Following his outburst to the press yesterday, which involved a harsh, verbal attack on his young Arsenal team-mates, William Gallas has today hinted at a shock move from the Emirates to Paris St-Germain.

Could Euro Star, Gallas, Be On His Way To Paris St-Germain?

Gallas’s role as Arsenal club captain in under threat this weekend after he revealed details of a dressing room bust-up during half-time of the 4-4 draw with fierce rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

Le Parc Des Princes. Home To Paris St-Germain

In an article published today on Times Online, Gallas stated he is planning his exit from Arsenal to a French club - where he would see out the rest of his footballing career. In addition to PSG, who play their football at Le Parc Des Princes, a move to old club Marseilles, Lyon or Bordeaux could be on the cards. He is however, attracted to joining former Chelsea and International team-mate Claude Makelele at Paris St-Germain.

For every sold out Goliath stadium tour there is a local theatre in Nottingham putting on a tribute night.

The Sound of Neil Diamond, Tribute Act

For every Led Zeppelin, there’s a Whole Lotta Led, for every Beatles, there’s The Cheatles, and for the ladies office party, there’s The Sound of Neil Diamond tribute. What of Oasis?… An initial search on one tribute bands directory resulted in not one single act listed as following in the footsteps of Manchester’s finest. Perhaps anyone who dared to don the retro sun-shades, black hooded jacket and tight fitting jeans before sneering Wonderwall into the mic, were taking outside for a good kicking. A further search of Google proved me wrong… Definately Might Be, Oasish and Soasis are all currently filling a working-man’s club or seaside pier near you.

Oasish 'The UKs Leading Tribute to Oasis'

The reason such tribute acts exist is to fulfill the gaping void left when a band acrimoniously split, burn out or, in the case of Oasis, sell out their tour dates in minutes. Hence, the Oasis tribute acts are thriving right now.

Oasis Live in Concert, Lille Zenith & POP Bercy, Paris, 2009

So, Oasis’s biggest ever UK stadium tour sells out. Now what? You could get yourself down toThe Half Brick in Worthing on the 6th December and see Oasish play live (and see Stereotonics on the same night). Or, you could see the real deal - Oasis live in Lille in January or Oasis live in concert, Paris in March. Short Breaks are offering Eurostar and concert breaks packages from only £179 (Elton John, Paris, December) as well as packages to see The Killers £189, and Oasis from £199.

The Fairy-Godmother of Pop, the legendary, flamboyant artist Elton John takes to the stage in Paris on 9th December.

Elton John Live in Concert, POP Bercy Paris, 9 December 2008

Bringing his outrageous Las Vegas Show, The Red Piano, which has been running at Caesars Palace since 2004 to the French Capital for one night only, Elton will be treating his audience to his back catalogue of classics such as ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Candle in the Wind’ and ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’.

Tickets for Elton John playing live in Paris are of course very much in demand right now. Back in May 2007, fans were left disappointed when part of the tour, scheduled for later that year, was cancelled.

Any fans who missed out last year need not worry this time around…Short Breaks do still have a limited allocation of tickets left. And the news gets even better - We’ve just reduced our package price from £219 to just £179. (Hotel and ticket-only breaks are also available from £125). Visit Elton John Red Piano Tour for more information.

Joanna Walsh, writer of Badaude, took time out from her daily idle observations of everything of a Parisian bent to discuss her ongoing blogging work and share her secrets to a life in Paris.

Tell us a little about the Badaude blog…
“I started it a couple of years ago. It was originally dedicated to observational illustrations with a little writing on them - an outlet for work I felt I couldn’t do as a commercial illustrator. Then I found I was enjoying the writing more and more and it eventually overflowed the boundaries of the illustrations to became part of the blog. The dictionary definition at the top of my site tells you what it’s all about, really - Ba’daude (nf); a person given to idle observation of everything with wonder or astonishment; a credulous or gossipy idler. I found the word in a 19th century engraving by the French artist, Honoré Daumier and feminized it by adding an e to the end (not something the Académie française, who are notoriously strict about neologisms entering their langauge, would approve of)”.

