French activities in the USA

SalB, I’d sure be glad to help you, but I don’t get it … there are many French activities down where I live, so what is it exactly you’re looking for ??

CRC

crc95, Sorry, guess I should have said around "this" country, meaning the one I am in or the USA. I know there are lots of French activities in France! What I’m looking for are the French communities in the US that put on things like the film festival in Sacramento.

There are little French communities all over the US because of the original French explorers hundreds of years ago and also because many French people have settled here and understandably want to keep their own customs, food and language.

We have a French community not far from us that was brought over to supervise a water bottling company and even though it’s a tiny town way up in the mountains, they have some fabulous restaurants and you can hear French spoken in stores and on the streets. They also have a very active local art association with a couple excellent galleries. Believe me, in the USA, this is not something you find in a typical small town. We found it by accident just wandering through looking at gorgeous scenery (in the Sierra Nevada Mountains).

It would be fun for people to put the things they’ve found on this web site so when we can’t go "across the pond," we can at least do something French . . . until the next trip!

On the other hand, if you know of special activities in France that we tourists may not discover, please tell us where and when. Medieval reenactments, archeological site digs, art shows, music festivals. I know they have water jousting in Sete but are there other things that attract mostly locals and we would enjoy if we knew about them?

If you know, please share with us!

Guess I should share my little town! Lone Pine, California is on route 395 up through the Sierra. It is at the base of Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower 48 states. It is considered the portal to Mt. Whitney because the main trail up the mountain starts just west of town.

There is a water bottling company nearby and they brought some people over from France years ago to help set up the company. These people have stayed and created a little French oasis just a few miles from the Mojave Desert! There are several excellent restaurants in town and there are a few more in nearby towns. There is not a McDonalds in sight!!!!!

If you’re traveling in the area, there is the hike up Mt. Whitney and also the Japanese Internment Camp Manzanar has been turned into a memorial a few miles further north on 395.

It is a fascinating area, great views and the food can’t be beat.

Oh yes, if you’re here in the winter, Death Valley is nearby and the skiing is great in the mountains. I don’t recommend Death Valley in summer. Weather isn’t so great!

I knew what you meant SalB, I was just playing with you

So, has anyone seen our good friend donerail around lately ? Feels like ages since the last time we read his bike ridin’ wits.

CRC

Here in the NYC region, there is a big Bastille Day party in NY sponsored by Alliance Francaise. Foreign film cinemas show some French films throughout the city. You can also go to Alliance Francaise at Gould Hall every Tuesday and watch French films.

At the restaurant Pergola des Artistes on west 46th street, the owners are French immigrants. They will chat with you all night in their restaurant and usually you’ll get a free digestif. A very homey place. The food is wonderful, btw. Very French home cooking style. It reminds me of a very good quality French brasserie

Unfortunately there isn’t much of a French culture here. Since Bush decided to slam French people, everybody here has been very anti-French. It’s difficult for a person like me (with a VERY French name) to deal with the slander. I’ve had parents at my previous job try to get me fired because I have a French name and I’m anti-Bush. I had to PROVE I was native born American and not a "foreign national" in their words. It’s been a hard 2 years.

When I think of all the abuse French-Americans have endured in the USA because of Bush, I can only feel pride at my heritage. The culture of France is one of the best in the world. I’m proud that my heritage is 100% French and only French! 🙂 I can trace my linage back to one of the Dukes of Normandy, as well as other French Dukes (that is where my last name comes from)

Now, pardon me while I put in a Charles Trenet CD

LVB, You are fortunate to live where you can see French films. We don’t have anything like that where we live. There are a couple pseudo-French restaurants although our favorite just closed after 20 years in business. We’re hoping they just moved and we will be able to find them.

We can drive into LA for the occasional film but it’s a nasty drive. Our youngest daughter will be moving to Sacramento permanently next January so we’ll probably go to their film festival in the future. They had some excellent films this year.

crc95, Haven’t heard from donerail. I guess I just assumed he was either on vacation because it’s August or was out riding his Harley (hopefully not at 100 mph!). I like him better alive!!

Perhaps he won a trip to France and is sitting on your doorstep.