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Past Events 2023

Past Events 2023

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | 7:00 pm | Dinner | Lady Blue Saxophone Quartet | National Arts Club | 15 Gramercy Park South (East 20th St), New York, NY 10003

To usher in the holiday spirit, The Lady Blue Saxophone Quartet  has entertained Long Island audiences since 2004.  Their dynamic and entertaining repertoire includes Jazz, Blues, Latin, Ragtime, Swing, Classical, Contemporary popular music and more.

 

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Tuesday, November 14, 2023 | 7:30 pm | Soirée d’automne et Dîner | Café Un, Deux, Trois | 123 West 44th Street, (off Sixth Avenue) New York, NY 10036

 

 

After being so well taken care of at our recent apéro, we decided to return to Café Un, Deux, Trois for our Soirée d’automne and were not disappointed by the delicious food and attentive service.

We started out with assorted passed hors d’oeuvres, including escargots in puff pastry, then sat down to dinner, featuring boeuf bourguignon, Poulet Cordon Bleu, or seared salmon, and assorted desserts.

All washed down with an assortment of French white and red wines.

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Tuesday, October 17, 2023 | 7:00 pm | Dinner | National Arts Club | Guest Speaker: Paul Glenshaw on Jazz in Paris

Paul Glenshaw’s lifelong passions over several disciplines all fuel the same goal: storytelling. His talents were on display during his fascinating and animated presentation this evening.

Filmmaker and Smithsonian lecturer, Paul Glenshaw will present a brief history of Jazz in Paris, based on his upcoming documentary series of the same name. Paul and co-writer and co-director Darroch Greer are creating a series that begins with the vibrant jazz scene in Paris today, and moves across the city and through time to being the exhilarating century-old legacy of the music to life. The legends are all there – Josephine Baker, Django Reinhardt, Sidney Bechet – as are some of the finest musicians playing in Paris today. Join as we bridge past and present in the spirit of swing.

He is also a writer and producer for the theater, radio, museum exhibits, interactive media, and STEM education. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland and is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis.

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Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Café Un, Deux, Trois | 123 West 44th Street (Between 6th & 7th Aves) New York, NY 10036

Members and friends joined for a casual apéro and delicious hors d’oeuvres, including escargots in puff pastry.

See photos here.

 

 

 

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Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | 7:00 pm | Dinner | National Arts Club | Guest Speaker: Dr. Irene Finel-Honigman, Columbia University

Her talk was entitled: “France and America: Rays of Hope in  a Time of Global Disruption and Transformation.”

France, with the EU and the US, are still  global economic, financial, monetary and trade leaders, including setting the regulatory framework for tech, digital, and AI. Irene presented her ideas and lead an active discussion about them with our members.

Irene Finel-Honigman, Adjunct Professor of International Affairs in the International Finance and Economic Policy concentration since 2008 and the European Institute 2001-2008, teaches International Banking, EU banking and policy courses. Recipient of Title VI, CIBER, ISERP and SIPA Faculty grants, her publications include International Banking for a New Century, co-author Fernando B. Sotelino (Routledge, 2015) and A Cultural History of Finance (Routledge, 2009, reissued in 2013). She has served on advisory boards including the Maison Française at Columbia, CUNY Graduate School EU Center, European Institute, Board of the French-American Chamber of Commerce, and French American Foundation. She is on the Board of the International Trade and Finance Association, Editorial Board of the Global Economy Journal and Senior Fellow at the East West Institute.

A frequent contributor to Bloomberg News Radio and TV, she has commented on US-EU relations, Brexit, US, EU elections, trade and finance policies. She has been interviewed for articles in the Economist (May 2020), the New Yorker (June 2021) and has provided media and press commentary for Europe 1, French Radio 24, Voix d’Afrique, Radio France International, France Culture, Strategic Insights podcast, Bill Parker National Security Show, Swedish National Public Radio, NPR, World Politics Review, Huffington Post, The Hill, Le Monde, Tendences, Trends Belgique, and Libre Belgique.

She has consulted for US and European corporations, lectured on European financial, policy, history and US-EU relations at the French Consulate, Royal College of Defense Studies, British Trade Office, National Committee on American Foreign Policy, Paris American Club, and SUNY Global Center.

Previous positions include Senior Advisor on Finance Policy, U.S. Department of Commerce during the Clinton Administration, Chair of Foreign Languages, New School for Social Research, Director of French Programs, Credit Lyonnais, and has taught at Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, and CUNY. Born in France, she holds a PhD from Yale University and a BA from Barnard College.

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Wednesday, July 12, 2023 | 7:00 pm | Pre-Bastille Cruise, Jazz, Sailing, and Wine Tasting

Members and friends enjoyed good weather this year aboard the Shearwater for a wine and jazz concert cruise around New York harbor. 

