Bay Area Francophile List This Week!

February 16, 2006. CONVERSATION A SONOMA STATE. Join us for conversation in French at Sonoma State University’s Charlie Brown Café. 12:30pm-1:30pm. Venez nombreux!

February 16, 2006. MAGIC AND CINEMA: MELIES, EPSTEIN AND FEUILLADE. A series of French silent films with live musical accompaniment by The Ahl-I. During Winter 2006 the Alliance Francaise of San Francisco presents a series of fantastic silent film masterpieces. These programs will be introduced by film historian, David Giovacchini, of Stanford University. They will feature new soundtrack music performed live by ambient-jazz-world group, The Ahl-I Nafs. Program 1: The Man in the Moon Has a Headache: The Short Films of Georges Méliès (1902-1905) Méliès was cinema's first great fantasist. The short films he made between 1902 and 1905 are treats. His experiments with special effects laid the ground work for everything that was to come after Program will include: The Impossible Voyage; The Untamable Whiskers; The Cook in Trouble; Tchin-chao, the Chinese Conjurer; The Wonderful Living Fan; The Mermaid; The Living Playing Cards; The Black Imp; The Enchanted Sedan Chair; The Scheming Gambler's Paradise; The Hilarious Posters; The Mysterious Retort; The Eclipse; and Méliès' best known work, A Trip to the Moon. $3 AFSF members $6 non members. Auditorium de l’ Alliance, 1345 Bush St., San Francisco, 415.775.7755 or http://www.afsf.com for details.

February 16, 2006. A ROMANTIC EVENING IN PARIS AT THE THROCKMORTON THEATER IN MILL VALLEY. Love is in the air! Join us and be transported to Paris for a romantic evening of French Cabaret - Edith Piaf, Mistenguette, Maurice Chevalier, Jacques Brel, Josephine Baker - let their words enchant you! With Moana Diamond, Craig Jessup and Danny Slomoff. 415.383.9600 or info@142throckmortontheatre.com or http://www.142throckmortontheatre.com for details. $20 General Admission $15 Students/Seniors. 8pm.

February 16, 2006. MARIANNE DISSARD & NAIM AMOR. See http://www.myspace.com/mariannedissard and http://www.myspace.com/naimamor. "Dissard's upcoming, as-yet-unnamed solo debut, a disc as informed by Nico and Nick Drake as it is by the sophisticated French pop of her youth." More at http://music.westword.com/Issues/2006-01-19/music/roughmixes3.html. 9pm. Hotel Utah, San Francisco, 500 Fourth Street (@ Bryant Street). Ph: 415.385.2100 or http://www.thehotelutahsaloon.com

February 16 & 17, 2006. LA RONDE (Ophuls). Max Ophuls’ extraordinary merry-go-round of sexual deception was adapted from a play by Arthur Schnitzler. Turn of the century Vienna is the setting for a linked series of "amours" – a perfect example of Ophuls’ wit and elegant amorality, as well as of his unmatched mastery of fluid mise-en-scene. The once-in-a lifetime cast includes Jean-Louis Barrault, Simone Signoret, Gerard Philippe, Simone Simon, Danielle Darrieux and Anton Walbrook. (1950, 97 min., in French w/English subtitles). Thursday, February 16 at 7:00 in Stevenson 1002 and Friday, February 17 at 7:00 in Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall. Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. For more information, check the SFI website at http://www.sonoma.edu/sfi

February 16-26, 2006. TOMANIA. Ballet inspired by the surrealism of RENE MAGRITTE or “Magrittomania,” a quirky choreographic style. San Francisco Opera House.

February 17, 2006. LE DIABLE EN PARTAGE de FABRICE MELQUIOT. Reading/Play at the Alliance Française de San Francisco. Le Diable en Partage is a remarkable piece set during the war in ex-Yugoslavia. The play’s protagonist, Lorko, a Christian, falls in love with and marries Selma, a Muslim. As the war breaks out, Melquiot shows us the pressures on their love, their families, and the crumbling world around them in a style that seamlessly blends expressionism, poetry, fantasy, and harsh, raw reality. Written just after the war, Le Diable, makes compelling art of world-altering violence, of fratricidal hatred, and of the literal dehumanization of war. Most important, Melquiot manages this without bitterness, and without clichéd anti-war propaganda. This project brings together a noteworthy contemporary French play, Le Diable en Partage, by young French Playwright Fabrice Melquiot, the unique theatrical background and talent of Ben Yalom, Artistic Director of foolsFURY Theater Company, and the significant cultural influence of Alliance Française of San Francisco. For more information about Le Diable En Partage visit http://www.foolsfury.orgAlliance Française Auditorium, Alliance Française de San Francisco, 1345 Bush St., San Francisco, 415.775.7755 or http://www.afsf.com Box office 1.866.GOT.FURY

February 17, 2006. DÔLÉ. A thoughtful young man moves from skipping class to robbery in this “400 Blows in Gabon” (California Newsreel), set in a hip-hop-ruled contemporary urban Africa. “A droll film that knows how to turn the tragic into candid satire.”—Libération. 7pm. Pacific Film Archive, 2575 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. 510.642.1412 or http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu for details.

February 17, 2006. NIIWAM. Introduced by Alassane Paap Sow. A fisherman journeys from his small Senegalese village to the big city in search of aid for his dying child in a “simple but moving portrait of a modern tragedy” (London Film Festival). Based on the novel by OUSMANE SEMBENE. 8:50pm. Pacific Film Archive, 2575 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. 510.642.1412 or http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu for details.

February 17, 2006. CONVERSATION NIGHT at the Alliance Française de Berkeley. Bring your own drinks and dishes to share around a French discussion! afberkeley@sbcglobal.net

February 17, 2006. HOT CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO performs at Left Bank Restaurant in Pleasant Hill, Le Jazz Hot w/Isabel on vocals 7-11pm. http://www.leftbank.com/locations/pleasant_hill.php Thank you for continuing to support live Gypsy Swing. Hot Club Hot Line 415.931.0909 or http://www.hcsf.com

February 17, 2006. CERCLE FRANÇAIS DE PETALUMA. VALÉRIE RICHMAN propose une sortie FILM FRANÇAIS. Film français à Sonoma State - "La Ronde", de Max Ophuls. 7:00pm. Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall - Film français à Sonoma State - "La Ronde", de Max Ophuls. 7:00pm. Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall - CO-VOITURAGE (Carpool) depuis Petaluma: Rendez-vous au Deaf Dog Café de G&G Market shopping center, Sonoma Mountain Parkway, just north of the Petaluma JC campus. We can leave our cars there, I'm pretty sure, for carpooling to Sonoma State. Suite au film, nous irons boire un verre au EIGHT BALL BAR de Cotati. http://cercle.goecs.net/reunions.html

February 17, 2006. CERCLE FRANÇAIS DE PETALUMA. Sortie à Sonoma State pour voir le film: LA RONDE Suivi d'un pot à boire au Eight Ball bar de Cotati (détails à suivre par email). Leslie et moi recevrons, avec musique live de notre groupe: Anza. (nous jouons tous les mardi soir à Brick's, 16 Kentucky street, à l'Open Mic) Nos prochaines rencontres sont indiquées sur notre page habituelle: http://cercle.goecs.net/reunions.html

February 17 or 19, 2006. VISITE GUIDÉE: POLITICS AND WIT: THE COMIC GENIUS OF ANDRE GILL. Offerte par Renée Morel, CCSF. André Gill, 1840-1885, était un caricaturiste de génie qui a satirisé les célébrités politiques et artistiques de son époque, c'est-à-dire le temps de Napoléon III et de la Troisième République. Friday, 2/17, at 10:00am or Sunday, 2/19 at 2:45pm. California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park, 100 34th Avenue, SF. Rendez-vous devant la pyramide, dans la cour intérieure (ou sous la colonnade s'il pleut). Je serai au musée pour une durée totale d'environ 1h15, mais la visite de l'expo Gill sera beaucoup plus courte. $2 par personne (membre ou non membre). Ce prix comprend l'entrée au musée. 25 personnes maximum par visite! RESERVATIONS ABSOLUMENT NECESSAIRES! Répondez à ce message si une des visites vous intéresse (e-mail rmorel@ccsf.edu ou 415.255-8301 et n'oubliez pas de me dire la date! Attention: This exhibit is in the Logan Room, a very small gallery within the museum. Consequently, we won't *all* be allowed to go inside at the same time. Since I have to split the group, some people will have to go to *another* part of the museum --either another room or the bookstore-- while I show the works by Gill to a small group. On the same floor, there is a most interesting exhibit of photos of the S.F. 1906 earthquake contrasted with contemporary photos taken at the same spot. After our visit, you are welcome to stay in the museum on your own.

February 17-26, 2006. CLASSE TOUS RISQUES (Claude Sautet). Balboa Theatre, In French with English subtitles. "ONE OF THE BEST FRENCH GANGSTER FILMS...tense and warm, elliptical and human."- Bertrand Tavernier. Neo-realism meets film noir as, on crowded Milan streets, two thugs execute a split second payroll heist, then begin a lightning-paced getaway. After all, when a tough guy is going back to France after holing up in Italy for a decade, he's got to have some startup money - particularly if he's going back with his wife and kids! Classe Tous Risques (the title refers to a type of insurance policy, à la Double Indemnity, but is also a pun on "tourist class") is a penetrating study of the underworld tough guy at the end of his rope. Directed with an acute feeling for characterization, bridging '50s masterworks like Rififi with Melville's pared-down thrillers of the '60s, Claude Sautet's film, virtually unseen in this country, is a penetrating study of the underworld yegg at the end of his rope, with the first teaming of two of the French cinema's greatest icons, Lino Ventura (Touchez Pas Au Grisbi, Elevator to the Gallows) and Jean-Paul Belmondo (Breathless, Le Doulos). Musical score by George Delerue. Balboa Theater, 3630 Balboa St., San Francisco http://www.balboamovies.com. More information at http://www.rialtopictures.com/classe.html

February 18, 2006. MONTEREY COUNTY SWISS SHOOTING PROGRAM CALENDAR. Feb. 18 all day, sign in at 8am Swiss wine shoot. Morning 300m rifle: Einzelwettschiessen, obligatorisch, Feldschiessen. Afternoon 50m Pistol . Highest score for each individual match and highest aggregate score wins a bottle of wine. Contact John Burky 510.574.0702 or jburky@pdl.com for further information and exact location of events.

