Your Paris Weekend Program

© Olivier Ravoire

If rain dominated the Parisian scene all week, this weekend sees the return of sunshine! The Do It Team has curated the best activities for its cherished readers to make the most of it. Note down these highlights: visiting a stunning castle just a Navigo ride away, the exquisite exhibition by Johanna Tordjman in the 11th arrondissement, a workshop to craft your own leather bag, an immersive spectacle in a basilica, or a completely captivating vintage market. Long live spring!

Until April 28th, the Sceaux departmental domain is embracing the Japanese spirit with Hanami, the cherry blossom festival. Although the windy weather has swept away most of the pink flowers adorning the 160 Japanese cherry trees in the park, it's still a perfect excuse to (re)discover the stunning castle and its gardens, hosting exciting events not to be missed.

While the less chilly visitors can enjoy a picnic on the lawn, the Grand Salon of the castle features the "Floraison" exhibition by photographer Laure Ledoux, showcasing Japanese-inspired portraits on the theme of spring. On Saturday, head to the Orangerie at 6:30 PM for a minyô music show, a true Eastern curiosity. On Sunday, families can enjoy free origami and etegami workshops from 2 PM to 6:30 PM at the Orangerie as well. Additionally, from 4 PM to 5:30 PM, the Ancient Stables will host a conference and demonstration of ikebana floral art, the Japanese method of composing a harmonious bouquet. Psst: Don't leave without hanging a wish on the wish tree in the grove of white cherry trees.

Bonus: All day Saturday, just 5 minutes from the park, the City of Sceaux is also hosting a Japanese market offering tempting ceramics, food products for bento making, clothing, and illustrations to adorn your living room.

Sceaux Departmental Domain, 8 avenue Claude Perrault, 92330 Sceaux. Information and reservation at +33 1 41 87 29 71.

© Olivier Ravoire / Willy Labre

What if the epitome of style was crafting your own accessories? This weekend, book your leatherworking workshop with Paul, a passionate leather expert who teaches how to make your own recycled leather shoulder bag. The workshop starts with a welcome drink before getting down to business: leatherwork using the origami technique, attaching "rivets" and silver buckles for finishing touches. Once these steps are completed, personalize your bag with hot stamping. The result? A true beauty reminiscent of English Satchel bags, giving you a 100% Brit' swag worthy of Kate Moss.

Bonus: Before or after the workshop, head to the TOO TacTac Skybar on the 27th floor, located just a stone's throw away, for a top-notch buffet brunch. Enjoy Benoît Castel's bread, cheesecake, lemon meringue pie, flan, carrot cake, granola, and brunch basics like airy scrambled eggs (€55 per person).

Make Your Shoulder Bag. Ages 15 and up. 2.5 hours, €110 per person. Online booking required.

She's the current trending artist, acclaimed by many... including Kylian Mbappé, who collects her works! Johanna Tordjman unveils her new series of portraits during a (very) short exhibition at Galerie au Roi that's not to be missed. With "Americana", the Parisian painter aims to show another side of the United States: that of the society's invisible people, who nevertheless embody the country's soul. Her 16 vibrant portraits tell the stories of these protagonists whom Johanna Tordjman encountered during her travels in the US: the Compton Cowboys, African-Americans from the Southern states who run a ranch welcoming children to keep them off the streets, or the Navajos from Arizona who proudly transmit their culture through dance and clothing. Johanna Tordjman introduces us to these other faces of America and communities whose goal is simply to make the world a fairer place. Magnificent!

Bonus: Raid the 10.03.53 boutique-workshop (40 rue de Tourtille, Paris 20th), just a few steps from Galerie au Roi, a brand that elevates leather bags. Among our favorite creations: the baguette bag (€620) and the woven tote bag (€440).

Americana from April 19th to 21st at Galerie au Roi, 75 rue de la Fontaine au Roi, Paris 11th. Open every day from 11 AM to 7 PM. Free entry.

