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Party Earth Review The word “ephemeral” refers to things or events that only last for a short period, and that notion is clearly in play at Point Ephémère, the ever-changing hub for local, national, and international artists. Managed by... ... read full review
200 Quai de Valmy
75010 Paris, France
7: Louis Blanc; 2, 5: Jaurès
01 40 34 02 48
M–Sa noon–2am, Su noon–11pm
Hours vary for special events
Canal St. Martin - 10eme, Paris –
The word “ephemeral” refers to things or events that only last for a short period, and that notion is clearly in play at Point Ephémère, the ever-changing hub for local, national, and international artists.
Managed by non-profit group Usines Éphémère – whose sole purpose is to convert unused buildings into thriving cultural centers – the Point is a chaotic hybrid of bar/café, exhibition space, concert hall, and resident studios all crammed into a series of adjoining industrial buildings and tents.
During the day, local creatives and students chill along the canal-side and graffiti-covered patio, slinging back a few cheap beers and munching sandwiches from the café-style eatery before dropping in on the music, media, fabric, and performance art studios. In-house residencies last a month for dancers and three to six months for visual artists – and include everything from dance troupes to avant-garde welders – so what’s on the docket in each room is anyone’s guess.
As night falls, a mélange of Paris intellectuals, club kids, fashion mavens, and fellow artists looking for a show descend on the various nooks, including a 300-capacity concert hall with an agenda crammed full of Pitchfork-fresh artists whose styles range from twisted noise to stone-happy deep dish and everything in between.
Funky, cluttered, and worlds away from chic, Point Ephémère is a stalwart member of the Paris art scene, and will no doubt keep patrons entranced with its short-lived exhibits for a very long time.
Diverse crowd of hip students, young arty types, dancers, underground scenesters, bohemians, designers, new media fans, DJ nuts, and live music lovers, as well as everyone from fashionistas to older art collectors attracted by the rotating exhibits, 18 to 30s+.
Concert hall hosts a chaotic mix of live bands and DJs, including some big-name performers, but the focus is usually on up-and-coming acts.
Constantly changing range of art exhibits and installations, intimate dance recitals, jam sessions, fabric work, and more.
Check website for events and hours.
Basic French and international fare, including bagels, burgers, sandwiches, and light desserts, usually available in the simple diner space. Brunch on weekends.
Cover charge €8–€20+ (for concerts); entry to individual studios is almost always free, but concert prices vary per event. Brunch €14.50, appetizers €4.50–€8, entrées €8.50–€19, desserts €4–€8.
Beer €2.50–€3, wine €3, cocktails €4.50–€7, champagne €10, spirits €6, non-alcoholic beverages €1–€3.50.
Casual: vintage wear, plaid, denim, flowy dresses, skirts, artfully scruffy hairdos.
Hot nights depend on personal music preferences, but the concert hall is almost always pounding with young and sweaty revelers Thursday through Saturday nights, and weekend brunch brings in a laid-back crowd for eats and a peek into the individual studios.
Housed in an old colonial-style building, Comptoir Général (80 Quai de Jemmapes) is an eccentric bar where patrons sip beer amid stuffed animals and tropical trees, and listen to weird and wonderful music from France and around the world.
Point Ephémère User Reviews