Oops, seems we forgot to take care of the metlinks this week…
Might be the lovely weather in Paris at the moment?
Me and Seurann celebrated by having a picnic on Sunday :D

Here is a quirky video about the quiet near Roissy due to lack of planes in the beginning of the week.

Also, the ice cream cart at the Luxembourg garden entrance (the one near the RER station) are back for the summer! :D I really like their ice cream and have a very soft spot for their “fraise feuille de menthe” (strawberry and mint leaf).

Ah the chaos of flight cancellations, no thanks to the spread of the plumes of volcanic ashes from Iceland. I hope not many of you are affected by this incident.

• When the flights are back running as usual, and you’re packing but wondering what to bring, check out this Paris packing guide by Badaude. Actually strike that. Just read her blog. It’s too cool for words.
• I don’t know about you but I’ve been hankering for chouquettes. And the best recipe that I’ve tried so far comes from Chocolate and Zucchini.
• An exhibition of photography by Willy Ronis opens today at Monnaie de Paris and will run until 22 August. For more information check out this PDF document.
• Speaking of photography, think you take great shots of Paris and fancy a chance at winning the new monthly Parisian Salon photo contest? Here’s the details. Get snapping!
• As You Like It, or The Tempest? Sam Mendes and Kevin Spacey have brought Shakespeare to Paris as part of the international tour of the plays. Already critically acclaimed in other cities, it’s still not too late to get tickets to watch these plays.
• However, if Shakespeare’s not your thing, but looking for something more French to do, let’s discover the Paris of Adèle Blanc-Sec by walking tour (download the PDF of the walking tour linked from the page).
• If you’re looking for something more energetic, and inspired by the city marathon last week, Sport Passion Organisation is hosting 10km Planet Jogging run at Bois du Boulogne on 25 April.
• In celebration of World Earth Day, a special free documentary screening will be taking place at Pavillon du Lac (Parc de Bercy) on Thursday 22 April at 6pm, entitled The Titanic Syndrome.
• It’s the Indian season at Musée du Quai Branly. Get yourself over there and learn all that you can about specific Indian tribe (Adivasis), their culture, their arts and in a bonus, there are contemporary Indian arts exhibition too.
• Last but not least, woooo, more pedestrianised stretch along the Seine! Goodbye motorways, hello greener space.

I am not sure about you but I’ve probably overstuffed myself with Easter chocolate. So no more chocolate for now. Maybe until next week or so. And here is this week’s edition of metlinks. :)

Fun and Socials

• Woohoo, there’s a Venetian Carnival in town this weekend, both Saturday and Sunday from 2.30pm to 6pm at Bastille. Expect a colourful affair!
• Liven up your Sunday with music and dance, food and drink, and be merry – Meredith Mullins reported her experience.
• La Foire du Trône is back at Pelouse de Reuilly (adjacent to Bois du Vincennes) for a few weeks of fun and entertainment before we hit the summer.

Foodie’s Corner

• If you are, unlike me, still craving for more chocolates, have a look at the offers by Esprit Chocolat, including tasting workshop and chocolate tour.
• Here’s a documentary foodies shouldn’t miss – Les rois de la pâtisserie.

Exhibitions

• A new exhibition opens next Wednesday at the Grande Galerie d’Évolution entitled Dans l’ombre des dinosaures. It runs for 10 months, so plenty of time to catch up on these cool giants that once roamed the earth.
• Bettina Rheims and Serge Bramly have a new exhibition “Follow Rose, Visit Paris” at the BnF Richelieu, running until Sunday 11 July. The photos are by no means conventional, but intriguing.

Other Events

• Interested in quirky yet stylish furniture? Check out this Eiffel Tower-inspired chair by Caroline Corbeau.
• Hey, a café where you can design and sew your own clothes, or get some classes if you’re a new to the world of sewing? Sweat Shop is the place to go.
• The Paris Marathon takes place this weekend. Go on, go out and cheer the runners this Sunday!

Lovely doggy bag, isn’t it? I guess I’ll never understand fashion…

With a blink of an eye, it is now a few days into April and all the Easter temptations didn’t make it easy for me to resist buying a gazillion and one chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies, and the very cute chocolate ducks!

• Talking of Easter chocolates, there are chocolate hunts taking place on Sunday 4 April and Monday 5 April, organised by Le Centre des Monuments Nationaux. In Paris, head for the Conciergerie and/or the tower of the Notre Dame Cathedrale.
• Alternatively head over to Bercy Village for their Easter chocolate tasting event on the same days (Sunday and Monday) from 2pm to 6pm.
• Do you consider these items as things you shouldn’t leave France without? I admit to fleur de sel being top of my list, along with caramel au beurre salé.
• Tour Paris interactively. Go on, give it a go.
• Our favourite sommelier Olivier Magny was featured in the New York Times – Going Underground in a Private Paris.
• Confused over the practice of la bise in Paris? Sion recounts her experience in two parts as part of the instalments of Faux Pas Fridays. Here’s part one and part two.
• Thanks to Adam of Invisible Paris, I am setting my alarm clock for 4am Project, on Sunday 4 April (04h @ 04/04). Unfortunately I’m currently not in Paris, so there won’t be any photo of the Eiffel Tower. ;)
• Were you at the Opera metro station a couple of weekends ago and wondered why there were people knitting on some rather comfy sofa? Here’s a photo catch-up of the event.
• The Paris Comedy Festival finishes this weekend. Did you manage to catch any good stand-ups? It’s still not too late to catch this evening or tomorrow’s show!
• A rather interesting take on differences between reactions to affairs between French and American. What say you?