© Johanna Tordjman (@jtordjman), Marcin Kempski, Maanifest Agency

We've found the trendiest event of the weekend for shopping your spring pieces. The gros marché  invites vintage and thrift fans to acquire cool items at very affordable prices: scarves for €5, tracksuits between €10 and €20, skirts between €5 and €15, or t-shirts for €5. There's a wide selection among the 3,000 clothing items offered, all priced from €5 to a maximum of €30. Confidentially, we're planning a real raid. But that's not all! 20 designers will present a range of products for under €15, including Lisa Collin’s beautiful ceramics, l’atelier Malou’s adorable jewelry, and m.a.r.i.'s minimalist accessories. It's hard not to give in to temptation...

Bonus: You can also get a tattoo by artist Nawel Grant and his ultra-original modern style, or have your cards read to learn a bit more about your destiny! Pretty cool.

The Gros marché at La Bellevilloise, 19-21 rue Boyer, 75020 Paris. Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st from 12 PM to 7 PM. Free entry.

© @chlonotpi

The dead awaken at the Basilique Cathédrale de Saint-Denis! A new immersive show brings six French queens back from their tombs to meet visitors in the heart of the Basilica. During "The Night of Queens", you can chat with Isabeau de Baviera and Eleanor of Aquitaine, brush past Marie and Catherine de Médicis, or experience the final moments of Marie-Antoinette. This journey through time takes visitors from the year 250 to the French Revolution through actors and dancers, dressed in period costumes, against a backdrop of classical music and illuminated by hundreds of candles lighting up the Basilica. A unique spectacle!

Bonus: Take the opportunity to visit the incredible Basilique Cathédrale de Saint-Denis, also known as the final resting place of the kings and queens of France. 70 sculpted tombs of sovereigns lie in this gem of Gothic art, including those of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. A must-see at least once in a lifetime!

The Night of Queens from April 19th to May 5th at Basilique Cathédrale de Saint-Denis, 1 rue de la Légion d'Honneur, Saint-Denis. Open on Friday evenings from 6:45 PM to 10:30 PM, and Saturdays and Sundays from 3:45 PM to 10:30 PM. Starting from €10.99. Information and reservations online.

© Clément Blaisot

It's the poetic (and free!) exhibition we've been eagerly waiting for to satisfy our desires to admire beauty, plain and simple. The appointment is set in the heart of the Latin Quarter at the Réfectoire des Cordeliers, where a Chinese artist, whose name you'd do well to remember given his fame in the Middle Kingdom, is currently exhibiting. With "A Life by the River," Chen Jialing presents his first Parisian installation featuring a collection of paintings, ceramics, and silk thread tapestries, some of which were created specifically for the occasion. His inspiration? Water, the source of life, of absolute beauty, and yet intangible...

And it's safe to say that the 87-year-old artist continues to think big! His ceramic works, often monumental, are admired in a very soothing atmosphere as you walk all around them, like these incredible flower-adorned cups and his XXL ink paintings. We particularly adore the large yellow sunflowers with a small ladybug added at the last minute by the artist to camouflage a flaw on the day of installation. Adorable detail.

Bonus: the perfect opportunity to discover the extraordinary Réfectoire des Cordeliers, a former convent of Franciscan monks built in the early 16th century. A marvel of architecture.

Chen Jialing - "A Life by the River," until April 21st at the Réfectoire des Cordeliers, 15 rue de l'École de Médecine, Paris 6th. Open every day from 10 am to 6 pm.

© InstanT Productions

You'll need to hurry to sink your teeth into this pure marvel! When Paris' best smash burgers, aka Junk, team up with Trois Fois Plus de Piment, you know the Parisian foodosphere is buzzing. Until May 10th, both establishments will feature a limited edition spicy burger on their menus, a true little bomb with high desirability potential, a necessary and happy encounter between US comfort food and the spicy flavors of Asian cuisine.