February 18, 2006. PALO ALTO PHILHARMONIC performs MILHAUD and others. Cubberley Auditorium, 4000 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. $7-$16. 408.395.2911 or http://www.paphil.org. 8pm.

February 18, 2006. WEST BAY OPERA performs Puccini’s MANON LESCAUT. Palo Alto Center, 1313 Newell Rd., Palo Alto. 650.424.9999 or http://www.wbopera.org for details. $46-$50. 8pm.

February 18, 2006. MANUEL SUAREZ performs in the CUBAN-HAITIAN tradition and more. La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. 510.849.2568 or http://www.lapena.org for details. $18-$20. 8pm.

February 19, 2006. SONOMA COUNTY CHORAL SOCIETY presents LOVE AND BEAUTY IN TURBULENT TIMES, with Karen Clark, contralto, Marilyn Thompson, piano, Jenni Douglass, viola,, and The Galax Quartet. Including melodies of Debussy and Ravel. Sunday, 19 February 2006 , 4:00pm. Ives Recital Hall (Ives 119), Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Avenue. Rohnert Park, CA 94928. General: $10.00; Visit: http://www.sonomachoral.org. FANS(faculty,alumni and staff): $8.00; Student/Senior: $6.00.

February 19, 2006. EXPAT EUROPEANS: FEBRUARY SOCIAL GATHERING. 3:45PM (15h45) at the Presidio Golf Course Clubhouse in San Francisco. Meet other cosmopolitan Euro-types in a relaxed and friendly environment. Have substantial conversations. Make interesting new friends. Have fun! The aim of Expat Euros is to bring together internationally-minded people (35+) with a European background or connection. Through informal, relaxed social gatherings, we hope to build a circle of friends with a European affinity who meet, talk, exchange experiences, help each other and feel at home. Details at http://bayarealinkup.com/event_detail.php?eid=9685

February 19, 2006. ANDRE THIERRY AND ZYDECO MAGIC perform at Eagles Hall, 2305 Alameda, Alameda. 415.285.6285 for details. $13. 4pm.

February 19 & 20, 2006. LAURENT DE BRUNHOFF at SF MOMA. Fifty years ago, Laurent de Brunhoff took the reins from his father Jean, and became the creative force behind the lovable elephant BABAR and his friends. See him at a book signing on Sunday, February 19, at the SF MOMA Museum Store, 151 Third St., SF. 415.357.4035 for details. 1pm; free OR on Monday, February 20, at Cody’s Books, 2 Stockton (at Market), SF. 5:30pm; free, 415.773.0444 or http://www.codysbooks.com for details.

February 19 or 23, 2006. MILLION DOLLAR DINNER. This Episode’s Featured Restaurant: THE CHEF'S SPECIAL, featuring Chefs Jared Doob of Lulu, Patrick Clark of the Cliff House, and Ross Browne of Absinthe. http://www.MillionDollarDinner.com. AIR TIMES AND CHANNELS (set your TiVo or VCR) Sunday at 7:30 PM, on ComcastSF Channel 11 (SF City) OR Thursday at 11:00 AM, on KTSF, Comcast Channel 8 (Entire Bay Area).

February 20 & 21, 2006. CAROLYN BURKE talks about LEE MILLER, Man Ray's lover after Kiki – a part of the surrealist scene. February 20: Hotel Rex 562 Sutter Street San Francisco. Complimentary appetizers, no-host bar. Tickets:$20 (advance purchase required). 6PM-7:30 PM; February 21: Hotel Montgomery, 211 South First Street, San José. Complimentary appetizers, no-host bar. Tickets:$20 (advance purchase required). Reservations: 415.388.4956 or terrance@paris-expat.com. Send checks to: PTEE, 38 Miller Ave, PMB 213 Mill Valley, CA 94941 or PayPal. 6:30PM-8:30 PM

February 21, 2006. BISTRO CLASSICS, PART DEUX. America’s Test Kitchen, KQED TV9, 1pm.

February 22, 2006. RACINES (2002). De Richard Copans Documentaire. Le réalisateur Richard Copans se lance à la recherche de ses origines. En quête de liens familiaux, il fait la rencontre d'un ouvrier, d'un fils de poète juif, d'un violoniste, d'un généalogiste, d'une descendante d'esclaves, de plusieurs cousins et de trois musiciens de jazz, dont la musique ne va plus le quitter. Alliance Française Auditorium, Alliance Française de San Francisco, 1345 Bush St., San Francisco, 415.775.7755 or http://www.afsf.com

February 23, 2006. JEAN-BAPTISTE LABAT'S CRUISES IN THE CARIBBEAN, OR, HOW ONE GETS TO KNOW THE OTHER IN 17TH-C. MARTINIQUE. Talk by Associate Professor of French Suzanne Toczyski. The 1694 posting of the Dominican priest Jean-Baptiste Labat to the French colony of Martinique occasioned, in the 1720s, a remarkable memoir detailing the missionary’s interactions with the wide variety of individuals inhabiting the island, from white plantation owners to the indigenous population of Caraïbes to Labat’s own African-born slaves. This paper will explore Labat’s encounters with the Other(s) of Martinique in an effort better to understand the ambivalence underlying the text. Sonoma State University, Arts & Humanities Research & Creative Works Forum, SCHULZ 3001, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 707.664.4177 for details. Noon, FREE.

February 23, 2006. SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE. Burt Wolf: Travels & Traditions. KQED TV9, 1:30pm.

February 23, 2006. ELODIE performs at the Make Out Room (http://www.makeoutroom.com), 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco. Ph: 415.647.2888. $ 6; 9PM. More information at http://www.elodieo.com

February 23, 24 & 26, 2006. THE RIVER (Renoir). Jean Renoir’s first film in color was shot in India and is based on Rumer Godden’s novel about a young girl’s growing up pains in a foreign land. "The river is a potent image for Renoir – remember BOUDU and A DAY IN THE COUNTRY – but in India Renoir learned its value as a mystical symbol of continuity in the face of all local, human tragedy." – David Thomson (1950, 99 min) (Please note: film is in English). Thursday, February 23 at 7:00 in Stevenson 1002 and Friday, February 24 at 7:00 and Sunday, February 26 at 4:00 in Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall. Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. For more information, check the SFI website at http://www.sonoma.edu/sfi

February 23-25, 2006. SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY performs HENRI DUTILLEUX's MYSTERE DE L'INSTANT. Davies Symphony Hall, SF. 415.864.6000 or http://sfsymphony.org/ for details. 8pm; pre-concert talk at 7pm.

February 24, 2006. TANGUY. Cinema at the Alliance Francaise: “Tanguy”, by Etienne Chatillez. 5$ for a movie and a dinner! 7pm. afberkeley@sbcglobal.net

February 24, 2006. KING WAWA ~ RESPECT MOVEMENT. King Wawa and The Oneness King Band (OKB) are bringing the RESPECT MOVEMENT to the Bay Area and the world community Friday, February 24, 2006 at Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave, Ashkenaz Community Center in Berkeley. King Wawa’s newest release “Respect Each Other,” is due out on February on his new album Respect Movement, and thus this performance will celebrate the seed of the RESPECT MOVEMENT. It is the spiritual soundtrack to deliver the healing power of love and humanhood to all. An accomplished singer, percussionist, guitarist and songwriter, King Wawa was born on the island of Haiti and has lived in Port-au Prince and other cities around the world. He has grown up performing folkloric and traditional Haitian and African music. King Wawa lived in the neighborhood of the most popular musical groups including Nemour Jean Baptiste , the creator of the "Compas Direct" style of music that most Haitian bands play. His love and gift for music quickly distinguished him in Haiti's music scene where he frequently played Afro-Caribbean music and Haitian popular music with many well-established local and international bands. His diverse musical background also proved most valuable at the Salesians Vocational School where he was an instructor of percussion. Join King Wawa and The Oneness Kingdom Band on Friday, February 24 @ Ashkenaz Community Center, 1317San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, California, (510) 525- 5054. Show starts at 9:00p.m. Cost: $13 door and $11 in advance.

February 24, 2006. MOTOR DUDE ZYDECO performs during MARDI GRAS WEEK-END at Rancho Nicasio, On the Town Square, Nicasio. 415.662.2219 or http://www.ranchonicasio.com for details. $12. 8:30pm.

February 24, March 24, April 28, May 26, 2005. LOVE, POWER AND INTRIGUE IN FRENCH LITERATURE AND CULTURE. This group reads works by and about the great rulers, philosophers, lovers and writers of France from the 16th to the 20th century. Catherine de Medici reigned during religious strife and political intrigue, while Josephine Bonaparte survived the terror to become Empress of France. Candide and The Red and The Black explore the philosophical ideas and hypocrisy of their times, while in The Vagabond Colette describes the struggle for both love and independence in the modern woman. Five Fridays: 10:00 12:00. annebishop@usa.net for details. Location: Sausalito; Cost, $190; 415.332.8710 for details.

Through February 25, 2006. CUTTING BALL THEATER COMPANY presents JEAN GENET’S THE MAIDS. Based on a famous double-murder case, Jean Genet's 1947 play explores the dark and romantic side of master / servant relationships. Solange and Claire are sisters and maids in the household of Madame. When their mistress is away, they perform a violent and expressive ritual. This game, deadly and captivating, allows the women to act out their desire to murder their captor/mistress. Genet, always challenging his society, dares his audience not to blink as an impossible idea suddenly becomes tangible reality. The Cutting Ball’s production is the West Coast premiere of Martin Crimp’s translation. Crimp’s translation uses the revised ending Genet wrote for the play’s first production. Because Crimp’s is the only English translation that uses this ending, this is the first time West Coast audiences will be able to see the play as Genet intended it. EXIT Theatre and The EXIT Stage Left, 156 Eddy St., SF. 415.419.3584 or http://www.cuttingball.com for details. Reviewed in the February 8, 2006 SF Weekly, p.27, and in the February 8 SF Bay Guardian, p.58.

