October Newsletter

Dear Members,

Happy October! It is officially autumn, which means cozy apparel, your favorite pumpkin spiced recipes, beautiful foliage and... the occasional hurricane. October is also packed with interesting celebrations - including Halloween, of course, for the fans of all things gloomy. There is also "Indigenous Peoples' Day" (Oct. 10,) "International Sloth Day" (Oct.15,) and "Name Your Car National Day" (Oct 2nd.) Isn't it nice to know that a day has been set aside especially for those of us who have forgotten about the little ritual of naming your car? If you need inspiration, you will be glad to know that the most popular car nickname in France is "Titine" (pronounce Ti-teen,) presumably thanks to the popular Austin Mini dating back to the 1960's.

Fall is also literary season in France. There’s a flurry of excitement in bookshops around the country as readers rush out to buy the most popular new novels – some of which will go on to win prestigious French literary prizes like the Prix Goncourt. If you'd like to know more about the "rentrée littéraire" you're invited to join journalist Hélène Crié-Wiesner for a talk about the French Literary Prizes on Oct.28, 12pm.

On Oct. 22, we'll go back to the North Carolina Museum of Arts for a guided tour of the new permanent collection with Docent Diane Beckman. As a special treat, we will also don safety gloves to experience several sculptures by touch!

Here is what else to look forward to this month.