La Rentrée - What to do in Paris in Autumn

Summer is rapidly drawing to a close and that back to school feeling that comes with what is known in French as La Rentrée is taking hold. But don't let that get you down as there is, as ever, a vast array of exciting things to look forward to in Paris over the next couple of months. Here's what's on our radar.

FOOD and DRINK

After months of being on a bikini-diet, we welcome the new season to pile on a couple of pounds and the many new restaurant, bar and cafe openings in the capital will be the perfect excuse to indulge. Top of the list are the Philippe Starck designed canteen, Ma Puce, at the St Ouen flea market, scheduled to open this autumn, and chef Anne Sophie Pic's La Dame de Pic, which should be opening in September. 


The owner of top-notch London cocktail bar, 69 Colebrooke, will be opening a 70s-inspired cocktail bar in Paris' 10th arrondissement, called Le Coq, set to open in October. The team behind Paris cocktail and taco hotspot Candelaria will be opening a second venue in the capital, this time in the 9th arrondissement, called Glass, scheduled to open in October. We also hear rumors that the much lauded restaurant Septime are also planning on opening a wine bar - which will also sell bottles to take away and small plates to go with the wine - some time in the next few months.  

Blackmarket, the new name for our favourite local cafe hitherto known as Paradigme, have hinted that exciting things may be in store with Californian culinary duo Emperor Norton - watch this space for more info.  We've also heard murmurs about two new artisanal coffee joints planned to spring up on the Canal St Martin (Café Lomi) and on rue Lamarck, both of which will be supplied with their beans by the coffee godfathers of Paris, Coutume.  

ART and EXHIBITIONS
This'll be an exciting season in the art world. The much awaited new Islamic Art Department at the Louvre will open to the public on 22nd September, mega-gallerist Larry Gagosian is set to open his new gallery at a massive warehouse in Le Bourget airport, there will be a Dali exhibition at the Centre Pompidou, Edward Hopper at Le Grand Palais, Sophie Calle at Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin and Yue Minjun at Fondation Cartier.

And this is your last chance to catch the excellent Gerhard Richter exhibition at the Centre Pompidou, Balenciaga at Les Docks and Louis Vuitton-Marc Jacobs at Musee des Arts Decoratifs before they all end in September. 

Balenciaga at Les Docks

FASHION 
The leggy model types will be invading Paris again for the Spring/Summer 2013 Paris Fashion Week at the end of September, but if you can't wait until then, check out Vogue's Fashion Night Out event on 6th September. Talking of Vogue, also pick up a copy of the September issue of Vogue Paris with its new look design and new features such as a column by iconic French fashion blogger, Garance Doré.

We're also looking forward to checking out the new Paris boutiques for Schiaparelli, French Trotters, Vionnet and Alexis Mabille. 

EVENTS
Upcoming events currently on our radar are the We Love Green festival with an eco-friendly twist, the annual capital-wide cultural event la Nuit Blanche, and the contemporary art fair FIAC. 

FIAC at Le Grand Palais

As ever, stay tuned to Unlock Paris for all the latest news on what's going on the capital and we'll make sure you make the most out of Autumn in Paris.