Events with a French Flair

To view our online photo gallery of recently completed events, click here.

Event Schedule: August-September 2008

Events are held at the Kamm House unless otherwise noted. Address: 1425 SW 20th Ave., near the Goose Hollow max stop.

Author Presents l'Amour Partagé on Aug. 1

Belgian art historian and author Andrée Parisis will present her new novel, l'Amour Partagé, on Friday, August 1, at 6:30pm at the Alliance's Kamm House (1425 SW 20th Avenue). Free to the public. The presentation will be a small exposé, le pourquoi, backround information on writing, and then a Q&A period. She will speak slowly in French so the presentation will be appropriate for students and for fluent speakers. Dans ce conte moderne, la romancière décrit avec une sensibilité toute féminine la nature, les créations artistiques, les rapports amoureux. Une carrière de professeur lui a permis de garder des contacts avec d'anciennes étudiantes issues des écoles artistiques et de l'université. Ces pages ont pris naissance de confidences reçues exprimant les déceptions et les détresses de ces jeunes femmes, face à l'égoïsme de leur partenaire. Leur désarroi a servi de terreau au livre. Il prend le contre-pied de ces comportements. Comment trouver les clés pour construire un amour authentique? A limited number of signed copies of the book will be available for purchase at a special price at the event.

Special Screening of the Film, le fils de l'Epicier on Aug. 6

On Wednesday August 6 enjoy a private screening of the movie, LE FILS DE L'EPICIER, offered by Living Room Theaters to benefit the Alliance. Enjoy live French café music in the theater's lobby with Carol Rossio at 6:30 followed by the movie at 7:15. Call 503.223.8388 to give us your name and reserve your seat at this private screening which precedes a 2-week run of the film at Living Room Theaters. Ages 21 and over, please; special price of $8 for the film screening. Wine, snacks and CDs will be available for purchase during the complimentary live music preceding the film.

Come See the Portland Timbers Play Impact de Montréal on Aug. 16

The Alliance is pleased to partner with the Portland Timbers to promote the August 16 soccer event that will pit the Timbers in a home game against the Canadian professional soccer team, Impact de Montréal. The Canadian team, founded in 1993, is a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, and their home stadium is the Stade Saputo in Montréal, Québec. You can catch the team in action in Portland at PGE Park on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 7pm. Tickets to this game are selling very quickly: the Alliance is fortunate to have a block of tickets to make available at the bargain price of $10 each (normal ticket price is $14 plus fees) in a good section (121). To reserve your tickets call our office and pay by credit card -- we'll mail your tickets to you, or you can arrange to pick them up at the Kamm House. A portion of the ticket sales benefits the Alliance -- merci, Portland Timbers!

Alliance Quarterly Open House - Sept. 4, at 6pm

Alliance members and prospective students are cordially invited to visit the Alliance in the historic Kamm House on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 6pm for the quarterly Portes Ouvertes (Open House), to visit with our teachers and staff, and/or to finalize registration for the fall term which kicks off the week of Sept. 15.

Forward Calendar 2008 - Major Events

Oct. 17 - Fresh French Film Festival, co-organized with the Northwest Film Center, chaired by Alliance volunteers Carole Giraud and Kyia Clayton. Film submissions: click Fresh French Film Event.

Nov. 21 - Beaujolais Nouveau at the Heathman, co-organized with the French-American Chamber of Commerce.

In the Trail Blazers 2008-2009 Season: Vive le Basket - Nicolas Batum, a 19-year-old basketball player from Lisieux, France, was signed recently by the Portland Trail Blazers. Considered by some to be one of the most talented young players from Europe, the rookie forward/guard played the last three seasons for MSB Le Mans in the French ProA League and also played in the recent NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Look for Nicolas to play a role in the Vive le Basket night which will be held during a home game in the upcoming 2008-2009 season, pitting the Trail Blazers against the San Antonio Spurs who, of course, also have a French player, in the form of NBA All-Star Tony Parker! The game date for this fun event will be announced in August in the Alliance email bulletin.