 

Our Maître de cérémonies, Francis Dubois, led the group in a rousing rendition of La Marseillaise in front of Lady Liberty!

 

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Tuesday, June 13th, 7 pm | Dinner | 80th Birthday of Le Petit Prince, Guest Speaker: Thierry Chaunu, President of the Society of Le Souvenir Français | National Arts Club

Thierry Chaunu est né à Paris en 1956. Diplômé de Sciences Po Paris (Service Public) et Langues O (diplôme de chinois), il s’installe après son Service militaire dans la Marine Nationale aux États-Unis en 1980 et mène depuis lors une carrière dans l’industrie du luxe : Vice-Président de Cartier USA, Président de l’orfèvrerie Christofle en Amérique du Nord, président de Chopard USA, CEO monde de la Haute-Joaillerie Leviev, et fondateur en 2010 de sa propre société de distribution, BeauGeste Luxury Brands. Il a été actif toutes ces années dans le monde associatif, notamment président de l’Alliance Française de Miami (1981-1985), président des Anciens Sciences Po’ USA (1997-2004), Conseiller du Commerce Extérieur. Il est Capitaine de Corvette (honoraire) et père de deux enfants, Philippe et Pierre, tous deux nés aux Etats-Unis et résidents à Miami.

En 2020, il est élu président de l’American Society of Le Souvenir Français, association à but non lucratif dédiée à la préservation des sépultures de soldats français enterrés aux Etats-Unis, et à la promotion de leur mémoire et des liens historiques entre la France et les États-Unis.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry a écrit Le Petit Prince en 1942 lors de son exil à New York. Principalement au 240 Central Park South, et également à Bevin House, une maison d’été située à Northport, petit village de Long Island. Le Petit Prince a d’abord été publié aux Etats-Unis en 1943, et a connu un succès immédiat. Ce n’est qu’en 1946 qu’il fut publié en France. Le Petit Prince est le livre le plus traduit dans le monde après la Bible, dans plus de 400 langues et dialectes, et s’est vendu à plus de 200 millions d’exemplaires !

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Sunday, June 11th, 10:30–1:00 | Roland Garros Brunch at Monte’s Trattoria

97 MacDougal Street

Members and friends gathered over brunch, featuring Mimosas,  rosé de Provence and oeufs Bennett, to watch Novak Djokovic win the Men’s Finals of the Roland Garros French Open tennis tournament at Monte’s Trattoria.

Most didn’t forget to wear their tennis whites!

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May 16, 2023 New Member Reception

New members from 2022 and 2023 met for a reception at Château Village, John’s Greenwich Village apartment and club headquarters, introduced themselves and got to meet others. John provided a presentation on the history and activities of the club and answered questions. All talked about their vision for the future of the club and the challenges of recruiting new members, stressing the value of in-person gatherings.

Wine advisor Nicole Muscari of Château de Pommard gave a lively, entertaining, and informative presentation on the Burgundy wine region and provided generous tastings of two whites: Bourgogne Chardonnay 2020 for $35/bottle; Savigny-les-Beaune 2021 at $53/bottle; and three reds: Côte de Beaune Clos Marey-Monge Micault 2018 at $66/bottle; Clos Marey-Monge Grands-Esprits 2018 at $81/bottle and Famille Carabello-Baum Nuits-Saint-Georges 2018 for $50/bottle.

These succulent wines are not available for sale to the public, they may only be purchased through private orders with Nicole at nicole@chateaudepommard.com.

A buffet supper was served and enjoyed au jardin.

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Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 6–7:30 | Après-work Apéro | Café Un, Deux, Trois

123 West 44th Street

Members and friends gathered for a casual apéro and hors d’oeuvres.

 

 

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Tuesday, April 25, 2023 | 7–9 pm | April in Paris Soirée

Brasserie Saint Marc |136 Second Avenue, New York, NY  10003 (Between E 9th Street & St Mark’s Place)

Members and friends, as well as scholarship recipients from the Jérôme Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation, joined us for our spring soirée: “April in Paris” at Brasserie Saint Marc.

SAINT, a bi-level restaurant with a lower level speakeasy SAINT Downstairs, is the East Village’s newest hot spot. A selection of French wines and hors d’oeuvres were served.

 

 

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Tuesday, March 14, 2023 | 7 pm | Dinner | National Arts Club | 15 Gramercy Park South | New York, NY 10003

Dr. Ellie Abdi discussed the antecedents of the French Revolution in the American Revolution.

Internationally recognized expert in education, Dr. Ellie Abdi has held various academic roles from Pre-K to doctoral levels at American and French institutions. Moreover, Dr. Abdi has maintained her position as an editorial board member of several international scientific journals in the United States and in Europe, in addition to being an editor for Livre de Lyon publications in France.