Picture a bun offered in two versions. In common, a spicy sauce, a tasty peanut condiment, and crispy leek tempura. Only the protein changes: at Junk, the double smashed beef patty accompanied by its mandatory American cheese; at Trois Fois Plus de Piment, Sichuan-style fried chicken replaces the beef for an authentically crunchy version. Of course, Junk's signature fries are also in on the action, just as perfectly crispy while remaining soft on the inside. The bikini body can wait.

Burger available until May 10th at Junk (114 rue Montmartre, Paris 2nd) and at Trois fois Plus de Piment (184 rue Saint-Martin, Paris 3rd). €12.50 on-site, €14.90 on Deliveroo.

© Sadik Sans Voltaire

Spring goes hand in hand with a sudden desire for greenery, serenity, and a fresher interior. Happiness of perfect timing: this weekend, the Plants for All sale is taking place, where you can find thousands of plants and soils at very sweet prices ranging from €0.90 to €29.90. And that's not all: you can also shop for superb pots and cachepots, all at seriously discounted prices.

Take advantage of the opportunity to chat with on-site experts who provide excellent advice and are happy to guide you in choosing THE plant that suits you best, depending on your interior and your watering diligence. Because yes, it's even possible to find little gems that won't need as much attention as you might think. Impossible not to succumb, we're sure you'll find what you're looking for.

Bonus: to stay in the green power mood, head to Cordelia de Castellane's flower cafe for a snack!

Plante pour tous, Italie 2 shopping center, 30 avenue d'Italie, Paris 13th, level 3 access next to Okaïdi. Friday 12th from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm, Saturday 13th from 10 am to 7:30 pm, and Sunday 14th from 11 am to 6 pm. Free online reservation.

Cordelia de Castellane coffee shop, 14 rue du Bac, Paris 7th. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 7 pm, coffee shop open from 10 am to 5 pm.

The week has been exhausting, full of twists and turns, and it's time to spill it all to your bestie? Then we order you to debrief at Cali Sisters' speakeasy-style cocktail bar, a cozy cocoon where wicker chairs and terracotta fabrics serve as a backdrop to the ballet of cocktails that land on candlelit tables.

Among the refined potions to sip: the Savages (gin, yellow lemon juice, Darjeeling tea, aloe vera syrup - €14) or the Red Magic (vodka infused with purple carrot peels, yellow lemon juice, dry vermouth, Jerusalem artichoke syrup, €14). To accompany your drink, we urge you to order the truffle dices, fried tapioca dices with melting parmesan and truffle, a DI-VI-NI-TY (€9). We also recommend the white bean hummus and focaccia (€12) and the spicy tuna tartare (toasted brioche, tuna tartare, spicy salsa and spring onions, €14).

Bonus: sweet tooths won't leave until they've devoured the Pizzookie, a freshly baked cookie with smoked vanilla ice cream: completely insane (€11). While it's not officially listed on the "finger food" menu, we're giving you the cheat code. Do It at your service!

Cali Sisters, 17 rue Notre Dame des Victoires, Paris 2nd. Online reservation.

Kids also have their own film festival! From April 13th to 30th, Télérama and the French Association of Art and Experimental Cinemas offer the opportunity to discover classics during the 7th edition of the Children's Film Festival. Premieres, masterpieces, and new releases will be on the program in three Parisian theaters (and 200 others throughout France). This year, the theme of the program is living together. Among the must-sees: the iconic musical comedy Singin' in the Rain, the cult Arrietty: The Borrower Arrietty, the comedy Chicken Run, and the French animated film that made a sensation, My Life as a Zucchini. Get ready with popcorn and booster seats!

Bonus: continue to enrich our little blond heads' film culture by introducing them to James Cameron's fantastic world. Head to the French Cinematheque to discover the exhibition "The Art of James Cameron": over 300 archives straight from the Canadian director's "vault" are being exhibited for the first time in Paris. A true dive into his subconscious and his filmography!