What We've Been Up to: Recently Completed Events

Bastille Day Celebration in Jamison Square Park, July 12, 11-6; 6000 visitors.
Portland's First "Concours de Tartes aux Fruits - July 8 at Oregon Culinary Institute; 50 attendees.
Fête de la Musique USA Tour Featuring Tété, Eric John Kaiser and Scott Fisher in Concert - June 26 at Berbatis.
CD-Signing: Up Close with French Recording Star: Tété - June 25 at Uptown Billiards.
Alliance Quarterly Open House - June 12, at 6pm with Special Guest Raphaël McFeat.
Annual Alliance Dinner at Fenouil - May 29 - 50 attendees.
FACC/Alliance NetwWine Evening - May 14 at Square Deal Wine Company - 20 attendees.
Fête du Muguet at the Alliance - May 4 at the Kamm House - 30 attendees
Visiting author/artist Christophe Blain from Paris, French Author on USA Tour - April 30 - 25 at the Alliance, 30 at Floating World Comics.
Laurence Raybois Seminars on Living and/or Working in France - April 25 at First Congregational Church - 40 at each seminar.
Feb. 15, 2008 - Alliance Pre-film Reception and sponsorship, with FAIS, of film in Portland International Film Festival, attended by close to 400.
Feb. 14, 2008 - Reception for Consul General Adjoint, at the Kamm House
Feb. 8, 2008 - Cercle de lecture (fluent speakers' book club meeting)
Feb. 3 & 24, 2008 - Hosted 2 meetings of the Salon du dimanche group
January 24, 2008 - Presentation on Alliance Loire Immersion Program
January 22, 2008 - First Monthly Conversation Group at Fenouil Restaurant (in the bar)
January 6, 2008 - Alliance Quarterly Open House
December 7 & 8, 2007 - Alliance Sponsors FAIS Holiday Market (LW)
December 3, 2007 - Paris in Portland - French Immersion Dinner at Le Bouchon - sell-out/45 (LW)
November 16, 2007 - Beaujolais Nouveau at the Heathman, co-organized with FACC PNW - 400 revelers (LW)
October 2007 - French Flair online auction (followed by onsite auction at the Heathman)
October 2007 - Alliance Cercle de Platine Patrons Dinner (BV/JR)
Alliance Portes Ouvertes (Open House event) on September 6, 2007, with VIP guest Claudine Fisher, Consul Honoraire de France
Helped promote the photo exhibition of Paris photographer François Diascorn, July 24 at the Freimann Building; 80 attendees.
Portland Bastille Day in the Pearl, July 14, 2007; 30 exhibitors, 5,500 attendees.
June 14, 2007 - Alliance Portes Ouvertes - Open House at 6pm
World League Volleyball, France vs USA, University of Portland, May 26 & 27, 2007.
Alliance participated in the PFS "En Plain Air" Market on May 12, 2007, from 10-5pm.
French Elections Forum organized by the Alliance and hosted at the French American International School on May 2; attended by 50.
Social Event March 27: La Bouffe at Touché Restaurant & Bar
March 22, 2007 - Alliance Portes Ouvertes - Open House at 6pm
Portland Art Museum NW Film Center Pre-Show Reception Feb. 18, 2007 - attended by 200-300.(KS/All)
Beaujolais Nouveau Festival at the Heathman on November 17, co-organized with the FACC, attended by 400
Film Reception at the NW Film Center, Andrée Stevens Room, attended by 100
Marché de Noël hosted by Dufossé and featured Provence linens, wine and hand-crafted goods, December 9
Alliance Portes Ouvertes (Open House events) on December 7 and September 6, 2006
Alliance Exhibit at FAIS International Family Fair and Conference of Translators (PSU), both on September 30

Merci All, for a Fun Bastille Day in the Pearl

As highlighted in the Oregonian, a crowd of 5,500 visited the 30 vendors and exhibitors and the entertainment acts on July 14 in Jamison Square Park in the Pearl. Click here to see a slideshow of pictures from the event. The lucky winner of the Air France tickets was Alliance student Carol Porto. The winners of La Course des Serveurs (Waiters Race), organized by Paul Diaz of Fenouil and Bev Voytko, were: Mens’ Division: 1st: David Huey of OBA, 2nd: Jim Bailey of Bluehour, 3rd: Michael Street of Three Degrees. Womens’ Division: 1st: Farel Fozzard of Bay 13 Restaurant, 2nd: Naomi Hatfield of The Heathman Restaurant, and 3rd: Alicia Peterman of the Carlyle.