Promoting French language and culture for over 100 years

Events with a French Flair

To view our online photo gallery of recently completed events, click here.

Event Schedule: Upcoming Events 2009

Events are held at the Kamm House unless otherwise noted. Address: 1425 SW 20th Ave., near the Goose Hollow max stop.

Note: while we welcome visitors to this page which is updated periodically, we strongly encourage folks to subscribe to our snappy, free email bulletin which includes more details on all current events including French film offerings around town, updates on conversation groups, and more. Sign up in the red box on home page.

January 17, 2010 - Fête des rois at the Kamm House, 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. (1425 SW 20th Ave.)

The annual celebration of La Fête des rois at the Kamm House (1425 SW 20th Ave.) will be on Sunday, January 17, from 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. All ages are invited to enjoy authentic galettes from La Provence Bakery, refreshments, and a presentation en français on the origins of this celebration. Alliance members and their families are welcome; free; $2 suggested contribution per person, at the door (Kamm House, 1425 SW 20th Ave.)

January 19, 2010 - FACC LeNetworking Breakfast for Women, Featuring Antoinette Price of Nestlé Waters, 8:30 a.m. - hosted by Stoel Rives LLC in Portland

In the fall of 2009 the French American Chamber of Commerce kicked off quarterly women's networking breakfasts. The first featured Renée Behnke, president emeritus of Sur la Table. The next Le Networking meeting will be on Tuesday, January 19, at 8:30 a.m. and will feature Antoinette Price, who has been with Nestlé Waters North America, responsible for representing brands such as Perrier in the Pacific NW including Oregon, Washington, Montana and Alaska. Ms. Price has been with Nestlé Waters for eight years; Nestlé Waters is a division of Swiss company Nestlé S.A. which is the largest food company in the world. This breakfast meeting will be hosted by Stoel Rives LLC at their downtown Portland office (please go to the 26th floor conference room at 900 SW Fifth Ave.). Tickets are $8 for Alliance and FACC members or $12 for non-members (click here to reserve). Breakfast pastries, fruit and coffee service are included.

January 29, 2010 - Exploring the Inland Waterways of France, 6:00 p.m. (NEW VENUE: Northwest Neighborhood Cultural Center at 1819 NW Everett, Board Room)

Ever consider exploring the inland waterways of France, like Johnny Depp in the film Chocolat? Alliance de Portland members Joan and Neil Malling have done just that for 11 years and enjoy sharing their in-depth knowledge about inland waterway excursions on hotel boats, charter boats, self-skippering and even the "ins and outs"of buying your own boat in France. They have boated the waterways of the Ardennes, the Rhône to the Mediterranean Sea, the Canal du Midi to Narbonne, the Paris Basin (Marne, Oise), the lower Loire Valley near Angers, and the Canal du Bourgogne from Dijon to the Chablis area. They will present their experiences and recommendations on this unique lifestyle and rich cultural adventure, and how to combine it with other vacation formats, on Friday, January 29, at 6:00 p.m. 1819 NW Everett. No sales pitch is involved -- just a friendly sharing of great information by knowledgable Alliance members. Free for members; $5 for non-members. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. This event is now sold out. Call our office for openings, at 503.223.8388.

February 4, 2010 - Vive Le Basket "French Night" at the Blazers Game with the San Antonio Spurs (The Rose Garden Arena)

February 4, 2010 features the 2nd Annual VIVE LE BASKET French Night at the Rose Garden, where the Blazers will play the San Antonio Spurs. Both teams include French players -- Portland has Nicolas Batum and the Spurs have two Frenchmen: Tony Parker and Ian Mahinmi. The Alliance is partnering with the Blazers on the event and a portion of all ticket sales through this special French Night promotion will be donated by the Blazers to the Alliance Française! Purchasers of the French Night pomotion tickets may opt for berets (automatically included with 200-level tickets) and will also likely be invited to a pre-game Meet and Greet with Nicolas Batum (last year we had a post-game session); details will be communicated as we get closer to game night. Available tickets for the French night-promotion are in the 200-level (generally $63, and include a complimentary beret) or in the 300-level ($27 without the beret, or $36 with a beret). Save on service fees by calling our Group Sales manager, Graham Clark, directly to order your tickets. He will save you money and be able to discuss all the options. Note: if you do not buy through Graham using the PROMO code "French," then you won't get the lower group price and promotions (and your purchase won't benefit the Alliance). So please buy through Graham at 503-963-3973, or access the convenient flyer for ordering, or go to this page online for ordering.

February 5, 2010 - Immersion Programs - A Panel Discussion, 6:00 p.m. at the Alliance (1425 SW 20th Ave.)

