Floanne chante J'avoue on June 21 at 7PM - Ankah- Eventbrite

J'avoue is a cabaret of French songs that shouldn't be forgotten. From Barbara to Jacques Brel, Michel Legrand and Edith Piaf, these classics establish a link between our cultures. If you are curious or romantic, this is the rendez-vous not to be missed for Make Music New York!

Floanne chante J'avoue

June 21, 2010 at 7PM

The Triad, 158 West 72nd Street, 2nd floor, NYC 10023
$20 advance tickets (2 drinks minimum in cash)

Watch videos and hear songs on the official Site

Director: Jean Brassard
Musical director & Piano: Helen Russell
Guitar: Russ Spiegel
Drums: Luca Santaniello
Double bass: Jean Morel

Floanne grew up on a French farm. She moved to New York in 2000 to hone her work on stage and with the camera. This performance brings her back to her roots, and with some of the most beautiful pieces of French music, she unveils herself in this jazzy city that is now her home.

http://floanne.eventbrite.com/

Pictures from the Smith Street (Brooklyn) Bastille Day 2009 celebrations!

Dictionary Purchasing Information

All of my students will need a small, pocket-sized French-English dictionary. Save the money you would spend on a nicer, larger one for a little bit down the line in your French-learning career. At this point, you shouldn't spend more than $15 dollars for a nice, solid dictionary that will definitely get you through your first year or so of your French career.

My favorite brand is "Le Robert & Collins" because those are the two definitive dictionary providers for each language. As they work together, they produce a great translation dictionary. It looks like this:













However, it is not always easy to find in the US, even online, and when it is available, it costs more (around $30) because it is imported. If you can find that specific brand combo for a reasonable price, great.

Otherwise, just purchase the Collins brand at any Barnes & Noble.

I have a feeling that the Collins editions available in the US have the same entries as the one I mentioned earlier.

In general, though, any dictionary will do. However, try to avoid brands that aren't either English or French! Lagenscheit, for example, makes really cool looking dictionaries (yellow plastic cover), but they are the result of a German person translating something from English to French or vice versa...not a good idea!

Great English and French brands are: Larousse, Webster, and Oxford.

Level 2 students will also want to invest in a Verb Conjugation book. Ask me for details.

A very interesting article on linguistics from CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/09/million.words/index.html#cnnSTCText

10,000 Parisians invade Place Concorde for annual picnic dinner

10,000 Parisians participated Thursday evening in an annual summer ritual, the "Diner en Blanc" ("White Dinner"), where they take over a major landmark dressed completely in white.

Carefully orchestrated planning results in everyone arriving at a secret location (this year was the famous Place Concorde) at a specified time. They proceed to set up tables and chairs, light candles and pop champagne corks -- all within 10 minutes !! Onlookers and tourists are amazed by the spectacle.

Participants then enjoy a picnic dinner, light sparklers, and dance until 12:30 am. As quickly as it all started, everyone packs their belongings and trash. Nothing is left behind.

The event website is: www.whitedinner.fr
-from cnn.com