Alliance Française de Grosse Pointe

04/27/2026

We are teaming up again this year with the Alliance Française de Detroit/French Institute of Michigan to celebrate
BASTILLE DAY 2026 and 250 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP
Secure your tickets early!

Summer is fast approaching, and it's never too early to make plans! Our Bastille Day celebration on Sunday, July 12 will be held again at the fabulous Bayview Yacht Club.

Join us for this lovely event on the Detroit River: you will be treated to tasty food, cocktails, good company, French music, and fantastic views (the sunset is not to be missed!) Purchase your tickets today for our social event of the summer. They will sell out!

For tickets: https://tinyurl.com/bastille2026

04/08/2026

01/06/2026

Do you have a favorite?

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F5EQJ8h1F/

France celebrates Epiphany with two different cakes, depending on the region. In the south, the brioche des rois takes center stage. Also called the couronne des rois, it is a soft brioche ring, delicately scented with orange blossom water and topped with candied fruit and pearl sugar. It is meant to be light, fragrant, and easy to share.

In Provence, it represents conviviality and indulgence and is seen as the natural Epiphany cake, often preferred over the galette. This comes from older festive bread traditions that were common long before puff pastry spread across the country.

In the north and around Paris, the galette des rois is the standard. It is flat, made with puff pastry, and filled with frangipane. Rich and filling, it spread through Parisian bakeries and royal influence before becoming dominant.

A couronne is usually cheaper because it uses brioche dough and simple toppings. In most bakeries, it costs a few euros less than a galette of the same size. The galette requires large amounts of butter and almonds, which raises the price.

In the south, the galette often feels too heavy and too expensive. In the north, the couronne can seem plain for the money.

Even now, when both are sold, most people stick with what they grew up eating.

12/18/2025

Do you make your own Bûche de Noël or do do you have a favorite pâtisserie? Miam Miam!

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12/03/2025

Check out who is the guest speaker for presentation 2 in the Notre Dame series!
In French with English subtitles.

🏛️ Notre-Dame de Paris: After the Fire – La Restauration de Notre-Dame de Paris
📅 December 11, 2025 | 1:00–2:00 PM ET | Online | Free Event
(En français, avec sous-titres en anglais ou en français)

Join us for Part 2 of our three-part series on the story of Notre-Dame de Paris, before and after the fire.

In this lecture, Philippe Villeneuve, Chief Architect of Historical Monuments and Lead Architect for Notre-Dame Cathedral, takes us behind the scenes of one of the most ambitious restoration projects in modern history. Learn how teams of experts, artisans, and engineers brought the cathedral back to life, from documenting every detail to reviving centuries-old craftsmanship techniques.

Thanks to global donations and tireless dedication, Notre-Dame was restored in record time and reopened to the public almost one year ago. Yet the work continues, with restoration projects beyond the 2019 fire damage planned for the next five years.

🎤 Speaker: Philippe Villeneuve
🎙️ Moderator: Michel Picaud, Founder and President of the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris

🕰️ 10am PT | 11am MT | 12pm CT | 1pm ET
💻 Presented in French with optional English or French captions
🎟️ Free and open to all

In partnership with Alliance Française Miami Metro, Alliance Française de Chicago, and the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris.

👉 Register now to reserve your spot: https://www.afusa.org/community/event-rsvp/?event_id=150

12/03/2025

Don’t miss a wonderful series on Notre Dame. Members access presentations for free!

🕯️ Notre-Dame de Paris: Before the Fire
📅 December 4, 2025 | 1:00–2:00 PM ET | Online | Free Event
(In English)

Join us for the first lecture in a three-part series exploring the story of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, before and after the fire.

In this illustrated talk, Russell Kelley, author of The Making of Paris, guides us through eight centuries of history, from the cathedral’s foundation in 1163 to the tragic fire of 2019. Discover how this Gothic masterpiece became the spiritual and cultural heart of France, witnessing coronations, revolutions, and renewal.

Kelley has lived in Paris for more than 30 years and next to Notre-Dame for two decades, offering a deeply personal perspective on its story and restoration.

🕰️ 10am PT | 11am MT | 12pm CT | 1pm ET
💻 Presented in English
🎟️ Free and open to all

In partnership with Alliance Française Miami Metro, Alliance Française de Chicago, and the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris.

👉 Register now to save your spot: https://www.afusa.org/community/event-rsvp/?event_id=149

11/16/2025

Wednesday, Nov.19 at 6:00 PM- Free Event. Registration required

The Detroit Institute of the Arts is located in Detroit’s cultural corridor. Our address is 5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202.

10/27/2025

Michigan was well represented at a very successful 2026 AF-USA Convention 🇫🇷

09/24/2025

Do you have a graduate student in your life that might benefit from this unique opportunity?

Launching on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence and in celebration of French-American friendship, the French Embassy in the United States is proud to present the Lafayette Fellowship.

09/13/2025

🗓 September 17, 1PM PT | 2PM MT | 3PM CT | 4PM ET

Join Fereshteh Priou, founder of the Proust Society of Greenwich, and Professor William C. Carter, renowned Proust biographer and scholar, for an engaging exploration of Time Regained, the final volume of Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time.

Together, they’ll reflect on the themes, legacy, and timeless brilliance of Proust’s closing masterpiece in a conversation that’s both intellectual and deeply human. Whether you’re a longtime reader or curious newcomer, this is an event for all lovers of great literature!

Register here: https://www.afusa.org/community/event-rsvp/?event_id=134