale. Elle s'est aussi donné pour mission d'étendre son action au delà de la communauté francophone en rendant ses spectacles accessibles à tous grâce à des surtitrages en anglais et en proposant d'autres formes d'expression artistique telles que des expositions d'art plastique.
Each year during the month of francophonie, we look forward to ET VOILA THEATRE’s presentation of a play in French. This year, don’t miss La Maison de Bernarda Alba de Garcia Lorca, March 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 8 pm at Teatro Bilingue de Houston 333 S. Jensen, along with the RougeArt’’s art exhibition Métamorphose.
For more info, www.etvoilatheatre.org
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“French Collection…Deux continues where A French Collection left off with a great Piaf song “La Ville Inconnue” and two really beautiful Jacques Brel songs. They are “Voir un Ami Pleurer” (To See a Friend in Tears) and “Prochain Amour” (My Next Love). It also includes the French version of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables, a blusey Charles Aznavour song, my absolutely favorite Michel Jonasz song and several Serge Lama pieces. FRENCH COLLECTION…DEUX will be available soon through the internet and in stores. dboily@deborahboily.com 713-349-8135
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