Maison-Française

On Nov. 28, 2017, French President Emmanuel Macron called for the “temporary or permanent restitution” of objects of African cultural heritage that reside in French museums during a speech at the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.

As Ivy League students and first-rate musicians, the students of the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange are formidable double threats, but they do not aim to intimidate. In the intimate chamber of the Maison Francaise, where there is no stage, they stood on even footing with their audience. They introduced themselves with friendly waves and chatted about each piece of music before performing it, creating a concert that felt like a conversation.

France does not legally recognize any sort of racial or ethnic classification—in fact, the term “race” was recently erased from the French constitution. Although there exists no legal terminology in the nation to address issues regarding race, a new film series presented by the Columbia Maison Française features a variety of contemporary black female voices that attempt to articulate these issues through the powerful medium of cinema.

Violinist Lara Lewison, CC ’20, spent the last few months working side by side with a duet partner that never tired-—a machine. She was preparing her first program that included electronics. After her assiduous preparation, which she did in addition to a full course load, Lewison held her recital last Friday.

For the second year in a row, the Columbia Maison Française will host its annual film series starting this Friday in the school’s new Lenfest Center for the Arts. This year’s theme? Resistance.

Just to the right of Low Library, there is a building that carries a powerful history extending beyond that of our university. Its bricks are a deeper red than those paving College Walk; its house-like design is more charming and quaint than the symmetrical, imposing buildings that encircle Columbia's lush green lawns.

A Columbia professor's new book offers readers food for thought by exploring how we think about what we eat.

The Maison Kayser in Taiwan is arguably where my interest in French cuisine was first piqued. My mum fed me my first baguette from this bakery's outpost in Taipei after I had a particularly bad day at school. I remember trying to break off the tip—I almost cut myself on the crust—and the surprise of the soft, chewy center. The simple bread's combination of textures and nuanced taste won me over. This summer in Paris, a friend and I visited the Maison Kayser on Saint-Germain. Though I wondered if it was selling out, visiting a chain store in the middle of Paris, the macarons and yeasty baguette proved to be well worth the expansion of our waistlines that afternoon. With two favorable experiences in this bakery, I would say that the new location at Columbus Circle met my expectations once again.

If you've ever wanted to relive a dream, your best bet is visiting Jean-Baptiste Barrière's new exhibit, "The Garden of Dreams," at the Maison Française.