Celebrate French Culture with Us

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French for Steelers Fans

Oct 25

8:30 am - 12:30 pm

Bottlerocket Social Hall 1226 Arlington Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15210

The Steelers are playing the first-ever NFL game in Paris, which means it’s time for the Paris of Appalachia to brush up on its French. The Pittsburgh chapter of the Alliance Française is heading to Bottlerocket to teach you the essentials: how to scream DÉFENSE! (good news, you already know this one), how to beg the DJ to play “Renegade,” and how to order an Iron City Light at a Parisian bistro. Plus, we’ll dig into our region's French history (including the hot debate over the pronunciation of North Versailles) and discover the surprising similarities between French and Pittsburghese. 

Afterwards, stick around to watch the game on the big screen. Hope to see you there!

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French Cinémathèque: Miséricorde

Oct 26

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

AF USA Event

Miséricorde / Misericordia
2024 · 102m
Director Alain Guiraudie
Genre Thriller

Following the death of his former boss, Jérémie returns to Saint-Martial, France, for the funeral, staying with his boss’s widow, Martine. While living with her, Jérémie finds himself drawn into a web of small-town intrigue with Martine's son, Vincent, a threatening neighbor, and the local priest.

Discussions will usually take place on the fourth Monday of each month. Participants are encouraged to watch the film via streaming before attending the discussion. The Zoom link will be sent out via email after registration. 

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Bordeaux, Then and Now: What 50 Years Reveal About Change in a Classic Region

Oct 29

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

AF USA Event

The Federation of Alliances Françaises USA invites you to a special virtual presentation exploring the evolution of one of France’s most iconic wine regions. Join Bordeaux-based wine authority Jane Anson and acclaimed photographer Peter Aaron for a rich conversation inspired by their new book, Bordeaux Chronicle.

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Conversation with Eric Karpeles: Proust’s Musée imaginaire and Beyond

Nov 17

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

AF USA Event 

Join us for an afternoon conversation with Eric Karpeles, author and painter, and Fereshteh Priou of the Proust Society of Greenwich. They will explore the rich visual imagination behind Proust’s work and the world of art that shaped his writing.

Whether you are a longtime admirer of À la recherche du temps perdu or simply curious about the interplay of literature and painting, all are welcome.

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From Survivor to Visionary: The Baroness Pontalba in Paris and New Orleans

Dec 03

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

AF USA Event

Born in the French Quarter of New Orleans and married into French aristocracy, Micaëla Almonester de Pontalba lived a remarkable life between two worlds. Her journey carried her from nineteenth-century New Orleans to the Château de Mont-l’Évêque, where a troubled marriage and a shocking act of violence tested the limits of her courage. She survived, returned to New Orleans, and transformed the city with the celebrated Pontalba Apartments that still frame Jackson Square.

Drawing upon the research behind The Blood of the Baroness, authors Rory O’Neill Schmitt, PhD and Rosary O'Neill, PhD, explore Micaëla’s resilience, her French-American identity, and the enduring cultural conversation between France and New Orleans.

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An Afternoon in Paris: Food, Mystery, and Julia Child with Jenna Helwig & Dorie Greenspan

Dec 10

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

AF USA Event

Please join Jenna Helwig, author of the new Paris mystery The Foreign Correspondent’s Wife and food director at Real Simple magazine, in discussion with bestselling cookbook author and part-time Paris resident Dorie Greenspan. Expect a conversation about the delights of French food, the fun of crafting a historical mystery, and memories of how Julia Child inspired both Jenna and Dorie, one via her memoir and the other in real life.