February 25, 2006. JOURNEE DE PRINTEMPS À STANFORD UNIVERISTY. Le thème de notre Journée sera : La France actuelle et sa diversité Nous vous proposons donc le programme préliminaire suivant prenant la France actuelle comme thème pour nos présentations. Nous sommes très heureux de vous annoncer que l’AATF-NC offrira gratuitement aux participants de la Journée le matériel présenté pendant les différentes sessions. Véronique Fayard, représentante du Consulat Général de France, nous offrira également du matériel pédagogique. Cette Journée de Printemps se déroulera sur le campus de Stanford University, dans le bâtiment de CERAS (voir carte sur le site web : http://campus-map.stanford.edu/campus_map/index.jsp). Je vous rappelle que les inscriptions pour la Journée de Printemps se font auprès d’Anne-Marie Lemoine, notre trésorière. Veuillez la contacter avant le 19 février. Pour les étudiants l’inscription est de $30 par personne, avec le déjeuner. Quant aux retardataires qui se présenteront le 26 février sans s’être inscrits au préalable, il leur faudra payer $40 d’inscription et apporter leur déjeuner. AATF-NC Trésorière Anne-Marie Lemoine, Tél : 650.369.7765.

February 25, 3006. INTRODUCTION TO FRENCH CUISINE with JILL PRESCOTT. PBS show host Jill Prescott brings her cooking courses to the Napa Valley at the Andretti Winery. Dave Meagher, special event manager, at Andretti Winery, has invited Jill to do cooking classes pairing her some of her signature recipes with Andretti Wines. Jill will guide students through several of her intensive participation cooking classes followed by a full meal and a wine pairing by Dave and a tour of Andretti Winery. Each session lasts last 5-6 hours. This class highlights many of our favorite French recipes and important techniques. Students will learn about infusion, roasting, emulsified sauces, baking and other useful French techniques. Students will prepare Rosemary and Thyme Rack of Lamb with Emulsified Sauce Béarnaise and Choron, Piped Duchesse Potatoes, Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup, Haricot Vert; tiny French green beans with hazelnuts and Reine de Saba ; a bittersweet chocolate and almond cake coated with a bittersweet glaçage of chocolate. Sessions begins at 9 AM. Classes are 6 hour long and include a participation cooking lesson taught by Jill Prescott, a full sit down meal of all the foods prepared , a wine and food pairing and a tour of the Andretti Winery. Cost of each class is $225. Classes are limited to ten students. Payment is the reservation. Please note that classes are non refundable but are transferable. If the class is canceled by Jill a full refund will be given. Include your name, address, phone numbers and the course you are taking with your payment. Send payment in the form of a check or money order made out to: Jill Prescott, Andretti Winery Food and Wine Pairing Classes, 4162 Big Ranch Rd., Napa, CA 94558. Please note that classes are non refundable but transferable. If the class is canceled by Jill a full refund will be given. Please call 707.260.5625 with any further questions.

February 25, 2006. ANGELE DUBEAU & LA PIETA perform at Bimbo’s, San Francisco. World-class classical in an elegant cabaret setting. 415.901.0210 or http://www.kdfc.com for details. About the artist: http://angeledubeau.com 8pm.

February 25, 2006. TEE FEE SWAMP BOOGIE BAND performs during MARDI GRAS WEEK-END at Rancho Nicasio, On the Town Square, Nicasio. 415.662.2219 or http://www.ranchonicasio.com for details. $12. 8:30pm.

February 26, 2006. FRENCH BISTRO with JILL PRESCOTT. PBS show host Jill Prescott brings her cooking courses to the Napa Valley at the Andretti Winery. Dave Meagher, special event manager, at Andretti Winery , has invited Jill to do cooking classes pairing her some of her signature recipes with Andretti Wines. Jill will guide students through several of her intensive participation cooking classes followed by a full meal and a wine pairing by Dave and a tour of Andretti Winery. Each session lasts last 5-6 hours. A typical French Bistro is a small restaurant featuring traditional home style and regional foods, simple menus that are mimeographed with a very casual and often intimate atmosphere. It is a place to enjoy good food in a relaxed setting. The regional French recipes in this class are featured in Prescott’s television series. Steak au Poivre in a Cognac Sauce, Garlic Mashed Potato Puree, Salade de Chevre Chaud; Hot Goat Cheese Salad, Vegetable with Sauce Béchamel. French Onion Soup Gratinées, Profiteroles: Choux pastry filled with homemade French ice cream or pastry cream covered in a Valrhona Shiny Chocolate Icing. Sessions begins at 9 AM. Classes are 6 hour long and include a participation cooking lesson taught by Jill Prescott, a full sit down meal of all the foods prepared , a wine and food pairing and a tour of the Andretti Winery. Cost of each class is $225. Classes are limited to ten students. Payment is the reservation. Please note that classes are non refundable but are transferable. If the class is canceled by Jill a full refund will be given. Include your name, address, phone numbers and the course you are taking with your payment. Send payment in the form of a check or money order made out to: Jill Prescott, Andretti Winery Food and Wine Pairing Classes, 4162 Big Ranch Rd., Napa, CA 94558. Please note that classes are non refundable but transferable. If the class is canceled by Jill a full refund will be given. Please call 707.260.5625 with any further questions.

February 26, 2006. LION’S LOVE by AGNÈS VARDA. Varda Responds to Warhol, Sunday, February 26 at 7:30 pm. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. A "meta-Warhol movie" according to Vincent Canby, Lion's Love (1969) is the fruit of Agnès Varda's foray into 1960s US pop and avant-garde culture. While Viva (of Warhol fame), Rado, and Ragni (both of Hair) are a ménage-à-trois looking for a future in LA, Shirley Clarke, played somewhat unwillingly by Shirley Clarke, attempts to leave behind her experimental work in New York (see The Connection above) for a Hollywood career, and Bobby Kennedy is assassinated on television. Varda takes on a few Warhol tropes, but Clarke's uneasy presence and Varda's whimsy shift the tone. The film is playful and witty, spicing up its fascination with a bit of cynicism in this tribute to a '60s American way of life. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts , 701 Mission St @ 3rd St. 415.978.ARTS (2787); More information at http://www.ybca.org/b_ybca.html Presented in Association with SF Camerawork, the Consulate General of France in San Francisco, and MadCat Women's International Film Festival

February 26 & 28, 2006. ADAM GOPNIK, author of PARIS TO THE MOON, speaks at City Arts & Lectures. KQED 88.5, Sunday at 1pm, Tuesday at 8pm, and Wednesday at 2am.

February 28, 2006. THE SHRINE AT LOURDES, FRANCE. Burt Wolf: Travels & Traditions. KQED TV9, 1:30pm.

February 28, 2006. MARDI GRAS AT MECCA’S. Featuring THE JAZZ MAFIA, a live New Orleans style jazz band. Proceeds benefit restoration of Willie Mae’s Scotch House Restaurant, a New Orleans favorite for more than 50 years. 415.621.7000 for reservations.

Through April 1, 2006. NAPA VALLEY MUSTARD FESTIVAL. 707.938.1133 or info@mustardfestival.org or http://www.mustardfestival.org for details. Many events sure to please Francophiles! Opening night, January 28: LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER, Culinary Institute of America, Greystone, St. Helena. Live auction to benefit key organizations that help preserve the flavor of New Orleans.

On-going. THRILLPEDDLERS perform BLOOD BUCKET BALLYHOO, a Grand-Guignol-style horror revue. The Hypnodrome, 575 19th St., SF. 415.248.1900.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED. The Commonwealth Club in SF is looking for a volunteer French teacher for the weekly meeting of their small intermediate conversation group (8 to 10 people). We need an instructor for the 2nd, 4th, and occasionally 5th Thursday of each month, from noon to 1:00 PM. Unpaid position, *no* preparation necessary. Call Margery Bratz at (415) 664.8157 or write to <margerybratz@comcast.net>. We meet at The Commonwealth Club, 595 Market Street (at 2nd St.), San Francisco, CA 94105.

DIRECTOR, ADULT LANGUAGE SCHOOL IN BERKELEY. Alliance Française de Berkeley seeks native or near-native French speaker to manage adult language school and bring innovative ideas for classes and cultural events. Must be fluent in French and English, bi-cultural, have 5 years teaching experience, excellent communication and managerial skills, and good contacts with local French community. Requires person with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to multitask. Director manages part-time staff and teachers and assists Board with outreach to Bay Area French community, event planning, strategic planning, and budgeting. 25 hours/week, afternoons and some evenings and weekends. Send cover letter and CV by February 28 to: Marsha Black, President, Board of Directors, Alliance Française de Berkeley, 2004 Woolsey Street, Berkeley, CA 94703; or e-mail, with cover letter and CV in body of e-mail: afberkeley@sbcglobal.net.

CALIFORNIA LANGUAGE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION conducts its Placement Information Exchange as a service to members, to schools and school districts (elementary, middle school, high school, and community college) at no charge. The association's role is limited to providing information: to the teachers who are seeking positions, to the schools and school districts which post vacancies. Responsibility for taking further action rests with the recipients of the information. Go to:http://www.clta.net/jobs/index.html for details.

EDJOIN. The Education Job Opportunity Network is a portal to thousands of teaching and other education job openings throughout California. Go to: http://www.edjoin.org/ for information.

AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL. Pacific Film Archive, 2575 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. 510.642.1412 for details. Through February 17, 2006.

CACHÉ. With Juliette Binoche and Daniel Auteuil; in French, with English subtitles. CinéArts at Marin, Sausalito, 415.331.0255; Clay, SF, 415.267.4893 ; Stonestown; Albany.

