On Monday, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and convention CEO William Harris unveiled the final stage for the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Now, I'm not cool enough to get to see the stage during the official media unveiling, but I did get a sneak peek yesterday when I got to take an advance tour of the hall. In one week, I'll be back in the hall as the eyes of the world (well, at least America) will be focused on governor Romney as he accepts the Republican nomination for president of the United States. In two weeks, I will be at Bank of America Stadium, I mean, the football stadium, when Obama does the same thing for the Democrats. And I'm thrilled. But ...
Politics
Gone fishing, I mean… conventioning
Like Politico, this blog is "gone to the convention" and will also return September 10! I'm looking forward to discovering two new American cities: Tampa, Florida and Charlotte, North Carolina and hearing both presidential candidates, Mitt Romney for the Republicans and Barrack Obama for the Democrats officially accept the nomination for their respective parties. I've already voted back in May, in the French presidential elections and I won't get to cast a ballot in November (and if I did, it wouldn't matter anyway since I live in DC...). So I'm really here as an observer and I'm thrilled to be able to attend both conventions this year! I'll try to update this blog as much as I can, ...
Yes We Can… Eat Macarons!
Everything is political in D.C. Even our macarons ;-) The bite size French dessert has grown in popularity in the district since the last presidential election so it was only a matter of time until this happened: Campaign 2012 macarons pictured in least partisan flavour ever: vanilla! vanilla vanilla! Photo courtesy of The Sweet Lobby. These would be perfect for any debate watch party, fundraisers etc. ;-) The political macarons are available in limited quantities for individual purchase at The Sweet Lobby on Capitol Hill (where else?) every day for just 50 cents more than the regular macarons. For larger orders (16 macarons minimum) allow for 5 days notice. Of course, since ...
Presidential portrait… à la sauce Hollandaise
Guess who got his picture taken? L'Elysée just presented to the press the official portrait of the new president of the republic, François Hollande. The official portrait of French president François Hollande Taken by Raymond Depardon in the gardens of l'Elysée, the picture shows our "normal" president looking rather relaxed, with a slight smile on his face, and with the French and EU flags visble in the background. It's quite a departure from Sarkozy's very formal official portrait but reminds me a little of Chirac's... maybe that has something to do with them being from the same region in France... (la Corrèze). While Sarkozy had selected Philippe Warrin, a photographer to the ...
Hollande vs Sarkozy – Taiwanimation Edition
This is, hands down, the best analysis of the French presidential elections I have seen so far ;-) Enjoy! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-Eem3KJc4Y] ...
Election 2012 – French Edition (Part Une)
When I head out to the French Embassy in Georgetown, it’s typically for a cultural event or a reception. But tomorrow, I will join some 10,349* washingtoniens and washingtontoniennes on Reservoir Road to do my civic duty and vote in round one of the French Presidential elections. Unlike other French voters, expats on the American continent cast their ballots on Saturday, May 5 instead of Sunday May 6. If none of the candidates receive a majority of the votes in round one, we will have a round two between the top 2 candidates of the first round on April 21 in the US and April 22 everywhere else. My options tomorrow? 10 candidates, whose official platform I just received. Yes, 10. And yes, I ...
British Invasion – 2012 Edition
There's a few things the French really dislike. OK, there's a lot more than a few things but one of them is definitely losing to England. And losing to Germany too. That just brings back bad memories ;-) But losing to England is just what the French did on Sunday during a 6 Nations Cup rugby match. The game was pretty painful, and we lost 22-24, so the last thing I wanted to see today was a bunch of these ALL over town: The Union Jacks popped up all over the district today as the White House prepares to welcome U.K. Prime Minsister David Cameron and his wife Samantha tomorrow, with a 19-gun salute and an arrival ceremony in front of 6,000 invited guests. Cameron will then be whisked ...
Fall 2010 White House Garden Tour
Working a few blocks away from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, I often take the sight of the White House for granted. It is nonetheless, one of the world's most famous buildings and is visited each years by hundreds of thousands of Americans. On occasions they even let foreigners in and a few years back, I not only got to go on the regular East Wing tour I also had the opportunity to visit the West Wing and see the Oval Office. Now that was pretty cool but until today I still had some unfinished business with the White House. I had never actually been in the White House garden. Tours of the garden are organized for the general public twice a year and I was so confident I would be able to go on ...
