My Chemical Romance: Paris

Paris is my chemical romance. Just the thought of strolling along the Seine, sipping chocolat chaud at Angelina, and gazing at Monet's garden changes the chemistry in my brain. Music can do the same thing. Mix the band My Chemical Romance with Paris, and heaven help us.

This is the best day ever! Yup, KROQ is sending one listener and a friend to see My Chemical Romance in Paris on March lst at Casino de Paris. No, Kevin and Bean aren't pranking you. We're talking a trip to France, specifically: round trip airfare for two, a minimum of two night’s hotel stay, two tickets to see My Chemical Romance in Paris, and $500 spending cash! Go on, sing! But do it before the contest closes on January 14th.

There are two ways to enter. If you're a KROQ listener, like moi, be caller 20 when the DJ tells you to call in to 800-520-1067. Or, bop along to the link below. Warning: this isn't your typical contest, so it's going to take a bit more than filling out the usual form.

Welcome to the black parade. Crawl on over and enter.

Voilà - the link to KROQ's My Chemical Romance in Paris contest:

http://kroq.radio.com/2011/01/10/kroq-world-tour-destination-1-my-chemical-romance-in-paris-france/

Sleepless in Paris - Nuit Blanche

Sure, you pulled some all-nighters in college, but Nuit Blanche is the mother of them all, sans an exam. Launched in 2002 this free annual event buzzes throughout France from 7PM to 7AM with concerts, films festivals, art shows, photography exhibits, art installations, and a wealth of entertainment this Saturday, October 2nd. Museums, monuments, cinemas, parks, and swimming pools stay open all night. At dawn, city halls offer breakfast for those who have survived. Not sure you've got the stamina? The Metro is free and runs 'til the wee hours, so there's no excuse not to venture out. Take a plunge. Then, catch that Monet retrospective at 2AM.

Need a windfall to go? AT&T and is giving away $5,000 in their Windfall of Winnings Sweepstakes. Catch up on your sleep and party all night at next year's Nuit Blanche. Join the insomniacs and enter.

Voilà - the link to AT&T's Windfall of Winnings Sweepstakes:

http://att.promotions.com/windfallofwinnings/front.do

Dancing With the Stars at the Techno Parade in Paris

Amp up the volume at the annual Techno Parade if you're in Paris this Saturday, September 25th. This massive street rave, which is part of Rendez-vous électroniques (the Electronic Festival), starts at noon at Denfert Rochereau and ends around 5pm at Bastille. 20 floats feature 150 performers from all over France, who dance their way along the three-mile route. Hot DJs spin the 400,000+ crowd into a frenzy with decibel-defying sound systems. The best part? It's free.

Your life is already pretty fabulous, but it can't help to sweeten the pot. Vh1 and Dove are teaming up to give one lucky winner a four-part grand prize worth $4,000 to make life better in every way in their My _______ Got Better Sweepstakes. We're talking: a $1,000 designer shopping spree, a $1,000 party budget, $1,000 towards a home make over, and a $1,000 Tablet Hotels voucher. Pack up some of the cash and party in Paris. Jump on the bandwagon and enter.

Voilà - the link to Vh1 and Dove's My _________ Got Better Sweepstakes:

http://www.vh1.com/interact/sweepstakes/dove_gofresh/

La Rentrée: The Annual Paris-Versailles Walk

In France, la rentrée refers to early September when the masses return from holiday and reenter school and the workforce. Summer may be over, but that doesn't mean you can't reenter for an adventure. September 26th is the annual Paris-Versailles Walk, Grande Classique. While registration is already closed for this year's event, there's plenty of time to get in shape for 2011. For over 30 years, walkers and runners have participated in this 16 kilometer marathon which starts on the steps of the Eiffel Tower and ends at Château de Versailles. Prepare to see Paris from a different perspective! Zirh, the men's skincare line, is giving away $5,000 in their Destination: Anywhere Sweepstakes. That ought to cover a trip to Paris. Step up and enter.