LA FACE CACHÉE DE LA LUNE / FAR SIDE OF THE MOON. By French-Canadian director and theatrical innovator ROBERT LEPAGE, who adapts his one-man 2000 stage show for the cinema. Castro, 429 Castro, SF, 415.621.6120.

MAGIC AND CINEMA: MELIES, EPSTEIN AND FEUILLADE. A series of French silent films with live musical accompaniment by The Ahl-I. During Winter 2006 the Alliance Francaise of San Francisco presents a series of fantastic silent film masterpieces. These programs will be introduced by film historian, David Giovacchini, of Stanford University. They will feature new soundtrack music performed live by ambient-jazz-world group, The Ahl-I Nafs. Program 1: The Man in the Moon Has a Headache: The Short Films of Georges Méliès (1902-1905) Méliès was cinema's first great fantasist. The short films he made between 1902 and 1905 are treats. His experiments with special effects laid the ground work for everything that was to come after Program will include: The Impossible Voyage; The Untamable Whiskers; The Cook in Trouble; Tchin-chao, the Chinese Conjurer; The Wonderful Living Fan; The Mermaid; The Living Playing Cards; The Black Imp; The Enchanted Sedan Chair; The Scheming Gambler's Paradise; The Hilarious Posters; The Mysterious Retort; The Eclipse; and Méliès' best known work, A Trip to the Moon. $3 AFSF members $6 non members. Auditorium de l’ Alliance, 1345 Bush St., San Francisco, 415.775.7755 or http://www.afsf.com for details. February 16, 2006.

THE TROUBLES WE’VE SEEN (Ophuls, France, 1994). Sarajevo-based history of journalism in wartime. Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, Pacific Film Archive, 2575 Bancroft, Berkeley. 510.642.1124 or http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu for details.

Opening this week! WORKS BY EUROPEAN, AMERICAN AND MEXICAN MASTERS, including TOULOUSE-LAUTREC, TISSOT, ROUAULT, BRAQUE, CHAGALL and more. Pasquale Iannetti Gallery, 531 Sutter St., SF. 415.433.2771 or http://www.pasqualeart.com for details.

Through February 22, 2006. IMAGES OF ENCHANTMENT. Photographs of Morocco and Egypt by HALLA AYLA. Arab Cultural and Community Center, 2 Plaza, SF. 415.383.8970 for details.

Through February 26, 2006. ART SHOW by Swiss artist SOPHIE SIEGMANN. San Leandro Museum and Art Gallery, 320 W. Estudillo Avenue, San Leandro. Thursday - Sunday 11am - 3pm.

Through March 5, 2005. RECENT WORK BY WANG DU. After being jailed in China for his role in pro-democracy protests, Wang Du moved to Paris where, the SF Weekly says, “he was confronted by the West’s great cultural export: the media. Speaking no French, he was struck by the flood of images, which he brought to life in oversize sculptures that retained the altered perspectives of the photographs he worked from. The exhibit … features Défilé and Tapis Volant.” Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Galleries, 701 Mission (at Third), SF. $3-$6. 415.978.2787 or http://www.ybca.org for details.

March 9-May 13, 2006. UTOPIA UTOPIA. Exhibition of works by Swiss artist THOMAS HIRSCHHORN. California College of the Arts CCA, Wattis Institute, 1111 Eighth St., SF. http://www.wattis.org or 415.551.9210 for details. http://www.swissroots.org

March 18-June 18, 2006. INTERNATIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS exhibit. International perspective on the history of arts and crafts. De Young Museum. 415.863.3330 or http://thinker.org/deyoung for details.

Through March 30, 2006. NEW ACQUISITIONS: FINE ORIGINAL PRINTS FROM THE 16TH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT, including works by RENOIR, TISSOT and more. Pasquale Iannetti Gallery, 531 Sutter, SF. 415.433.2771 for details.

Through April 2006. WHY DO THEY HATE U.S.? FOREIGN CARTOONISTS VIEW A DOMINATING CULTURE. Contemporary life in the United States through cartoons from more than 25 countries on such subjects as American elections, George Bush, Iraq, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Hurricane Katrina. Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission St., SF. 415.227.8666 or http://www.cartoonart.org for details.

Through April 23, 2006. BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS BY SWISS ARTIST HANS MAULI. American Conservatory Theater A.C.T. Gallery at the Geary, 2nd Floor, 415 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94108-5834. M information at: http://galleryatthegeary.com/pages/mauli.html Join us for the Artist reception on Saturday, March 4 from 5pm-7pm

Through April 30, 2006. POLITICS AND WIT: THE COMIC GENIUS OF ANDRE GILL. Portraits by the French artists from the 1860s. California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park (near 34th and Clement), SF. 415.863.3330 for details.

June 17-September 17, 2006. MONET IN NORMANDY. Claude Monet spent much of his artistic career in Normandy in northern France. This exhibition will showcase approximately 50 paintings that highlight his special relationship with the topographical character of this region. California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park (34th at Clement), SF. http://www.thinker.org/legion/index.asp or 1.866.912.6326.

June 29-October 9, 2006. CARRIE MAE WEEMS: THE LOUISIANA PROJECT takes a critical look at the legacy of Louisiana through its varied cultures, including Franco-Caribbean and African, that were thrown together in a new way. Museum of the African Diaspora, Mission Street, SF.

On-going. FOLK ART by French Canadian artists PATRICK AMIOT & BRIGITTE LAURENT. Outdoor exhibits on-going on Florence St. in Sebastopol. http://www.patrickamiot-brigittelaurent.com/ for details.

On-going. MATISSE AND BEYOND: THE PAINTING AND SCULPTURE COLLECTION. SF Museum of Modern Art. Magnificent works of painting and sculpture culled from SFMOMA's own collections provide a quick tour of modern art from Fauvism to Minimalism. Daily. Exhibition tells the story of modern and contemporary art including landmark works by MATISSE, BOURGEOIS and others. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St., San Francisco. 415.357.4000 or www.sfmoma.org

On-going. BETWEEN ART AND LIFE: THE CONTEMPORARY PAINTING AND SCULPTURE COLLECTION, including works by LOUISE BOURGEOIS. SF Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St. (at Mission), SF. 41.357.4000 or http://www.sfmoma.org for details.

MILLION DOLLAR DINNER TELEVISION SEASON TWO DEBUTS ON JANUARY 15TH and will include a variety of FRENCH RESTAURANTS. Happy New Year and Bon Appétit! Season 2 restaurants on Million Dollar Dinner Television include top spots like Absinthe, Jack Falstaff, Shanghai 1930, Citron, COPIA, Paragon, the Park Chalet, Jardiniere, and Farallon. Food, wine, chefs, recipes, Putumayo music and more, it's almost like you were there -- and since this is Million Dollar Dinner Television, maybe you were!!! TWO broadcasts a week, plus Video on Demand (VOD) on Comcast Cable. http://www.MillionDollarDinner.comfor more details.

BLOG POUR FRANCOPHILES, published by a French native living in San Francisco. Great daily reading material for novices and more! http://www.geneline.blogspot.com/

CITIZENVALLEY.ORG. CitizenValley repose sur le principe du journalisme citoyen où chaque internaute peut y participer en proposant un article (cela peut être son point de vue, une expérience, son resto favori...), des photos, des vidéos, en participant aux forums ou simplement en laissant un commentaire. On travaille déjà par exemple avec l'Alliance Française de Santa Clara, l'école ISTP et d'autres cercles francophones et volontaires,en reprenant leurs articles et en les encourageant à participer. Et on espère rapidement impliquer les étudiants et les professeurs de français de la baie à ce projet. Nous sommes par exemple à la recherche de personnes qui seraient motivées par animer une rubrique, un forum, une fonction(correction d'articles, promotion, graphisme...). Notre espoir est que CitizenValley devienne le portail de la communauté francophone et francophile de la Valley (et elle est nombreuse!)et soit le site de tout le monde, pour tout le monde. Animateurs: Hélène et Jean-Baptiste, 408-661-1452 or jbsu@citizenvalley.org or http://www.citizenvalley.org for details.

TELEGRAMME.NET. A free, non-commercial electronic newspaper dedicated to the French-speaking community in the United States, published by Philippe Crouzillacq, a full-time French journalist currently living in Paris (France ;-). Visit http://telegramme.net or e-mail overseas.telegram@gmail.com for more information

BAY AREA FRANCOPHONE PARENTS. Are you a Francophone or Francophile parent in the Bay Area? Then visit the Frenchparents.org web site. It's Bons Plans (Recommendations) forum is full of interesting local tips, and to really participate, subscribe to the biweekly online newsletter, where new memebers are introduced and announcements and want ads are posted. Hope to see you soon on http://www.frenchparents.net.

FRANCE TODAY. France Today, the Journal of French Travel and Culture, takes you on a journey to France ten times per year with in-depth information on travel destinations all over France and practical travel tips to make your trip a care-free one. Subscribe now for only $32 - Bay Area Francophile List price (regular price $39). Click here for details: http://www.francetoday.com/subscribe_ft_bafl.php

JOURNAL FRANÇAIS. Journal Français is your Vital Link to France and the French Language, as well as your Best Resource for French Products and Services available in the U.S. Entirely in French. One year subscription, 12 issues shipped/one per month. Only $34 -Bay Area Francophile List (regular price $41). Click here for details: http://www.journalfrancais.com/subscribe_jf_bafl.php

WWW.PARIS-EXPAT.COM. Paris Through Expatriate Eyes. Enjoy a FREE monthly subscription to PARIS THROUGH EXPATRIATE EYES' monthly newsletter THE PARIS INSIDER. We've been expanding the content of the newsletter and developing new Paris programs for travelers. Visit www.paris-expat.com and enroll on the home page. Win free tickets to French movies... and more! Email Terrance at terrance@paris-expat.com or call 415.388.4956 for details.