A fair number of Portlanders aspire to put their French learning on the fast track by fitting in an immersion program abroad. So we've asked six of our members who recently attended immersion programs in France, to join in a panel discussion of the pros and cons of several major programs, including ones in Paris, the Loire Valley, and in Provence. This panel discussion will be held on Friday, February 5, at 6:00 p.m. at the Alliance Française (Kamm House). The event is free to current Alliance members; non-members will pay $7 at the door. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED - this event is now sold out. Call our office for openings, at 503.223.8388.

February 12, 2009 - CERCLE DE LECTURE - New Book Club First Meeting, 5:30 p.m. (1425 SW 20th Ave.)

The Cercle de lecture will discuss the Fred Vargas policier, L'homme aux cercles bleus. Free to members, must be either native fluent or level B2/C1. No charge to participate. Buy the book in advance and read it, or as much as possible, prior to the February 12 meeting. A limited quantity of the books are availalbe for purchase at the Alliance for $20 (price from Amazon.fr is $24.38 including shipping, and higher on Amazon.com).

March 18, 2010 - Alliance Open House, Portes ouvertes, 6:00 p.m. (1425 SW 20th Ave.)

Visit the Alliance open house to discuss your class selections for the spring term, with our teachers. Enjoy refreshments and chat with other memers and staff. Sign up for Spring 2010 classes at or before the Open House, in order to take advantage of the 10% early bird discount off the class fee.