7th Children's Film Festival Télérama/AFCAE from April 13th to 30th at l’Archipel, 17 boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris 10th, Espace Saint Michel, 7 place Saint-Michel, Paris 5th, Lucernaire, 53 rue Notre Dame des Champs, Paris 6th. €3.50 per ticket for Télérama pass holders available on the website.

© Ma Vie de Courgette - Courtesy of Sundance Institute, Chantons sous la pluie - Warner Bros et Arrietty - The Walt Disney Company France

It's a bit like if the MAD launched an ultra-short 3-day exhibition combining the wonders of the greatest designers of all time. It is the first time that the venerable Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr auction house has organized one specifically dedicated to haute couture, presenting in preview no less than 530 lots covering a century of creation. You can imagine our hysteria... If Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, Dior, Chanel, and Saint Laurent made the heyday of haute couture, their treasures will be shown for free in the exhibition on Friday, Saturday, and next Monday before a grand auction on April 9th, on-site and online.

Among the pieces up for grabs (the complete catalog can be found here) : a jacket worn on stage by Johnny Hallyday in 1971 created by Yves Saint Laurent (€35,000 - €45,000), a Christian Dior strapless evening dress from 1957 (€30,000 - €50,000), a Cristóbal Balenciaga cocktail dress (€2,000 - €3,000), a Schiaparelli gilded metal necklace dating from 1938 (€3,000 - €5,000), or Roger Vivier shoes that belonged to the Duchess of Windsor Wallis Simpson (€300 - €600). Enough to drive the most motivated collectors crazy!

The extra touch : take advantage of this sunny weekend to have a picnic in Parc Monceau before or after the exhibition, grabbing your snack beforehand at MAM, the fabulous caterer by Stéphanie Le Quellec.

Auction "1910-2010 A Century of Haute Couture", live auction on April 9th, online auction from April 5th to 15th. Exhibition of pieces without appointment by going directly on-site on Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm, and Monday from 10 am to 6 pm at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr, 6 Avenue Hoche, Paris 8th.

© Madeleine Vionnet, Roger Vivier, and Yves Saint Laurent

A free exhibition in a palace, does it tempt you ? Alongside the "Contemporary Fragments" exhibition at Villa Gabrielle gallery, a part of the collection moves to the sumptuous Hôtel de Crillon. Head to the lobby of this five-star Concorde hotel for free access to discover two programs : one dedicated to ancient memory, the other to future archaeology with about thirty works by eight international artists. These sculptors, photographers, poets, and visual artists offer their own reinterpretation of ruins using marble, concrete, asphalt, glass, plexiglass, or video, such as the sublime landscapes of the Peloponnese screen-printed on plexiglass plates by Katerina Charou, which takes us on a journey to Greece. As for Marina Mankarios, a Franco-Egyptian artist, she fragments and recomposes antique busts as with her Antique Tetris. A must-see!

Extra tip : Before visiting, treat yourself to a proper breakfast at Café Lapérouse. The breakfast formula does the job perfectly: soft-boiled egg + mini-granola + pastry or toast + fresh fruit juice + coffee, hot chocolate, or tea (€28). A delight !

"Contemporary Fragments" until May 2nd at Hôtel de Crillon, 10 Place de la Concorde, Paris 8th. Open every day. Free entry. Information online.

© Hôtel Crillon (@rosewoodhoteldecrillon) and Villa Gabrielle Gallery / Clémence Rolland-Casado

Before Banksy, there was Invader. A fan of the Space Invaders video game, the anonymous French artist has been hiding mosaics made of tiles in cities worldwide since 1996. But his heart remains in Paris, where he installed his first alien in the Bastille district. It's in the capital that the "Unidentified Living Artist," as he describes himself, sets up a massive exhibition in the former offices of Libération. Over 3,500 square meters, he invites us into his "Invader Space Station" ! What's on the agenda ? Photos, videos, sculptures, installations, and, of course, his mosaics, some of which have never been shown to the public. The artist himself designed the retrospective's scenography as a space odyssey, promising to be THE art event that will shake Paris. Ready for liftoff ?