FRANCETIME: The Online French Connection - Le Reseau francophone mondial. FranceTime is the place where Francophiles interact in English or French: French news, virtual/real Tours, Free classified, chat rooms, travel tips and advice and more. Don't miss our virtual our of Paris, "Paris en Images". We are looking for volunteer writers who want to share their knowledge of the French culture (i.e., travel tips, reports, journal, culture, etc.). If you want to submit material, go to http://www.francetime.com/submit.php. Visit us now at http://www.francetime.com. A tout de suite.

THE FRENCH CLASS NEWSLETTER. FRENCH NEWSLETTER: language and travel tips, list of activities in French such as wine tastings, free conversation groups, French parties, cooking classes, dinner, museums visits, workshops, etc. Only $30 per year for 6 issues. Call The French Class, 500 Sutter Street, Suite 310, SF (415.362.3666) for details.

TV5 NOW AVAILABLE ON CABLE! Watch the best in French programming on TV5, now available on Cable TV with Comcast in many cities in the San Francisco Bay Area. TV5 is only $10.99 a month in addition to your Comcast cable subscription. For complete details about service, prices and availability or to subscribe call toll free 1-888-824-8058.

MILLION DOLLAR DINNER TELEVISION SEASON TWO DEBUTS ON JANUARY 15TH and will include a variety of FRENCH RESTAURANTS. Happy New Year and Bon Appétit! Season 2 restaurants on Million Dollar Dinner Television include top spots like Absinthe, Jack Falstaff, Shanghai 1930, Citron, COPIA, Paragon, the Park Chalet, Jardiniere, and Farallon. Food, wine, chefs, recipes, Putumayo music and more, it's almost like you were there -- and since this is Million Dollar Dinner Television, maybe you were!!! TWO broadcasts a week, plus Video on Demand (VOD) on Comcast Cable. http://www.MillionDollarDinner.comfor more details.

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*ANNOUNCEMENTS*

BOOK CLUB FRANCOPHONE À SAN FRANCISCO. Lectures en français; réunions tous les deux mois; rotation de “host place” et potluck possible. Discussion très ouverte, pas trop structuree, mais plutôt un échange d’opinions/d’idées sur le livre et sur le thème du livre. Choix de textes à décider ensemble. Contactez Bérénice Le Marchand, blemarch@sfsu.edu

CANOE ISLAND FRENCH CAMP. Canoe Island French Camp is nestled in the center of the sunny San Juan Islands of Northwestern Washington. Campers from ages 9-16 live and explore their own 47-acre island while taking part in a unique mix of French language and culture and the outdoor and artistic activities of a classic Northwest summer camp. With only 40 participants each session, campers can customize their experience -- artistic and theatrical, adventuresome and athletic - or a mixture. Days are filled with new friends and exciting activities, all with a French flair. http://www.canoeisland.org/

CAPITAL RISQUE dans la Silicon Valley : rapport du service scientifique du Consulat General de France a San Francisco Le Capital Risque est une activité consistant à financer en capitaux propres des entreprises nouvellement créées et à fort potentiel de croissance. Cette activité semble désormais retrouver une certaine vigueur aux Etats-Unis et en particulier dans la région de San Francisco. Le consulter. 415.442.4717 OR http://www.faccsf.com for details.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS INITIATIVE. The Office for Science and Technology of the Embassy of France in the US, is organizing for the second time, the Young Entrepreneurs Initiative. This initiative provides young U.S.-based researchers and entrepreneurs the unique and exciting opportunity to pursue their project to create an innovative company in France especially in the fields of biotechnology, nanotechnology, materials and information technology. Entrepreneurs selected to participate in this program will receive financial assistance and suitable support from the Office for Science and Technology and its French partner institutions to ensure that their projects can be carried out. There are no restrictions on age or nationality. To apply or for further information, please visit our website at http://www.france-science.org/innovation/yei The deadline for applications is March 5th, 2006. Startup Booster Spring 2006 Targeting Life Science Entrepreneurs, this workshop series will take place in April and May 2006, more information to come. If interested, please contact Aurelie Vincent avincent@faccsf.com

FRENCH CONTRACTOR. Experienced French general contractor, Gerard Dahan, votre contractor français. Nous specialisons en cuisines et salles de bain. Nous avons de tres bonnes references. Gerard, from Paris has been working in the S.F. Bay Area for many years. His specialty is kitchen and bath remodeling. Please call Gerard at Norcal Construction, 510.471.9551.

EXPERIENCED FRENCH TEACHER FROM PARIS available for private tutoring in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Oakland. Sorbonne educated; trilingual; 12 years teaching experience; 8 years working at one of the most acclaimed language schools in Paris; extensive experience tutoring students of all ages and needs at every level, from advanced University French to introductory French. My emphasis is on communication, and I use grammar as a tool, not an end in itself (except if that is what you need for an exam!). I am patient, gentle, and dedicated to teaching you French, in a way that will help you build your confidence. I like to consider myself as a coach, encouraging my students to improve through a very progressive and personalized approach. Call Sandrine at 415.513.8179. (Local and international references available)

BELLATERRA TRAVEL, LLC. BellaTerra Travel offers fully planned tours to some of the most beautiful destinations in Europe: Haute-Savoie and Provence. Explore the sights and sounds of these regions on this 11-day tour originating in Annecy and concluding in Avignon. This tour takes on the leisurely pace of Southern France while keeping an ambitious itinerary sure to offer you a variety of new and never-to-be-forgotten experiences. A lot of free time is included, allowing you to enjo the feel of each locale. Charminyg and historic accommodations that are typical of each region were carefully selected. You will only change hotels one time allowing you to have a place to call "home" and from which you will take day trips. Come with us and experience a real "French vacation"! Trip highlights include a gondola ride up the highest peak in Europe, shopping in ritzy Geneva, strolling through the medieval streets of Annecy and Avignon, wine tasting in world-renowned Châteauneuf-du Pape, and much more! BellaTerra Travel is based in San Francisco. Visit http://www.BellaTerraTravel.com or call 1-800-9-BELLA-TT.

COLORS OF PROVENCE, Fine Table Linens and Accessories. Bring a touch of Provencal sunshine and elegance to your home! Colors of Provence is an online boutique offering tablecloths, napkins, kitchen accessories, purses and bags imported from Provence. Please come see our selection of products at http://www.colorsofprovence.com. (Distributor is located in Menlo Park)

GÎTES FOR RENT IN THE DORDOGNE. Bay Area Family has 2 different houses set upon a hill in a hamlet of old stone houses dating from the 1700's. Beautiful stone 1 bedroom and 3 bedroom homes with a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, separate WC, living room with big stone fireplace, TV, DVD player and CD player. All amenities are within walking distance down the country lane. The Perigord is famous for its food: black truffles, canard, pâté de foie gras, cèpes, and walnuts, with many good restaurants in the area; as well as the rich historic sites as many famous grottes (caves), Bastille towns, Castles, and old villages are less than 1-hour drive away (Lascaux is only 20 minutes). Visit our website: www.lesgitesfleuris.com for details.

FRENCH CONSUMERS ADORE AMERICAN PRODUCTS! I seek to associate with an individual or company wishing to develop a market for selling their product or service in France. Originally from Santa Rosa, CA, I now live in the south of France, GARD (30) (4+ yrs). Since you subscribe to this on-line Bay Area Francophile List, you certainly understand that French consumers (especially the young) adore American products and lifestyles. So, if you have a serious product to sell and desire to profit from this lucrative marketplace please write me, identifying your product or service for my consideration (jhillpresentsFR@aol.com or VillesVillagesFR@aol.com). If I feel we can establish a profitable alliance I will respond with my particulars within 3 days of receipt. Amicalement, John-North HILL, "John Hill Presents" Chusclan, France.

FRENCH ESCAPADE. Don't be a tourist, be our guest. Discover France another way. Delight your senses and renew your romantic side in the exquisite South East of France with this fully escorted 9-day tour from the Alps to Provence in a group of 6 by French Escapade. Your personal bilingual tour guide and chauffeur will treat you to highlights of the local culture-from the majestic Alps to the eleventh-century forts and cathedrals, quaint French towns, lavender fields, outdoor markets and French cafes. Every night, you will revel in traditional 4-course gourmet meals, prepared just for you and relax by the fire in a charming restored 19th Century country estate with spectacular view on the Alps. Women-only tours available. Visit www.frenchescapade.com

PARIS THROUGH EXPATRIATE EYES. Enjoy a FREE monthly subscription to PARIS THROUGH EXPATRIATE EYES' monthly newsletter THE PARIS INSIDER. We've been expanding the content of the newsletter and developing new Paris programs for travelers. Visit www.paris-expat.com and enroll on the home page.

LA MAISON DES ARTISTES OF SAN FRANCISCO has been conceived to be an art center gathering together "young artists" with an international concept where pictorial art, music and dance are the symbolism of the Art in the general way. It is simply a warm meeting place where all individuals can get an artistic training from teachers with degrees in art and hence qualified. All classes will be full of wealth and life. For being alive means being open, which will allow for a richer learning experience. In addition, La Maison des Artistes will host quarterly art and music exhibitions by the students. This will facilitate the exchange of artistic flavors and communications among the" young artists" as well as provide an opportunity to present their work to the public. La Maison des Artistes was created in 1999 by Bernard-Emmanuel Beneito who is a former French teacher from Ministry of National Education Paris for 34 years and international post-expressionist artist, academical Knight from Greci Marino Order - Italy. Until now, La Maison des Artistes was strictly a painting school located in Palo Alto. With the desire to offer more styles of art to more people, Bernard-Emmanuel Beneito has expanded La Maison des Artistes to include sculpting-ceramic work as well as music classes. Opening September 2004 in the heart of San Francisco in plush Hayes Valley, La Maison des Artistes is open to all ages and all abilities and hopes to enrich the lives of all. Locations: 333 Hayes Street, Suite 106, San Francisco CA 94102. Email: stlbluesart@netzero.com; Ph/fax 415.621.4813. Note also: LA MAISON DES ARTISTES OF PALO ALTO, 926 Emerson street. 2nd floor Palo Alto CA 94301. Email : stlbluesart@netzero.com. Ph/fax 650.327.9893

MASSAGE & FRENCH. Why not combine the pleasure or massage and review or simply speak French at the same time?? French massage therapist certified by the Sebastopol Massage Center offers Swedish massage with integrated Shiatsu/Breema bodywork in the comfort of your home. Santa Rosa, Sebatopol, Russian River, Healdsburg, Forestville. $50.00 per session of 1hour and 15/20 minutes. Grounding and relaxing results guaranteed. Other locations or longer sessions, please email for details. I am in Forestville and cna massage at my home. Please email to jean_charles_david@hotmail.com or call 707 843 0656.

