Parisian of the Month: Patricia Laplante-Collins

This is a posthumous Parisian of the Month of Patricia Laplante-Collins from 2009. Sadly, Patricia suddenly passed away last month. In case you don’t know who Patricia Laplante-Collins was, she was an ex-pat social lynchpin of Paris, hosting her famous and popular Paris Soirees. Almost every Sunday night for over two decades, Patricia would open her home and make dinner for whoever wanted to come, as long as you were pleasant and open to meeting new people. (She charged a very nominal fee for her expenses). Even though she had many faithful regulars attend over the years, it was more importantly a safe place for new ex-pats to meet new people or have a community to relate to. She also invited a guest speaker, from poets, to historians to musicians, to kick off the evening. I was quite flattered when Patricia invited me to speak about my blog and tours in 2008 and it was a wonderful way to share my stories with a new audience. The best part of the evening was when Patricia would introduce each person and ask him or her to briefly tell something about themselves, making everyone feel special and welcome. Patricia had lots of ups and downs over the years, frequently having to move or change locations for her soirees, but she always managed to have them happen every Sunday night, no matter the circumstances. She brought thousands of people together for a common purpose, making her guests feel at home and at ease, sometimes with an unexpected benefit; new friendships were formed and at least one person met their future longtime partner. I remember Patricia’s reaction when I first invited her to be my Parisian of the Month and then published it. She was beyond thrilled and overjoyed, as if she had won an Oscar or the lotto jackpot, and every time I would see here she would thank me again. Sunday nights in Paris just won’t be the same anymore without you Patricia, and I hope you are hosting your fabulous Paris Soirees in heaven.

Patricia Laplante-Collins is the genial hostess and proprietor of Paris Soirees, a twice weekly salon-like gathering that includes a home-cooked dinner and/or cocktail hour. The intimate meetings are held in Patricia's living room and always include an interesting and inspiring guest speaker. Patricia was kind enough to invite me as a guest speaker last year to talk about my tours and read some of my blog posts. The evening was quite a success and I gained a whole new audience for my blog and tours.

Where were you born and where did you grow up?
 I was premature and born in Cleveland, Ohio where my Mother was on vacation.

Actually, four generations on both sides my family are from Atlanta (where I grew up) . An ancestor, Colonel McHenry, was one of the first African Americans in the Georgia House Of Representatives after the Civil War (the era of carpetbaggers and other scoundrels a la Gone with the Wind).We also have lot of Georgia Indian blood, but do not know the names of the tribes).
 
I attended middle-class Spelman College for one year, then transferred to Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, which opened my eyes to the world.
 
What brought you to Paris and how long have you lived here?
 I was traveling and living in different places around Europe - especially Italy and Sweden, after having lived in NY and worked in advertising. I thought I had a contact in France who had started a company and I knew could help get me working papers. Although I had a fascination with Paris, always had had since being a kid growing up in Atlanta, having that contact was a decisive factor for me coming here.  I also decided to enroll in the University of Paris IV, the Sorbonne, in Art History on a graduate level.
 
August 1st will be the 26th anniversary of my arrival in Paris to live. 

How did you come up with idea for your Paris Soirees and when did you start them?
 When I first came to Paris I volunteered for American organizations which held events. One day I wanted to do my own events. At first they were social issue oriented. Then they became literary cocktails in about 1994 - most notably the African American Literary Soirees .Ernest Gaines was the special guest and for the occasion, I made a creole dinner. It was a success. I continued the cocktail format though also used an art gallery, Cafe Marley (it was different then) and a web cafe art gallery and at the 7 Lezards Jazz Club.
 
Then in 1999 I added on dinners, in my living room, had the literary cocktail on Friday and the dinner on Sunday. Eventually I merged the two and now have African-American and all sorts of subjects.  Its very eclectic. There are all kinds of subjects which draws a wide range of intelligent people.
 
I often do cocktails on Wednesdays and there are often subjects about self development and practical matters. But it's really social and cultural too. Sometimes subjects about being single. Looking forward to Wednesday Sept 18th when Jamie Cat Callan presents her new book French Women Don't Sleep Alone
 
It was really hard for me to make friends and meet nice people when I came to Paris. That's one of my motivations in organizing dinners. Just remembering how difficult it was for me. Through Paris Soirees events, I've met a tremendous number of nice people and have made many friends.
 
Also I love cooking and was a trainee at the Cordon Bleu and La Varenne while being a jeune fille au-pair. I find handling food therapeutic.
 
Tell me how they work.
 It's easy to come. To reserve just email me on parissoirees@gmail.com or call me on the cell 33 6 43 79 35 18. Your donation gets collected during the evening. I send out notices by email so you can just return the notice also - but well before noon on Sunday. I pencil in advance reservations so you have to call the day before to confirm. I don't read emails after 12h00 noon on Sunday. Please feel free to call on Sunday anytime, if you suddenly find that you're free. Groups should email in advance.

Happy hour is 18h30  - 19h30. The Special Guest presents at 19h45 and dinner is at about 20h30 (buffet but you're served.)It's casual and fun. The evening ends at about 10h00-10h30.

 

Who was the most interesting speaker you ever had?
 Director Bob Swaim who won the Palm D Or at the Cannes film festival for La Balance with Nathalie Baye. The film involves the life of a prostitute and Bob worked with plain clothes policemen to learn the atmosphere. His stories about his experiences were compelling.
 
If you could invite one person living or dead to speak at your soirees, who would it be?
 Al Pacino interviewed by Larry King (I've never heard Al interviewed and I know that Larry would do a great job).

 What’s the most unexpected surprise that happened at your soirees?
 When author Rosine Bramley, who wrote a book called Do Women Still Need Men? had reciprocated love at first sight with an American from Florida and now spends much of her time there with him. He was one of the few men in the audience. What a surprise.
 
Besides your living room, what would be your ideal space to have one of your soirees in?
A trendy and homey gallery with a kitchen big enough to cook in or a river barge that I could afford in the dead center of Paris. (I once rented one for a short time but it became too expensive and was only available for a few months of the year at bad times of the evening.)
 
What are some of the things that Paris offers that no other city does?
 It makes you feel that you are in the most special place in the world. The center of the universe, the best that Western culture has to offer.

What do you prefer about Paris? 
I love people watching. I can sit all day in a cafe on a nice day and watch people go by - in a fun neighborhood of course.

If you want to reserve a spot for one of Patricia's soirees, got to her website
 http://www.parissoirees.com/

Mural of Patricia by Tom Byrne and Sheila Kern