Kunveno: a club where internationally-minded people can meet and feel at home

Kunveno in Esperanto means "bringing people together, a gathering". The founders of Kunveno wanted to provide a way for global nomads and world citizens to meet internationally-minded locals and for people of all national backgrounds to get together and share their experiences in a relaxed environment. Informal monthly meetings are held - often at the Tadoussac Canadian restaurant and lounge bar on rue Saint Honoré - in addition to other events. For more details, visit the Kunveno website. www.kunveno.com

Café Philos events cover philosophical topics ranging from the classical to the absurd

Café Philos - otherwise known as Philosophy Cafés - have sprung up throughout the world during the past decade. Originally starting in Paris in 1992 when Marc Sautet and several friends got together to discuss various issues of the day at the famous "Café des Phares" at the Place de la Bastille. Events in Paris now take place in various cafés, including Café de Flore (bd St Germain), and in restaurants for dinner meetings. Philosophy workshops are also organized. Visit the Café Philos website for the latest calendar of events and contact information. www.philodialogue.com

British Community Committee provides info on what's happening in the British community

The British Community Committee (BCC) is essentially an association of British associations in France. It usually doesn't organize events but rather publicizes the existence of member groups and consolidates and communicates information on events being organized by all the groups. The BCC calendar forms a comprehensive listing of what's going in the British community for both Britons and anglophiles. To find out more, visit their website or email info@britishinfrance.com. www.britishinfrance.com

International cultural institutes and centres in Paris host interesting events

Over 35 international cultural institutes and centres in Paris host a rich and diverse collection of events, exhibitions, concerts and talks that are worth checking out. ParisList favorites include:

Centre culturel irlandais - 5, rue des Irlandais, 5e
[www.centreculturelirlandais.com]
Centre culturel suédois - 11, rue de Payenne, 3e
[www.ccs.si.se]
Centre tchèque - 18, rue Bonaparte, 6e
[www.centretcheque.org]
Maison de la culture du Japon - 101 bis, quai de Branly, 15e
[www.mcjp.asso.fr]

A good starting point to find out what's on is the Forum des Instituts Culturels Etrangers à Paris (FICEP). Their website maintains information about each of the centres including links and there's a newsletter to which you can subscribe. www.ficep.info

Moving Parts play readings at Carr's Pub

Moving Parts, a Paris-based outfit, organizes play readings in English and in French at Carr's Pub (1 rue du Mont Thabor, 1e, Métro Tuileries). They are always on a Sunday and always start at 19h30. The program is subject to change but the latest for the second half of 2006 is the following.

10th.September : William Whitehurst : title tba (in English)
24th.September : N.C.Heikin : "FE-MAIL" (in English - 2nd reading)
8th.October : Quentin Ochem : "Le Sacre de Frankenstein" (in French)
22nd.October : Jonus : "The Turnip Truck" (in English)
TWO DATES AVAILABLE IN NOVEMBER
3rd.December : Kenneth Hickey : "The Rose" (in English)

The most up to date program can be found at www.scamparis.com. Email Stephanie Campion at stef@movingparts.org.uk to receive monthly mailings. If you want to have your play read, contact Stephanie at 06 14 67 18 58.

Expat Meet Up groups in Paris

There are various expat groups in Paris hosted on meetup.com. They usually meet at least once a month for cocktails, dinner or a picnic and many organize other events.

Expats Paris: This group includes expats from around the world, some in Paris for short stints and some for decades. Most have a lot in common, starting with carte de séjour stories and going from there. expat.meetup.com/1/

Expat Brits: Totally informal and open to any expat Brits, friends, and anyone else who'd like to go out in Paris and share their ideas, thoughts, stories on anything in Paris. brit.meetup.com/16/

Expat Americans: american.meetup.com/16/

Expat Canadians: Everybody is welcome (even if you are not Canadian or don't know any Canadians). canadian.meetup.com/6/

Expat Aussies: aussie.meetup.com/19/

Paris International Association: Paris International invites people from all nationalities who are seriously interested in doing creative activities together including events like musical shows, fashion shows, langugae exchange for broader cross-cultural understanding. expat.meetup.com/88/

PAN brings together university graduates for professional and social networking

The Paris Alumni Network is a non-profit organization that brings together university graduates for professional and social networking. PAN hosts social, cultural and educational events, and provides services to members relating to their work and leisure activities. These activities are complemented by a newsletter, Panache, mailed to members every two months, a yearly printed directory of members, and a web site. Thanks to the skills and talents of its active Board and membership, PAN is a vibrant group in the Paris community. www.pan-paris.org

American Library in Paris hosts diverse cultural events and programs

One of the Library's most popular programs, a tradition since the 1930s, is the "Evenings with an Author" series. Dating back to the early days of the Library, this series has featured some of the most prominent writers of the 20th century. Another interesting series is "Evenings with an Expert". A recent event (24 May 2005) featured Peter Linton, the Brussels-based Europe Chairman of BKSH, who talked about how the European Union is governed and the proposed constitutional changes. The "Author" and "Expert" events usually start at 20h00 and are free and open to the general public. There are also many other programs designed for children and musical events are also held from time to time. www.americanlibraryinparis.org

Funkymaps: the definitive guide to the Paris pub scene

This site features pub and bar news, an exhaustive What's On listing of pub events including monthly top ten Musn't Miss events, TV sport listings, and recommended pub crawls. www.funkymaps.com/funkyparis

Craigslist: the mother of all local community classifieds

Craigslist was started in early 1995 by Craig Newmark in San Francisco, California. It quickly became the leading alternative place to find a job, housing, goods & services, a social life, advice, and just about anything else. About 8 million people all over the world use craigslist each month. The Paris site started in 2004 (version française bientôt disponible). paris.craigslist.org

Franglo: free classifieds for Anglophones in France

From the Franglo website: "Franglo Classifieds is the new service for Anglophones & Anglophiles in France and around the world. Franglo Classifieds lets you read and post small ads (petites annonces) for free. There are dozens of different categories, and it's fast and easy to publish your own ads. We started Franglo Classifieds because we saw that there was a real need for a free, easy-to-use classified advertising resource for the English-speaking community in France. But Franglo Classifieds isn't just for English-speakers, and it isn't just for people living in France. Franglo Classifieds is for anyone who wants to connect with the international community in France, England, the USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and elsewhere." www.franglo.com

MeetYou: community and services website for anglophones and expats

This new site has announcements, classifieds and forums. It also includes language exchange listings, an expat information center, a real estate center and a business & jobs center. You must register to gain full access to all the content. Members get to see listings of member events and meetings. www.meetyou.fr