FRENCH IMMERSION FAMILY HOME DAYCARE - Pre-school curriculum, ages 2-5 and after-school French Programs For Elementary School Kids (Beginning &endash; Fluent). Santa Rosa 707-539-6888 for information; Lic. 493004688.

POSTERS FRANCAIS. Pour les petits comme pour les grands, des posters pour chacun. Posters2France (a lire en francais : Posters de France), http://www.posters2france.com, propose des posters varies de la France de Robert Doisneau ou de Rene-Jacques aussi bien que celle de Yann Arthus-Bertrand et beaucoup d'autres. Vous y trouverez aussi Babar, le petit Prince, Tintin et les vieilles publicites francaises. 50% de reduction sur les prix web pour les ecoles et professeurs pour toute commande superieure a $100. (Distributor is a local San Franciscan.)

LA CAVE (formerly Curbside Bistro) is open for lunch. Located below the Alliance Française, 1345 Bush Street, San Francisco. 415.923.1375. La Cave serves excellent soupes, salades, and ensuite (afterward/dessert) with genuine French style. Here you can try French favorites such as coq au vin (chicken with wine), and faux filet sauce bordelaise (sirloin with Bordeaux sauce). For dessert, try le bouchon special maison (the house special), a hot luscious, dark chocolate cake with raspberries outside and liquid chocolate inside.

CAFÉ SOCIETY, 1000 MAIN STREET, NAPA, CA 94559. Café Society, an authentic French bistro and retail store by day and an intimate cabaret style nightclub by night, is a feast for the senses. The bi-monthly Cabaret Evenings at Café Society are extremely popular and fast becoming a favorite venue for top-notch performers. Audiences may enjoy authentic bistro food paired with French wines, Belgian Beers, Italian espresso, Parisian hot chocolate and a selection of specialty beverages while listening to stellar Bay Area performers. The Café Society store is constantly evolving with a rotation of fine European antiques, lighting, gifts and jewelry assembled from shopping trips to France and Italy by store proprietors, and award winning interior designers Joan and Steve Osburn. Café Society is located at 1000 Main Street in historic downtown Napa, directly next door to the Napa Valley Opera House. For more information on happenings at Café Society and ongoing events including poetry readings, French conversation, writer's café, poetry readings, Conversation Café, cabaret evenings, tastings, book signings and other lively presentations, visit www.cafesocietystore.com or call 415.487.2333 X118. A TASTE OF PARIS AT YOUR DESK...CAFE SOCIETY NOW DELIVERS! Call or Fax 11-2 Monday - Friday for delicious French Bistro Food including: Croque Monsieur w/Salad, Mocha Frappes, Prosciutto & Gruyere Baguette Sandwiches, Gourmet Soups like Roasted Tomato Garlic & Hearty Chicken Vegetable, Spinach Quiche w/Salad, Salade Nicoise. Tel: 707.256.3232 x203 Fax: 707.256.3237

LUNCH IN A BOX from LEFT BANK IN PLEASANT HILL. Left Bank, Pleasant Hill's popular French brasserie, has launched a new dining option targeted to local businesses and anyone who wants fresh, delicious meals with Left Bank flavor and style. WHAT: a variety of sandwiches, side salads and sweets, freshly made-to-order and boxed for easy pick up. Just think "Left Bank To Go." WHERE: Left Bank brasserie, 60 Crescent Drive on the Plaza in Pleasant Hill, conveniently located off the 680 freeway. WHEN: Available every day, from 10am-10am; Minimum 24 hour pre-order is appreciated. HOW TO ORDER: Call Left Bank at 925.288.1222 and ask for Caite Daniel or the Manager on duty. PRICE: $10.95 plus sales tax; $1.00 per bottle for bottled water or assorted soft drinks available upon request. All items may be prepared platter style. Delivery options available.

PARISIAN CAFÉ JAZZ IN PLEASANT HILL. Left Bank of Pleasant Hill features jazz on Friday evenings from 7pm to 11pm, including LAURENT FOURGO from Paris! 60 Crescent Drive, Pleasant Hill. 925.288.1222 or www.leftbank.com for more details.

PARIS BLUES ~ A NEW CD BY RAQUEL BITTON. In all major recording stores and through Amazon.com on February 21st, as well as on Downloads on I Tunes. Superb Jazz orchestrations and a 24-piece orchestra accompany French jazz singer RAQUEL BITTON in her most extraordinary work to date. The finest top Jazz musicians are featured on PARIS BLUES, amongst them musicians who had performed and recorded with Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughn. Sung in both French and English. A 20-page color booklet is included, containing biographies of each artist paid tribute to, as well as French Lyrics and English translations. The CD cover illustration is by award winning MARTIN FRENCH (Los Lobos Grammy winner 2004). “ PARIS BLUES ” is the musical story - sometimes joyful, often melancholy, and always hopeful - of a beautiful city in a time of war and liberation. It's the evocation of an era that produced some of our most gifted composers and performers, Parisians by birth and by adoption who sustained and redefined their city's sense of romance and excitement in the years before, during, and immediately after World II. PARIS BLUES ranges from the music of the American Sydney Bechet (Petite Fleur); Belgian Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt (Nuages); Billie Holiday (Je suis folle de t'aimer); the queen of Portuguese “fado” Amalia Rodrigues (Paris s'eveille la nuit); Argentinean Tangoist Tino Rossi (Ecris moi); French crooner Jean Sablon, who teamed with Django and violinist Stephan Grappelli (Il ne faut pas briser un reve); Band singer Lucienne Delyle (J’ai chante sur ma peine, Pour lui, malgre tes serments); and sultry French Jazz singers Leo Marjane (Je suis seule ce soir) and Suzy Solidor (Escale).Recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. To download CD cover please go to http://www.raquelbitton.com; for more information, contact ParisBluesCD@aol.com

RAQUEL BITTON. A formidable Bay Area musical presence, Raquel Bitton has sold out Carnegie Hall 3 times (3000-seat theater) and major symphony halls around the country. She is the star of the award winning film PIAF..Her Story, Her Songs, distributed by Lionsgate Films. She appeared at numerous prestigious film festivals internationally, promoting her award-winning film and was the recipient of a Special Jury Prize at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, among many other honors. The DVD of PIAF..Her story..Her songs will be released by Lionsgate films in early 2006 with an intense promotional campaign for RAQUEL BITTON, this coinciding with the February release of PARIS BLUES. Tour dates will be posted at: http://www.raquelbitton.com Internationally reviewed as the greatest interpreter of the music from the Edith Piaf repertoire, RAQUEL BITTON celebrates the extraordinary life of the legendary Edith Piaf through her songs. A 20-piece orchestra backs Bitton’s one-woman tribute to the “little sparrow.” Elegant orchestrations are arranged by long-time collaborator Bob Holloway. Bitton tells stories of Piaf’s life that mirror the timeless songs that catapulted Piaf from singing in the streets of Paris as a child to becoming the highest paid entertainer in the world at the time. Bitton’s unique, heartfelt renditions (sung in French) and her powerful delivery take her audience on an intensely moving and emotional journey. Singing in French and English, Raquel has developed a variety of additional elegant French-themed presentations including “Pops goes to Paris,” “Postcards from Paris,” “Chansons d’Amour,” and “In a Jazzy Mood.” Book RAQUEL BITTON for live performances at Performing Arts centers, Theaters, and Pops appearances. AGENT: Gerald Prolman, President, Sparrow Productions, E.mail:Sparrowprdct@aol.com

KING WAWA AND THE ONENESS KINGDOM BAND. The Oneness Kingdom Band is an original band skillfully flavored with a distinctive variety of music destined to transport the listener to a different world. With Haiti as your first destination- enjoy the ride as you are piloted onward for an uplifting and spirited musical journey through Latin America, Africa and Brazil. The sound is tropically unique with a magic pulsation agreeable to the heart and powered to make your dance! Everyone will love the Caribbean rhythms of King Wawa and The Oneness Kingdom Band! Contact 510.410.6963 or visit http://www.kingwawa.com or email wawa@kingwawa.com or onenesskingdom@msn.com

AN EVENING OF FRENCH CABARET. Join us and be transported to Paris for an evening of French cabaret. Edith Piaf, Mistenguette, Maurice Chevalier, Jacques Brel, Josephine Baker - let their words enchant you! Featuring Moana Diamond, Craig Jessup and Danny Slomoff along with Jerry Frohmader on piano, Dartanyan Brown on bass and Ron Sfarzo on accordion. One Thursday per month at142 Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley. 415.383.9600 or http://www.142ThrockmortonTheatre.com for details. 8pm.

HELENE ATTIA. Singer/guitarist Helene Attia performs a wide selection of music, including world jazz, pop, and Latin which she sings in French, English, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. She is available to perform as a soloist or with her band, for concerts, weddings, private parties, festivals, conventions and private events. For booking information please contact her at: (510) 508-3611 hsattia@yahoo.com , or visit her at www.heleneattia.com

XAVIER DE LA PRADE, ACCORDIONIST and specialist of French café music, can lead sing-a-longs with lyrics to over 50 French songs. M. de la Prade often plays for the Alliances of Marin and Santa Rosa along with the Lafayette Club of Marin County. Anyone needing a French accordionist should contact him directly at 415.662.2105.