Voilà - the link to Zirh's Destination: Anywhere Sweepstakes:

http://sweeps.zirh.com/entry.form

Getting Acquainted With Aquitaine

Paris always piques my interest, but sometimes, I want to go further afield to places like Aquitaine. Unfamiliar with this sumptuous southwest region of France? The Bay of Arcachon lured actress Sarah Bernhardt to Andernos, where she lived from 1915 until she died in 1923. Music hall sensation, Josephine Baker, bought a castle here, called Les Milandes, where she housed her 12 (Take that Kate Gosselin!) adopted children. It's now open to the public. Impressionist painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec spent the last months of his short life at Château de Malromé in the Entre-deux-Mers, which is also open to visitors. France Guide is giving away a trip for 2 to Aquitaine, which includes 2 round trip tickets on Air France, 2 nights in superior room at The Regent Grand Hotel, continental breakfast, 2 dinners and 2 lunches (including drinks), 4 winery visits (including tastings), entrance fees for monuments, and a bike rental in St. Emilion. Wine not enter?

Voilà - the link to France Guide's Aquitaine Memory Game:

http://us.franceguide.com/.html?nodeID=1676&EditoID=226072

France For Foodies

France is often synonymous for fabulous food. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (No, not the Brangelina film. These are boutique hotel specialists.) teams up with the epicurean experts, Tasting Table, to dish up a mouth-watering four-day adventure to Domaine de Verchant. The winner and a guest will spend three nights at this luxurious spa hotel set among Montpellier's vineyards. Also included is dinner for two (sans drinks) at the hotel’s elegant restaurant run by the Michelin-starred chef twins, the Pourcel brothers. A complimentary copy of Mr. & Mrs. Smith Hotel Collection: France, will tempt you to stay longer. Back home, the winner will also receive a special "Tour de France" selection of cheeses from New York’s oldest cheesemonger, Murray’s, containing Chabichou, Epoisses, Pyrenees Brebis, Comte and Fourme d'Ambert. Extend the journey with a gift of four France-inspired cookbooks from Wiley & Son: Avec Eric by Eric Ripert, The Cooking of South West France by Paula Wolfert, Fresh from the Market and Bistro Laurent Tourondel by Laurent Tourondel. To cover air fare and transfers, a $1,000 credit is provided. Stop salivating and enter.

Voilà - the link to the France For Foodies contest:
http://www.mrandmrssmith.com/competition/france-for-foodies

And God Created... Brigitte Bardot

French sex kitten Brigitte Bardot has made headlines as a model, a film star, a singer, and an animal rights activist for decades. It's hard to believe she's almost 76 and still ruffling feathers. Today's Los Angeles Times is running a riveting article about Bardot's latest controversial remarks and her battle to fight Kyle Newman's proposed, unauthorized, untitled Brigitte Bardot Biopic, which is slated to star Newman's wife, Jaime King. (She played radio-boss-cum-girlfriend, Vanessa, on the short-lived TV series, Gary Unmarried.)

If you're in France before the end of October, catch the Exposition Brigitte Bardot at Espace des Lices in Place des Lices in Bardot's hometown, St. Tropez. The popular show includes a wide selection of paintings, photographs, unpublished letters, sculpture, and items from her private life. Chronologically arranged thematic alcoves bear the title of a film, a song, or a TV show, and retrace Bardot's existence, from her childhood to her involvement in animal welfare. Highlighted are her connection with Saint-Tropez, her love affairs, and her career, which includes 50 films and more than 80 songs.

Midwest Living, which is about as far away as you can get from St. Tropez style, is giving away a $25,000 James Hardie Exterior Home Makeover, but the grand prize winner can opt for a $12,000 check instead. Take the money and run to Paris and St. Tropez. Stir things up and enter.

Voilà - the link to Midwest Living's Jamees Hardie Exterior Makeover contest:

http://www.midwestlivingpromo.com/jameshardie/index.html