MDr. Abdi holds a Master’s in Philosophy and a Doctorate in Education, speaks Farsi and English, and also has knowledge of French and Arabic.

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Friday, February 17, 5 pm — Monday Feb 20, 11 pm | Presidents Ski Weekend Bus Trip to Vermont with the Swiss Ski Club

Members joined the Swiss Ski Club at their beautiful lodge in Vermont.

 

 

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Monday | February 13, 2023 | 7:00 pm|Raclette Dinner | L’Éna Wine Bar

After a plate of escargots, we made  raclette (a dish consisting of cheese melted over a fire and then scraped onto bread or boiled potatoes) in this casual, intimate West Village wine bar.

L’Ena’s owner Pierre and his staff actually did all the work!

 

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Tuesday, February 7th 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm 
Prospective New Member Reception

Most social clubs and organizations depend upon their members to grow and sustain the club by inviting family, friends, and colleagues to experience the club and become the next generation of members. We invited members to bring at least one guest to a cocktail reception to introduce them to our club and to visit the National Arts Club, where we hold many of our events throughout the year.

Members introduced their guests, followed by a presentation of the club, and a tour of the National Arts Club by Francis Dubois. Since this is the Paris American Club, passed hors d’oeuvres were served, with flowing wine – of course!

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Tuesday | January 10, 2023 | 7:00 pm |Dinner, Annual Meeting & Wine Tasting |National Arts Club |15 Gramercy Park South | New York, NY 10003

Members got to take a look at the State of the Club for 2022 and contribute ideas for the club’s future.

Member David Lincoln Ross hosted a Loire Valley wine tasting during the dinner.

Reflecting a lifelong passion for immersive travel experiences, a love of French culture and its wines, and its diverse regional foods, in January 2020, David launched Ross Wine Tours serving clients who wish to visit and meet French wine château owners and winemakers in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and Cognac. Visit: www.rosswinetours.com

As a wordsmith, he has a record of successfully creating and executing a wide range of marketing, communications, and media consulting projects. Work includes direct response, advertorials, sponsored content, online and print editorial creation and public-relations messaging for U.S. and global clients from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups. A passionate, experienced storyteller and talented speechwriter. he possesses excellent interpersonal skills, a lively sense of humor and genuine joie de vivre.

Served from 2013-215 as Editorial Director, Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America, Inc., an American French non-profit that celebrates the history and spirit of Marquis de Lafayette’s voyage to America in 1780 aboard the Hermione ‘Freedom Frigate’, in support of our fight for independence. A full-scale reconstructed tall ship, called the Hermione, visited the U.S. in 2015.

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Calendar of Meetings 2023

Date Event Speaker/Topic Venue
Jan 10 Dinner Annual Meeting State of the Club w/Intro by David Doty, President of the NAC and Wine Tasting by David Lincoln Ross NAC
Jan 17 Apéro Après-work Apéro 6-7:15 St Tropez
Feb 7 Reception Prospective New Member Reception 6:00-8:00 NAC
Feb 13 Dinner Raclettes L’Ena
Feb 17-20 Ski Presidents Weekend Ski Trip w/Swiss Ski Club Vermont
Mar 7 Apéro Après-work Apéro 6-7:30 St Tropez
Mar 14 Dinner Speaker Ellie Abdi: Antecedents of the French revolution in the American revolution NAC
Mar 20 Lecture “Marcel Marceau, the Master of Mime” Centennial Exhibition, 6:30 pm NAC
April 11 Apéro Après-work Apéro 6-7:30 St Tropez
April 25 Cocktail April in Paris Saint
May 9 Apéro Après-work Apéro 6-7:30 Café 1,2,3
May 16 Lecture

Soirée

French and English Poetry by Isabelle Ballot

New Members 2022 and 2023

NAC

Château Village

June 11 Brunch Roland Garros Men’s Finals Monte’s
June 13 Dinner
80th Birthday of Le Petit Prince, Thierry Chaunu
NAC
July 12 Cruise Pre-Bastille Sail on the Shearwater North Cove Marina
July 14 Fête Bastille Day in Central Park, organized by the French Consulate Central Park
Sept 19 Dinner Speaker Irene Finel-Honigman on US/European relations NAC
Oct 10 Apéro Après-work Apéro 6-7:30 TBD
Oct 17 Dinner Speaker Paul Glenshaw on Jazz in Paris NAC
Nov 7 Apéro Après-work Apéro 6-7:30 Café Un, Deux, Trois
Nov 14 Cocktail Soirée d’automne Café Un, Deux, Trois
Dec 12 Dinner Holiday Dinner NAC