HENRI-PIERRE KOUBAKA performs ancient and contemporary Mandingo Music from Senegal, Mali, Guinea and Kongo with vocals and acoustic guitar. When not performing solo Henri-Pierre Koubaka leads a band which often incorporates a variety of instruments such as balafon, violin , cello, bass . guitar . This large ensemble may also feature dancers while the unavoidable percussion section contributes secular and spiritual rhythms. 510.501.1900. kumpo@yahoo.com.

DIAMANO COURA WEST AFRICAN DANCE COMPANY. Founded in 1975 by dance scholars Zak Diouf and Naomi Washington, this Oakland company is known to raise the roof with its joyous drumming and dancing. Diamano Coura means ‘those who bring the message’ in Wolof and these powerhouse dancers in traditional dance do just that. 510.733.1077 or http://www.diamanocoura.org for details.

BERKELEY. Conversation Group has been meeting in Berkeley for the past 12 years. The teacher is a native speaker with a Master's degree in French literature and a teaching credential. The level is intermediate, advanced. We read and talk. Call Michele at 510.549.1675 or e-mail michouthorsen@aol.com for dates and times.

BROWN-BAG LUNCH WITH THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB One for intermediate speakers of French, and another for advanced. At its office downtown, 595 Market Street. The contact and meeting information is given below. Membership in the Commonwealth Club may be required: http://www.commonwealthclub.org/languages.html

Monthy dinner meetings. DINNER WITH THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL. You can write to these groups requesting to be placed on their distribution list. The dinners are held at different restaurants in San Francisco. http://www2.itsyourworld.org/yp/language_dinner_contact.php

BAY AREA FRENCH GROUP. Last November marked the 21st anniversary of the Bay Area French Group. Thanks to the interest and contagious enthusiasm of our members, our membership has grown from 4 to 40 people from Marin, San Francisco, the Peninsula, and the East and South Bay. As a member, you will receive a monthly notice with information about each "réunion," with French conversation and food, from our "sécretaire extraordinaire," Marian Hirsch. This notice, and your e-mail notice, if you provide us this address, includes the date (a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday at 7 PM) and directions to the member's home. Please remember to bring some light food or drink so that our gracious host has fewer preparations. You are encouraged to invite other French-speaking people, since that is how our group grows! Our annual dues is $10.00, which covers: postage for mailing monthly meeting notices; monthly e-mail notices, if you provide an e-mail address; periodic membership list updates (by Marian); opportunity to attend monthly French Group gatherings; annual birthday celebration for the French Group. CONTACT: jandot5@mac.com

Monday evenings: FRENCH CONVERSATION with Anne Marie MacEligot.Every Friday 6pm-7pm. Interested in speaking French with others? All levels are welcome to this informal gathering. Cafe Society, 1000 Main Street, Napa. Call for additional information 707.256.3232 x206. Email sales@cafesocietystore.com or http://www.cafesocietystore.com.

Monday evenings: FRENCH CONVERSATION group. Every Monday 7:30 pm-9pm. Join "le petit groupe" in San Francisco. Call for additional information 415.269.7718 or cobrion@hotmail.comFirst Monday of the month: THE FRENCH CONNECTION OF THE SILICON VALLEY. 1st Monday of the month, 6:30pm to 9pm. Networking plus speaker plus buffet for more info, register at : http://www.dbf.net. 1001 Marshall St., Redwood City CA.

Second Monday of the month: MARIN INTERFRENCH. Meetings chez Michel à Greenbrae. zsolution4u@yahoo.com or http://www.interfrench.com or 415.925.1241 for details.Tuesday afternoons: FLUENT FRENCH SPEAKERS GROUP at the Belvedere-Tiburon Library, 1501 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon, at noon. Contact Len Rogers, 415.435.2651 for details.

Tuesday afternoons: CAUSERIE a OAKMONT. 4-5pm. Berger Center, 6634 Oakmont Drive.

Every other Tuesday afternoon: CAFE PHILOSOPHIQUE. Organized by The French Class, 500 Sutter Street, Suite 310, SF, 415.362.3666. Every other Tuesday at5:30, free activity for the members of our French Club. Please call for information on how to become a member of our French Club.

Tuesday evenings. CAUSERIE A HEALDSBURG. 5:30 - 7:30 only. Call Sue Phillips 707.433.8074, Myrna Green 707.433.3677, or Audrey Darby 707.431.1619, for details.

Tuesday evenings: CAUSERIE A SEBASTOPOL. 6pm - 8pm. Copperfield's Annex, 176 Gravenstein Highway North. For information, call Madeleine(707.829.1297).

Tuesday evenings: FRENCH CONVERSATION IN MENLO PARK. All levels welcome! Place: CAFE BORRONE, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park CA 94025. Time: 6:30 p.m. (people come anytime between 6:30 and 10:00). LOOK FOR THE TABLE WITH THE FRENCH FLAG AND DICTIONARY!

Tuesday evenings: FRENCH CONVERSATION GROUP meeting 7:30-8:30pm every Tuesday at Cafe Borrone (http://www.cafeborrone.com/) located at 1010 El Camino Real, in Menlo Park. All levels welcome. For more information, please email bay_frenchclub@yahoo.com

Wednesday mornings: PETANQUE A JUILLIARD PARK. 211 Santa Rosa Avenue Santa Rosa, 10am. Call Marty Montague at 707.584.0893 for information.Wednesday afternoons: CHEZ GLORIA CAMERON. 707.433.9490 for information.

Wednesday afternoons: JE TRICOTE, TU TRICOTES, NOUS TRICOTONS. Venez joindre Monique pour une après-midi sympa à tricoter ou à apprendre à tricoter. Tous les mercredis de 14h00 à 16h00, à partir du mercredi 4 janvier. Votre don pour l’école sera accepté avec plaisir. Téléphonez au 707.543.8151 à l’Alliance à l’avance pour réserver. Amenez seulement votre tricot. /Come and join Monique and enjoy (learning) knitting and speaking French at the same time in this relaxed atmosphere. She meets every Wednesday afternoon from 2 to 4 pm, starting January 4, 2006. Please call 707.543.8151 in advance to attend. Just bring your knitting and a donation for the school will be always welcomed.

Wednesday evenings: GROUPE DE RENCONTRE, Folsom Street, San Francisco, 19h à 21h. Pour des personnes qui veulent apprendre la langue française ou qui la parle plus ou moins bien et seraient intéressées à se retrouver régulièrement pour converser en français. Red Poppy Art House, 2698 Folsom (at 23rd), SF. 19h à 21h. Gratuit. Contactez: Achille, massoma7@yahoo.com

First Wednesday of the month. CONVERSATION AT ZAZIE. Dinner group meets at Zazie, 941 Cole, San Francisco, organized by the restaurant, every firstWednesday of the month. There is a French language dinner table. Call beforehand to reserve your spot: Zazie, 941 Cole, 564-5332 http://dinesite.com/info/rstrnt-307188/?&t=372424

Second Wednesday evening of each month: CONVERATION A VILLA MARIN. Marin, a San Rafael retirement residence, has a French table; if you are fairly fluent and would like to dine at the French table, call Raymonde Kaplan at 415.492.2567. Subtitled French film shown after dinner.Third Wednesday evening of each month: NETWORKING AT INTERFRENCH WORKSHOPS, Santa Clara. Please note that the InterFrench Workshops have moved. We will be meeting now every 3rd wednesday night at the beautiful Silicon Valley Bank facility at 5200 Patrick Henry Drive in Santa Clara. Please let your friends know as you are only among these special 10% of people that actually read their email! Do NOT enter through the main lobby and look at the map on our website as it may be difficult to find the first time: http://www.siliconfrench.com/events_directions_svbank.shtml

Thursdays: CAUSERIE, Alliance Francaise de Santa Rosa, 4:30-6:00. 707.829.7708, for Intermediate/Advanced, led by Marina Velichinski.

Second Thursday of the month: LES DYNAMIQUES. 18h30. El Torrito, 10330 North Wolfe Avenue, Cupertino (entre la 280 et Stevens Creek). Denis, 408.746.0123 or Marie-Helene, 408.379.7817.

Third Thursday of every month: NEW CAFE EVENT! Join Cafe Society for acelebration of the European cafe lifestyle with French wine & hors d'oeuvre, Belgian beer and more. Every Third Thursday 6-9PM. Napa Riverfront District. For additional information, please contact Susan Hewitt 415.487.2333 x118 shewitt@cafesocietystore.com.

First Friday of the month: SONOMA-PROVENCE FRENCH CHAT. Sassafras Wine Bar, 1229 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa.All levels of French are welcome Beginning at 6:15 p.m. We'll meet in the lounge area where you can order food and beverages. Sassafras is open until 9 and is located at 1229 North Dutton Avenue, Santa Rosa (College Avenue heading west, right onto Dutton, left into large parking lot of Santa Rosa Business Park. E-mail sonprov@sbcglobal.net for more information.

First Friday of the month: LE CERCLE DES AMIS FRANCOPHONES. Le Cercle des Amis Francophones is a social group and potluck for gay and lesbian francophones. We meet on the first Friday of every month at a private home in The San Francisco Bay Area. Call Ralph at (415) 861-3155 or Stefen at (510) 531-7836for info.

Friday mornings: PETANQUE A JUILLIARD PARK. 211 Santa Rosa Avenue in Santa Rosa. Call Marty Montague at 707.584.0893 for information. 10am.

Friday afternoons: FRENCH FOR FREE at The French Class, 500 Sutter Street, Suite 310, San Francisco. Everybody is welcome. 12:00 to 2:00pm.

Fridays afternoons: FRENCH PLAY GROUP IN SAN FRANCISCO. Contact: Sybille Schneider : Coordonnees: sybilleschneider@yahoo.com. Join us with youryoung ones in one of SF's parks or in a home for this French playgroup. We meet Fridays around 4pm.

