aixcentric

Being the first Sunday of the month, there is free access to public museums in Aix and the Musée Granet is adding a programme of music by the students of IESM (local music academy).  Musicians will be playing work to suit different pictures in the gallery, from 14:00.  Programme here: http://www.museegranet-aixenprovence.fr/evenements/prochainement/un-autre-regard.html

Plus it’s a chance for a free look at the two current exhibitions, ‘Cézanne at Home’ and ‘Tal Coat’, review here https://aixcentric.com/2017/11/30/two-new-exhibitions-at-musee-granet/

The cinema is always a good bet when it is cold and tomorrow the Renoir has a special advanced showing of ‘Human Flow’.  It documents the plight of the millions of people displaced by famine, fighting and climate change. This was produced by Ai Wei Wei, the Chinese dissident artist, who was forced from his own home as a child due to his father’s political stance.  11:00hrs.  Otherwise, ‘Three Billboards’, ‘The Darkest Hour’ and ‘Pentagon Papers’, all Oscar contenders are still showing.

The monthly Marché du Livre will be on all day in the place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville – usually about 15 stalls of antique or out-of-print books, and sometimes vintage French school posters.

If you need warming up, you could try The Chocolate Factory, newly opened in Rue d’Italie.  They have hot chocolates and coffees along with a very wide choice of cool cakes – chocolate donuts and muffins decorated with sweets, oreos and even more chocolate.  It’s all made inhouse in an open-view bakery on the mezzanine, by an enthusiastic young team.  It’s not a conventional French chocolatier – there are two of these in rue d’Italie – but something to appeal to a young and hungry clientele.  You can take the cakes home  or eat round a long pine table.  Purely in the interests of this blog, I did try a chocolate donut which was delicious but extremely filling!

And to round off the weekend, why not treat yourself to an early-spring bunch of mimosa?  I photographed these on the market this morning.  Just 3€ for an armful.  The blossom doesn’t last more than a couple of days but it really is instant sunshine for the home……..