HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SHOW
Some of the highlights of what to see and what to do at BEST OF FRANCE 2015 :
- VIP Grand opening evening on Friday September 25 from 7:00PM to 10:00PM in the Axa Center (a few tickets are available for sale to the public on the Best of France website)
- Inauguration on Saturday September 26 at 11:00 AM in Times Square (Broadway between 38th and 43th street):
- Unraveling of the largest US and French Flags, in Times Square, by 130 American and French children
- Following the two national Anthems, unraveling of the largest “marinière” in the world (the iconic “Made in France” striped knitted sport sweater), 22’ long by 44’ wide.
- Main Stage in Times Square (43th street) with a variety of French artists performances, as well as shows by 16 Moulin Rouge dancers (for the 1st time in NYC), performances by famous French crooner Dany Brillant, and The Met to close the event on Sunday.
- Short projections on stage of some the Institut Lumière’s short clips of the newly refurbished first films ever created, which Martin Scorcese calls “ a world treasure”
- Display of replicas of the Ariane rocket launchers, by ArianeSpace
- Major tourism block presenting many cities and regions of France
- Giant 45’ long runway with multiple fashion shows:
- Open backstage for the public to see models having their hair done and being made up by L’Oréal, Lancôme and Yves Saint Laurent Beauté
- Special Appearances by former Supermodel and Humanitarian Ambassador Tasha de Vasconcelos dressed by Azzedine Alaia (for her charity AMOR)
- Kids fashion shows with France’s top brands such as Tartine et Chocolat, Kenzo Kids and Jean Paul Gauthier Jr.
- Fashion shows by trendy new designers such as Sophie Theallet (with Solstiss famous lace), St James and Claudie Pierlot, and Le Temps des Cerises Jeans
- Curated Art space presenting a dozen emerging French artists and first exhibition in the US of Raphaëlle Ricol
- Book signing including by famous French novelist Marc Levy and many other authors
- Exhibit of a reproduction of the head of the Statue of Liberty directly made from the authentic mold of the Paris’ head and crafted by Olivier, the grand-son of Louis Haligon who participated in the construction of the Statue of Liberty alongside Bartholdi
- French Tech Village with several innovative French start ups
- Special Culinary Stage offering regular demos by famous star chefs such as Christian Tetedoie (Worldwide President of Maitres Cuisiniers de France), Eric Kayser and others, in partnership with the Maitres Cuisiniers de France
- Tastings of dishes prepared by the master chefs of the Maitres Cuisiniers de France and the Académie Culinaire de France
- Giant “President brand of butter” sculpture crafted live, huge bread sculpture display by Kayser Bakery
- Two Grand Wine Tastings (accompanied by delicious buffets of charcuterie, cheeses and desserts) presented by NYC’s top sommeliers and featuring over 100 premium chateaux from all the regions of France (tickets for sale on Best of France’s website: www.bestoffrance.org/wine-tasting), as well as free wine seminars.