Bonus : After this journey into this interstellar universe, nothing beats indulging in affordable hearty dishes at Bouillon République. Expect oysters (€9.90 per half dozen), a wave of deviled eggs (€2.50), leeks vinaigrette (€3.40), mashed potato sausage (€9.60), steak fries with shallot sauce (€12.40), profiteroles (€4.80), or the legendary rice pudding (€2.80).

Invader Space Station from February 17 to May 5 at 11 Rue Béranger, Paris 3rd. Open Monday to Thursday from 11 am to 7 pm, Friday from 11 am to 9 pm, and weekends from 10 am to 8 pm. Information and mandatory online reservation.

© @ Invaderwashere sur Instagram

What if you started your weekend with your group of friends by getting tarot card readings? Every Friday, the Wellness Gallery at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann plays Madame Irma with a new workshop we already love. In groups of 5 (or less), immerse yourself in the magic of cartomancy, the divinatory art that uses cards to read the future. Leading the workshop is Nina Beck, an ultra-knowledgeable coach who enriches her clients' lives with her expertise in personal development and cartomancy. Note : This workshop shouldn't be seen as fortune-telling; Nina explains that it's more of an intuitive and kind exchange to unlock what we don't see.

Bonus : After her free workshop (from 6 pm to 7 pm or from 7:15 pm to 8:15 pm), continue the discussion about your reading over dinner at Madonna, an osteria like in Milan, not far from the workshop. Enjoy paccheri and polpette (€18), spaghetti with sea urchins (€25), or ossobucco alla milanese (€29) while sipping on a surprising truffle Negroni (€12). End on a sweet note with the iconic tiramisu (€14) or the pistachio chou, a crackling choux pastry filled with fresh pistachio cream (€14).

The Wellness Gallery, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. 40 Bd Haussmann, Paris 9th. Make an appointment at the Wellness Lobby or by phone at 01 42 82 34 24. Free workshop.

Helena Noguerra has a passion: reading. She reads every day from her childhood, starting with Oui-Oui up to Kundera today. Until June 23, Belgian actress will be reading Frida Kahlo's correspondences at La Scala, taking spectators on an emotional and captivating journey through the extraordinary life of the Mexican artist. Accompanied by the guitar of Laurent Guillet, we (re)discover various facets of the icon's life: the trauma of her accident at 18 which haunted her all her life, her passionate and toxic marriage to artist Diego Rivera, and her activism against Franco's dictatorship in Spain. A must-see!

Extra Tip: We don't go to the theater on an empty stomach! Before the play, which starts at 9 p.m., head to the counter of Brasserie Dubillot, just a stone's throw from La Scala. We highly recommend ordering the now-cult sausage and mashed potatoes (€14) and a delicious Paris-Brest (€8) for dessert. Yum!

Frida Kahlo, until June 23 at La Scala, 13 boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris 10th.

© Thomas O'Brien

You've probably seen it on our Instagram page: our stunning city guide has just hit the shelves! The Do It Team has curated a best-of featuring its 450 favorite addresses in and around Paris, categorized by neighborhood, from delicious restaurants and coffee shops to trendy concept stores, not to mention our favorite museums and secret gardens of the capital. All wrapped in a beautiful red cover, complete with 100% Parisian stickers and coloring pages at the end. In other words, the perfect Christmas gift for less than €20.

The ultimate excuse to browse the sexiest bookstores in the capital. You can ask for the Do It In Paris City Guide at L'Ecume des Pages (174 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 6th), Galignani (224 Rue de Rivoli, Paris 1st), in Le Marais on the 1st floor of Comme un Roman (39 Rue de Bretagne, Paris 3rd), or at the chic Delamain bookstore (155 Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris 1st) and Librairie des Abbesses (30 Rue Yvonne le Tac, Paris 18th), as well as at all FNAC stores closest to you. We hope you'll love it as much as we do!

© Julia Brami

Also, discover Pristine, a fabulous bistro, and how to keep your kids entertained during the holidays.