…and your involvement with artist network IVY Paris?
“I can’t remember now how I met Susie Hollands who runs the network, though I think it might have been through artist, Matthew Rose. I write posts for them, designed a carte de voeux (New Year card) for them last year, and have just finished work on an illustrated piece for a new project which should be revealed soon on the site”.

IVY Paris News, Artist Network

As an illustrator and writer, having your work published in The Guardian, The Times and Wall Street Journal amongst others, what has been the most interesting project you have worked on?
“I love commissions because I like working in response to other people’s ideas. I enjoy the adrenaline of producing pieces for newspapers on 24 hour or same-day deadlines, but I also like longer term projects and pieces where editors will let me do more or less what I want, like The Idler magazine (my last piece of work for them was a four page graphic story about John Ruskin)”.

You blogged on Badaude recently about an experience at Hotel de Crillon – listed with The Leading Hotels of the World. What would be the best hotel you have had the pleasure of staying in Paris?
“I think the Hotel de Crillon has to be the most exciting place I’ve stayed in so far - just because it’s such a glittering package, a wonderful way to suspend reality for a night or two’s Cinderella experience. I also like the Hotel des Academies et des Arts, far more modest in scale, but a model of everything a boutique hotel should be”.

Where would you recommend to stay for a romantic breaks in Paris?
“I would go for the Hotel Particulier Montmartre fairytale townhouse hidden down a leafy ‘impasse’ high up on the butte de Montmartre. There are five suites, each designed by a different artist, commissioned by art curator/owner, Morgane Rousseau and a wonderful garden with seats in secret corners - perfect for a romantic rendez-vous”.

Hotel Particulier Montmartre

…and for a romantic night out?
“Walk up the Canal Saint Martin in 10e, crossing the bridges just as the sun sets and the lights start coming on in the buildings along its banks. Stop at one of them - maybe the Hotel du Nord - for an aperitif, then continue down the canal for dinner at Le Chateaubriand on Avenue Parmentier for top class modern French cuisine (at very reasonable prices) in a relaxed bistro atmosphere”.

Sharing your wisdom on the city…a tip on places to see for anyone booked to stay in Paris for the festive period?
“I’d love to see the Jeff Koons balloon doggie at Versailles… If you miss that, there’s always the fabulous installations in every department store window (I’d recommend those at Le Bon Marche)”.

Jeff Koons Chateau de Versailles, Paris

Do you ever fly to Paris – or do you only ever travel by Eurostar?
“I prefer Eurostar as I like to depart from, and land in the centre of the city. I also like to travel greenly where possible”.

Which other Paris blogs are you a regular subscriber?
“I read Maitresse who blogs on reading and writing in the City of Light. Czukpa Cakis always has something amusing to say, as does Charles Bremner at the Times. The Paris Blog is a good composite site with posts from a range of Paris bloggers”.

You were nominated yourself by La Belette Rouge in September’s Ermine Awards. If you were to share the love for the greatest blog right now, what would that be?
“I think the hitotoki site, which has a Paris section, has nailed something central to the practice of blogging. This site of ‘postcards’ from mindscapes as much as cityscapes picks up on blogs’ capacity to capture the immediacy of a fleeting, but nevertheless important, moment”.

Describe Paris in no more than five words…
“Light, Stone, Glitter, Water, Night…”

Joanna Walsh, Badaude

Paris has always been a city very much associated with photography, with the work of Doisneau, Ronis Brassai and Cartier-Bresson helping to create the image we have of the Paris today. In more recent times, it is the creation of events such as the Mois de la Photo which has helped keep the city in the focus of photography lovers.

Mois de la Photo, Exhibition Held in Paris, November

Held every two years in November, the Mois de la Photo is one of the biggest photography festivals in the world. Created in 1980, this year it is celebrating its 16th edition with its biggest and most ambitious festival so far. Loosely based around a theme of ‘Europe’, the shows and exhibitions can be found in almost every corner of the city, in cultural centres, museums, art galleries and even schools.

Read more…