Friday evenings: FRENCH CONVERSATION GROUP in San Francisco. Venez pratiquer votre français avec nous ! Un groupe de conversation française (sfofrench) se rencontre chaque vendredi soir, de 19h à 22h00, à Cafe Segafredo (dans la salle du fond), 235 Powell Street, à San Francisco. Tous les niveaux de français sont bienvenus. Tout le monde est sympathique et l'atmosphère très détendue ! Nous organisons parfois d'autres activités (cinéma, restaurant, randonnée, etc.). Pour de plus amples renseignements, contactez : sfofrench@yahoogroups.

First & third Fridays of the month: SALON DE CONVERSATION FRANCAISE A GLEN ELLEN. French salons in Glen Ellen for advanced students, first and third Fridays of the month, 6 to 7:30pm. Small groups starting in February. For more information and to reserve, call 707.938.0321 or email Yannickponte@yahoo.com.Third Friday of each month: CONVERSATION (Tous Niveaux) à l'Alliance Française de Berkeley, 2004 Woolsey (near Ashby BART station) à partir de 18h30. Beginners Welcome! Potluck style hosted by Madeleine and Xavier. Contact: afberkeley@sirius-mail.org or 510.548.7481.

Saturday mornings: LA GARDERIE PLAY GROUP AT THE ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE SANTA ROSA. Have coffee downtown while your child learns French. Drop off your child (3-16) in room "Le Petit Prince" every Saturday from 12:30 pm to 1:30pm. S/he will be well taken care of by a French speaker. Plenty of books, tapes, movies. Cost, $5. 707.543.8151 for details.

Saturday mornings, every two weeks. LE SAC A HISTOIRES. La bibliothèque de l’Alliance Française de San Francisco propose un atelier lecture pour enfants. Le samedi matin tous les quinze jours, de 10h à 11h, Emmanuelle lira et racontera des histoires pour les enfants de langue française, francophones et francophiles, à partir de 5 ans. La lecture se fera en français pour faire découvrir des aventures et des contes de langue française. L'atelier aura lieu dans la bibliothèque de l'Alliance. Les enfants doivent maîtriser le français et être inscrits auprès de la réception (415-775-7755). Enfants membres AFSF: Gratuit. Enfants membres Bay Accueil: $3/enfant. Autres enfants: $6/enfant Auditorium de l’ Alliance, 1345 Bush Street San Francisco, 415.775.7755 or http://www.afsf.com for details.

Saturday mornings: CHOUCHOU, French Bistro, in SAN FRANCISCO. A group of adult working students from City College of San Francisco has organized a conversation group which meets every Saturday from 9:30 to 11:00. All levelswelcome, beginners to native speakers. Address: 400 Dewey at Laguna Honda, across from the Laguna Honda Hospital. San Francisco. To confirm meeting details and for more information, contact Robert at liborsf@sbcglobal.net, or (415) 387-9010.

Saturday mornings: GROUPE DE CONVERSATION A BERKELEY. Un groupe de conversation en français se tient depuis 10 ans à Berkeley, le samedi matin de 9heures 45 à 11 heures 45. Si intéressé, contacter Michele Thorsen au 510-549-1675 ou michouthorsen@aol.com

Second Saturday of the month: FLUENT FRENCH SPEAKERS OF MILL VALLEY. Champagne Cafe, on Throckmorton right next to the Sequoia Theater. 10am-11am. Write suzanne.toczyski@sonoma.edu for details.

Last Saturday of the month: FRENCH WALK. For all ages. Jogger-Strollers ok. 10am. For meeting place and time, call Fabienne, 415.482.8479 at the latest the night before the walk. If interested, bring a picnic.Last Saturday of each month. FRENCH PLAY TIME AT THE PARK. 10:00 a.m. A growing group of parents and children have started meeting the last Saturday of each month for play time and French conversation at a local park. Not all the children speak French, but they all like to play and will benefit from hearing the language. For more information, call Evelyn at 576-1434 or email to sonprov@sonic.net. Sundays at noon: PETANQUE A JUILLIARD PARK. 211 Santa Rosa Avenue inSanta Rosa. Call Marty Montague at 707.584.0893 for information.

SUNDAY BRUNCH IN FRENCH! Leonard Pitt & Kimberly Vergez are hosting monthly Sunday brunches with French conversation in a “17th-century French cottage” in Berkeley. A variety of Viennoisserie (croissants & other morning pastries) will be provided, plus other treats, fresh juice, mimosa cocktails, steaming pitchers of coffee, steamed milk, chocolate chaud ... all the continental morning delights. Beginners and children are enthusiastically encouraged. All levels of French fluency will be represented, and a cooperative atmosphere of joyful camaraderie will help the shy. Everyone will receive a French flag upon arrival; simply wave it when you need help and more fluent speakers will come to your aid tout de suite. We all know breakfast is the best meal of the day, and what better way than to combine this with French conversation in an atmosphere of fun and conviviality. 9:30am to noon, $20 per person, children welcome at half price. Reservations a must. 510.841.0686 or leonardp@sbcglobal.net for details.

HAITIAN MASS. Fourth Sunday of the month. 6pm. Mission San Rafael Arcangel, 1104 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA. 415.454.8141. http://www.saintraphael.com.

ROOM AVAILABLE FOR RENT IN SAN FRANCISCO; FRENCH SPEAKER PREFERRED. You and me: Non-smoker, no drugs, no pot, but otherwise liberal; cool, fun professionals in late 20s/early 30s (I am a girl; you are a guy or girl) Safe, sunny neighborhood with plenty of street parking; Walking distance to Glen Park BART/Muni station/Glen Canyon Park; Easy access to 280 and 101; just 10 minutes from SFO airport; 2 blocks from Safeway supermarket. House has 3BR / 2BA and is 1700 sq ft total; very cool circular floor plan; Eat in kitchen AND dining room; hardwood floors throughout; Fabulous garden. Room is large and very private and does not share a wall with another bedroom . Rent is $895 plus $895 deposit. Available September 24; no charge for September rent Call Andrea, 415.341.3677

February 25, 26 & March 5, 2006. JILL PRESCOTT OFFERS COOKING CLASSES AT ANDRETTI WINERY. See “Special Events” and “Coming Soon(er) or Later” sections for details. Courses include “Introduction to French Cuisine,” “French Bistro,” and “International Pizzas.” Please call 707.260.5625 with any further questions.

April 5-May 24, 2006. FRENCH REGIONALISM TODAY : A CULTURAL, LINGUISTIC AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. Taught by Jacqueline Lindenfeld. Recent riots in France point to a need for re-assesing the country’s representation of itself as a homogenous and unitary nation – at a time when it also has to re-define its identity in the context of a supranational European Union. In a spirit of democratic uniformization which can be traced back to the 1789 Revolution, French authorities have tried for over two centuries to stamp out differences within the nation. But just as the centralization scheme never totally eliminated regional differences in the country, the French model for integrating immigrants has not succeeded in dealing with ethnic differences within its borders. The time has come to face the reality of the diversity of France. In this course we will examine it from various perspecties : history and geography, sociology and cultural anthropology, as well as ‘layman’ linguistics. We will explore (with occasional visual support) the existence in France of regional and immigrant languages and cultures. Lectures, followed by discussion. No knowledge of French necessary. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Sonoma State University, School of Extended Education, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 707.664.2691 or http://www.sonoma.edu/exed or barbara.brooks@sonoma.edu for details.

May 10, 17 & 24, 2006. THE WONDERS OF PARIS. History of architecture, development of Paris, wine and cheese tasting, public places, markets, cafés, boulevards, neighborhoods, etc. Taught by Steve Rabinowitsh and Rick Theis. $79. Santa Rosa Junior College Community Education, 707.527.4372 or http://www.santarosa.edu/communityed for details.

July 10-17, 2006. 8 DAY TOTAL IMMERSION in French, near Toulouse, France. Instructor: Nadine Goodban. Je suis en Californie depuis 40 ans! J'ai enseigné à SF et maintenant à Vallejo/Napa depuis plus de 25 ans. Mes classes pour adultes sont divisées en plusieurs niveaux, durant la journée ou la soirée, en petits groupes ou en classes individuelles. Je retourne en France chaque année et cet été j'organise un atelier de COURS INTENSIFS qui s'annonce très VIVANT. Includes lodging (double-room), breakfast, daily classes, outings to markets, artisans and surroundings, meal preps, etc.. We will have fun and all in French! $950.00. Immediate reservations: nadalang@comcast.net 707.644.3421

Summer 2006. SUMMER COURSES AND RELAXATION AT THE LATITUDE CULTURAL CENTER. Summer courses and relaxation at the Latitude Cultural Center in Southwest France's idyllic Lot Valley (featured in National Geographic Traveller,September, 2005). Headquarters: a 14th century mill in La Toulzanie. From$1250 for lodging, gourmet meals, instruction, pool, camaraderie, andbeautiful scenery. Two 2006 courses in French. Details at http://www.latitude.org

Wednesdays: WELLNESS WORKSHOP IN FRENCH. Christine Esters’ classes consist of fun hands-on learning in French about the body and exceptional health. Wednesdays, 18h00-19h30. $108. Call the Alliance Française de Santa Rosa for additional details. 707.543.8151.

FRENCH AT CASTRO VALLEY ADULT SCHOOL. Castro Valley Adult School is offering Beginning and Intermediate French on Thursday evenings. Beginners 6:15pm-8:15pm; Intermediates 7:15pm-9:15pm (through April 6). Come and practice French in a low-key, fun atmosphere. Heavy emphasis on cultural topics. The intermediate class offers good practice for those with some experience in French. Additional out-of-class activities such as dinner outings, wine tastings, picnics, etc. will also be offered. Reasonable course fees. Call Castro Valley Adult School for more details: 510. 886.1000.

THE FRENCH CLASS OFFERS OCCASIONS TO LEARN FRENCH FOR ALL TASTES. Members receive discounts on special events and book groups; membership $60 per year. 415.362.3666 to join or contact us at info@class.com The French Class ~ 500 Sutter Street ~ Suite 310 ~ San Francisco, CA 94102. http://www.frenchclass.com Opportunities include: