Cinema Paradiso

I have been wanting to explore inside the Grand Palais all year and even though I have been into the exhibitions rooms to see the Dynamo art installations, I haven't had the chance to go into the main body of the Palace. The olive green art nouveau domes play host to a variety of events around the year, including the Chanel and Louis Vuitton shows during fashion week and a little colony of bees that live on the roof. Recently, though, the palace was transformed into the Cinema Paradiso, a drive in american-style cinema with a 25 foot screen. I had pre-booked tickets months ago to ensure I would get a front row seat.

NH and I arrived with high expectations and buzzing with excitement. The first few hours we spent exploring the exhibition space, including a pop up Colette shop selling pop-tarts, hershey's and other American style treats. Next we battled it out over barbie-table football and some competitive video gaming that ranged from machines from the 70's right up to games of the future! 

We feasted on mac n'cheese from the pop up Diner and then managed some fro-yo covered in chocolatey and fruity goodies. 

Sugar-fuelled we decided to take a spin on the roller-disco dance floor which turned out to be an absolute disaster. Roller skating is surprisingly difficult, especially with French kids whizzing past us. We managed a quick skate to the bar carefully located in the middle of the roller-floor and then realised we were trapped, until a very kind instructor took pity on us and gave us a quick masterclass. 

All skated out we took out places for the highlight of the night, watching Grease on the huge screen drive-in style. With the choice of cars, beds, seats and deck chairs to choose from we decided to go for the comfy beds and snuggled down ready for a good old sing along session. Reliving a classic film that I hadn't seen in ages in such a unique location was a fantastic way to spend an evening and there was no better way to explore and appreciate the beauty and timeless cool factor of the Grand Palais. Although if anybody wants to give me tickets for the Chanel fashion show next year, I won't say no!

Once the film finished we saw that the palace had transformed into a club, with the roller disco becoming a full dj set and dance floor and the diner was serving sodas with a kick. I wish we could have stayed and partied all night under the beautifully lit ceiling. We did manage to find the tree of life though! 

Mood - Wanting to re-live some more old classics. 

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