Friday, February 15, 2013

Le Chat Noir - Musee Montmartre

Dimanche 10 Fevrier Chat Noir - musee de Montmartre

Chat Noir posters at many Metro stations meowed to moi. I had to go. Especially after the Baltard Cat salon.
The stairs up to rue des Saules are not as bad as they look. There are far worse in Montmartre I promise you.
On the far left note the same chat noir poster attached to the musee de Montmartre. Now I know where to come for the grape harvest next Fall.
Many post-impressionists had their studios within this compound: Renoir, Utrillo, Suzanne Valadon etc.
Once inside this private museum the experience is quite intimate. Small room after small room holds 300 treasures of Montmartre's past in the Gay 90's. The exhibit has been extended until 3 June so do visit.
The inimitable Toulouse-Lautrec poster of performer Aristide Bruant may have started the red scarf trend - note the accompanying red cuffs.
Frivolity and frolicing were de rigeur in caberets such as Le Chat Noir.
'Le Chat Noir is thought to be the first modern cabaret: a nightclub where the patrons sat at tables and drank alcoholic beverages while being entertained by a variety show on stage, introduced by a master of ceremonies who interacted with people he knew at the tables'
'The bustling nightclub that was part artist salon, part rowdy music hall. The cabaret published its own humorous journal Le Chat Noir, which survived until 1895'
It does look rather a lot of fun non?
The museum's little gift shop is packed with affordable chatchkas

For a mere 6,50 euros, this dishtowel could be the best deal in Paris - Toulouse-Lautrec will remind you to kick up your heels everytime you dry a dish.
I planned to take a leisurely bus ride on the #80 home but boarded on the wrong side on rue Caulaincourt. A few minutes later everyone exited telling me we were at the terminus/end of the line.That's how I found this adorable merry-go-round. A wrong turn can pay off in Paris.
I love exploring these smaller museums of Paris.
Suggestions are most welcome of your favorite hidden treasures.

33 comments:

  1. The Aristide Bruant poster has been staring down at me from the wall above my desk for years. Le Chat Noir, right next to him. I thought I was seeing double when i read your post, Carol! :-) I would not mind checking out the Musée de Montmartre boutique since I have a chat noir at home (Monsieur Felix,) and I am sure I could spend a few Euros on some absolutely useless but oh so fun chat noir-adorned souvenirs... Bon weekend! Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

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  2. The musee looks like a great spot. I guess that we are all familiar with the Chat Noir poster, so it's nice to see that it has an official home!
    The vintage nightclub photos and artwork look great, and your "blue hour" last shot has beautiful colors.

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  3. Now this looks like a musee I would love. How fun to end up at the merry-go-round.

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    Replies
    1. Another one of Paris' hidden treasures.
      There are so many to discover! I wonder if I can hit them all...

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    2. You can't. I know from experience. But think what a great thing that is: never ending joy of discovery!

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  4. You are so adventurous:-)
    I like the cabaret girl very much:-)
    Hope you bought the dishtowel:-)
    Le Chat Noir..now I know more about it..thank you..

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    Replies
    1. That's my dish towel rack next to the Metro towel is no longer an essential companion since I got the app ParisbyMetro. It never leaves the cusine these days :)

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  5. Paris, take me away! Beautiful.

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  6. I love black cats. I have one. He's been campaigning on behalf of all black dogs and cats waiting to be adopted in shelters this Black Dog and Cat Syndrome Awareness Month.

    http://www.longislandpress.com/2013/02/14/black-dog-and-cat-syndrome-awareness-month/

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  7. Anonymous7:26 AM

    Yes the Musee de Montmarte is delightful and I love Chat Noir. When I was at the Musee de Montmarte I loved the red tulle dotted curtains and I was in luck the nearby fabric stores were open and I bought lots of dotted tulle and also lots of wonderful veiling for my hats but the best was the miniature dolls on top of the fabric displays wearing outfits made of the fabrics they were standing on--so check them out. Also the Musee Brut nearby is wonderful and the books store a great variety of books on Outsider art. So happy you are in Paris--will be moving there soon. LuLu

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  8. This is a fun post, Carol! Love it--I've always been a Lautrec fan. (Oh, almost forgot to tell you--Dufy also had RA!)

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  9. Anonymous11:06 AM

    Great post! Thanks Nancy

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  10. Anonymous11:09 AM

    It's a good morning when there is a posting from Paris Breakfast.
    Have a great red coat for Paris and a scarf. Hope it is not too much.
    Cindy

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  11. Anonymous11:12 AM

    Thanks for the tip on the Chat Noir exhibition. We had a wonderful time there. Of course, it helps that today is absolutely gorgeous! Full sun. 50*. Just perfect. When we came out of the museum, there was a black cat sitting in the sun near the garden. Purfect.
    Jeanne in Paris

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  12. Love this Carol! When's the Montmartre vendage - grape harvest?

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    Replies
    1. Sometime in the Fall...I can check for dates but a good setting for une mystere peut-être ?
      I'm deep in murder in Passy...
      Listening as I paint cats :)

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    2. Ah ha...they have a website and the dates already!
      Fête des Vendanges
      de Montmartre
      du 9 au 13 octobre 2013

      http://fetedesvendangesdemontmartre.com/

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  13. I took photos of some of the very same posters at a "Posters of Paris" exhibit here in Dallas last month-the Bruant and the Moulin Rouge . What a pleasant surprise to see them here!
    And, oh, the carousels...the one near the Trocadero is my favorite by far.

    BTW, are you doing much painting yourself, lately?
    xx Katie

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    Replies
    1. I was referring to pet portraits...:)

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  14. Anonymous11:49 AM

    Carol, I adore your art! You are Awesome!

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  15. Bonjour PB~
    We too enjoyed the Musee and was surprised when I looked out the window and saw the vineyard.
    Where was the end of the #80 with the carousel?
    Since you found the date for the Vendanges, is there also a date for the Vintage Car Race in May???
    Also have you explored the Musee de Contrefacon? It's been on my list for the last 4 visits...this year it is #1.
    This post was just full of wonderful info!!!
    Merci~
    Suzanne

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  16. BTW: Have you been to the Dali Retrospective at the Pompidou??

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  17. I saw the Paris Poster exhibit when we were visiting Milwaukee last summer. There's a beautiful art museum on the waterfront. Sadly, they wouldn't let me take pictures, I only got in one shot before I was chastised. You are so good at getting in shots without being caught!

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    1. They caught me there especially shooting with the iPad but I went upstairs and kept shooting...then I saw they had video screens for all the floors - tiny museum. But I was taking notes too so maybe they forgave me...qui sait?

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  18. I read your post yesterday morning and Jeannie and I immediately set out to visit this museum. Thanks for the wake up call, it was a great experience!

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  19. Magnifique, you really tempt me to go fetch a flight to Paris and wander in your footsteps, take the wrong bus, and so on! Merci, Carol.

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  20. Lovely post. I didn't realise Le Chat Noir was a nightclub, thanks for educating me, I've seen the iconic poster for sale before of course. We have a Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition on at Canberra at the moment, I hope to get there before it closes.

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  21. Yet another reason French don't get fat: the stairs!!

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    Replies
    1. U can do that at home hourly
      I do....when I remember ahem

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  22. I love Chat Noir and all the variations of the Chat Noir theme. I have a poster of chat noir in my home.

    I also like Steinlien and I have a poster of one of his works too. And I have two of your original art works. I cherish all of them.

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