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By now everyone in the District knows about the very popular events taking place at the House of Sweden, and many of the other embassies around the city. Though somewhat out of the way, and that may not be a bad thing for those hoping to avoid crowds, the French Embassy's cultural wing, La Maison Française, also deserves prominent mention on this list. Ranging from film festivals to concerts, the venue hosts events to showcase the arts of the French diaspora.
"We have a lot of programs that are very different," said Will Braillon, the Deputy Director of La Maison Française. "We choose high quality artists and we offer the best in every category."
One of the embassy's annual highlights is La Fête de La Musique, taking place this Saturday, June 20, from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. The event's roots trace back to France, where in 1982 the country's cultural ministry decided to hold an annual event on the summer solstice that would provide musical performances, of any genre, that were all free and open to the public. La Fête de La Musique now takes place in 340 cities across 110 countries worldwide. The event at the embassy is somewhat disparate because there is a nominal entry fee, but the embassy still expects over 50 acts and more than 3,000 visitors to attend this year's events.
"[La Fête de La Musique] doesn't reflect the image of the embassy, it's very different. It's very relaxing and chill, but happens to be at an embassy. People drink their beers under the ambassador's office," explained Charles LeGette, Director of Communications and Marketing for La Maison Française.
The run-up to the festival includes tonight's performance by Nouvelle Vague, a collective that reworks new wave and punk classics into a bossa nova-esque style. Tomorrow night, the embassy hosts tennis star turned singer-songwriter, Yannick Noah.
Friday also marks the start of Le Festival de 3 Continents, an annual event held in Nantes, France that celebrates the Asian, African, and Latin American cinema. La Maison Française, in collaboration with The National Gallery of Art, the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, will screen 20 of the most memorable films shown at the festival to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
La Maison Française also plays a major role in the Kids Euro Festival, taking place later this year from October 15 through November 10. In partnership with the European Union embassies and 20 cultural institutions in the District, the festival brings artists from EU nations for family and in-school performances, all of which are free.
"The idea is to show Europe to children in the Washington area," said Marie-Hélène Renaud Zavala, Special Projects Manager at La Maison Française. She also noted proudly that the 130 performances at last year's festival made it the largest children's festival in North America.
For more information on La Maison Française and tickets to its events, visit the venue's web site.
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Plushie fetishists take note: Marcel the Cheese Eating Surrender Monkey will make a special appearance to delight children of all ages with his balloon animals, his mime act, his accordion playing, and his complete and unrepentant collaboration with the Nazis.
Not to mention chain smoking, laughing at Jerry Lewis and not bathing. And if you don't tip, his Uncle Travis will dine on your visage.
All the while making withering comments about American cowboy diplomacy, fast food, and the dearth of public transit options. It's like a face-eating version of The Utne Reader!
Merci blah blah blah blah.
You know, it's like those French have a different word for everything.
I going to get some of those French Kisses I keep hearing about.
I'll take a whole package of french ticklers, please, along with some french postcards.
You can keep your fries and mayonnaise. They f**kin drown 'em in that $h!t.
...and let's not forget to pick up some fraunch...dressing and fraunch...bread.
And to drink...Peru!
We'll Always Have Paris.
Someone has to say it...
Just wait for someone from the German embassy to arrive. Everyone there will put up white flags, be inconvenienced for about 5 minutes, then go back to eating cheese.