What We've Been Up to: Recently Completed Events

  • Alliance Portes Ouvertes - Dec. 3, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the Kamm House (1425 SW 20th Ave.)
  • Alliance Participates in the French Holiday Market at FAIS - Dec. 5, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Portland's 8th Annual Beaujolais Nouveau festival at the Heathman - Nov. 20, 2009, 6:00 p.m. 450 attendees.
  • Legion of Honor Ceremony for Don Malarkey at Portland Art Museum - Nov. 20, 2009, 1:30 p.m. - 45 attendees.
  • Portland's 2nd Annual Fresh French Short Films - October 16, 2009, 6:00 p.m. reception and film - 300 attendees.
  • What French Women Know and the Gospel According to Coco Chanel - October 9, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
  • Professor Monique Saigal on the French Heroines of the Resistance, Oct. 2, 2009 - 30 visitors.
  • Bal Breton by Ian Clemons, Mistral Group, Sept. 26, 2009 - 100 participants.
  • Alliance Portes Ouvertes Open House - Sept. 3 - featuring Consul Claudine Fisher - 70 guests.
  • Susan Herrmann Loomis of Rue Tatin at the Alliance, August 14, 2009, 45 guests.
  • 7th Annual Bastille Day at Jamison Park and Waiters Race - July 11, 2009, 8,000 visitors.
  • Alliance reception at the Portland Art Museum on the opening night of the Vardian Vision retrospective - July 10, 2009, 6:00 p.m.
  • Alliance hosted the reception for the French Legion of Honor veterans and Monsieur Mourier, Consul General of France - July 10, 2009, 3:00 p.m.
  • Alliance Annual Dinner at Fenouil - July 9, 2009, 6:00 p.m.
  • Le Concours de Tartes aux Fruits II - July 8, 2009
  • Alliance Portes Ouvertes, June 11, 6 p.m.
  • House Party in Portland with Tété and Eric John Kaiser - June 25, 2009.
  • La Fête de la Musique Americas Tour II with Tété and Eric John Kaiser - June 26, 2009.
  • French vs. Oregon Pinot Noirs, degustation a l'aveuge at Thirst Wine Bar - May 19, 2009.
  • Bal Breton, 1st Annual Event - May 9, 2009.
  • PFS Annual marche en plein air - May 9, 2009.
  • Sounds of Carla Bruni in the Parel - April 18, 2009.
  • Basics of Burgundy with Scott Paul Wright - April 3, 2009.
  • Alliance Open House - Mar. 19, 2009.
  • Blazers "French Night" with Nicolas Batum - Mar. 1, 2009.
  • PIFF Film Events on Feb. 12 and Feb. 15
  • FETE DES ROIS at the Alliance - Jan. 18, 2009.
  • Boating the Inland Waterways of France - Jan. 23, 2009. 55 attendees.
  • Conseiller elu Claude Girault at Alliance, 3-4pm - Jan. 24, 2009.
  • TETE Events at Alberta Street Pub, FAIS and Fenouil - Jan. 10 and Jan. 12, 2009.
  • Alliance booth with Andeo International Homestays at FAIS Holiday Market, Dec. 5 and 6, 2008.
  • Alliance Quarterly Open House - Dec. 4, at 6pm.
  • November 21, 2008 - Beaujolais Nouveau at the Heathman, co-organized with FACC PNW - nearly 500 revelers (LW)
  • Canadian Author Nicolas Dickner at the Alliance - Oct. 30, at 6pm.
  • Fresh French Short Films at NW Film Center - October 17, at 6pm. 100 attendees at the reception, 380 at the screening.
  • Alliance Quarterly Open House - Sept. 4, at 6pm; 70 attendees with guest of honor Claudine Fisher, Honorary Consul.
  • Alliance section at the home game between the Portland Timbers and l'Impact de Montréal on Aug. 16.
  • Special Screening of the Film, le fils de l'Epicier on Aug. 6 at Living Room Theaters, 55 attendees.
  • Belgian art historian and author Andrée Parisis presented her novel, l'Amour Partagé, on Friday, August 1, at 6:30pm.
  • Bastille Day Celebration in Jamison Square Park, July 12, 11-6; 6000 visitors.
  • Portland's First "Concours de Tartes aux Fruits - July 8 at Oregon Culinary Institute; 50 attendees.
  • Fête de la Musique USA Tour Featuring Tété, Eric John Kaiser and Scott Fisher in Concert - June 26 at Berbatis.
  • CD-Signing: Up Close with French Recording Star: Tété - June 25 at Uptown Billiards.
  • Alliance Quarterly Open House - June 12, at 6pm with Special Guest Raphaël McFeat.
  • Annual Alliance Dinner at Fenouil - May 29 - 50 attendees.
  • FACC/Alliance NetwWine Evening - May 14 at Square Deal Wine Company - 20 attendees.
  • Fête du Muguet at the Alliance - May 4 at the Kamm House - 30 attendees
  • Visiting author/artist Christophe Blain from Paris, French Author on USA Tour - April 30 - 25 at the Alliance, 30 at Floating World Comics.
  • Laurence Raybois Seminars on Living and/or Working in France - April 25 at First Congregational Church - 40 at each seminar.
  • Feb. 15, 2008 - Alliance Pre-film Reception and sponsorship, with FAIS, of film in Portland International Film Festival, attended by close to 400.
  • Feb. 14, 2008 - Reception for Consul General Adjoint, at the Kamm House
  • Feb. 8, 2008 - Cercle de lecture (fluent speakers' book club meeting)
  • Feb. 3 & 24, 2008 - Hosted 2 meetings of the Salon du dimanche group
  • January 24, 2008 - Presentation on Alliance Loire Immersion Program
  • January 22, 2008 - First Monthly Conversation Group at Fenouil Restaurant (in the bar)
  • January 6, 2008 - Alliance Quarterly Open House
  • December 7 & 8, 2007 - Alliance Sponsors FAIS Holiday Market (LW)
  • December 3, 2007 - Paris in Portland - French Immersion Dinner at Le Bouchon - sell-out/45 (LW)
  • November 16, 2007 - Beaujolais Nouveau at the Heathman, co-organized with FACC PNW - 400 revelers (LW)
  • October 2007 - French Flair online auction (followed by onsite auction at the Heathman)
  • October 2007 - Alliance Cercle de Platine Patrons Dinner (BV/JR)
  • Alliance Portes Ouvertes (Open House event) on September 6, 2007, with VIP guest Claudine Fisher, Consul Honoraire de France
  • Helped promote the photo exhibition of Paris photographer François Diascorn, July 24 at the Freimann Building; 80 attendees.
  • Portland Bastille Day in the Pearl, July 14, 2007; 30 exhibitors, 5,500 attendees.
  • June 14, 2007 - Alliance Portes Ouvertes - Open House at 6pm
  • World League Volleyball, France vs USA, University of Portland, May 26 & 27, 2007.
  • Alliance participated in the PFS "En Plain Air" Market on May 12, 2007, from 10-5pm.
  • French Elections Forum organized by the Alliance and hosted at the French American International School on May 2; attended by 50.
  • Social Event March 27: La Bouffe at Touché Restaurant & Bar
  • March 22, 2007 - Alliance Portes Ouvertes - Open House at 6pm
  • Portland Art Museum NW Film Center Pre-Show Reception Feb. 18, 2007 - attended by 200-300.(KS/All)
  • Beaujolais Nouveau Festival at the Heathman on November 17, co-organized with the FACC, attended by 400
  • Film Reception at the NW Film Center, Andrée Stevens Room, attended by 100
  • Marché de Noël hosted by Dufossé and featured Provence linens, wine and hand-crafted goods, December 9
  • Alliance Portes Ouvertes (Open House events) on December 7 and September 6, 2006
  • Alliance Exhibit at FAIS International Family Fair and Conference of Translators (PSU), both on September 30