Chi Chi Menendez A makeshift wheelbarrow race at the first Summer Camp party in Paris.
For those feeling lonely in deserted-in-August Paris, here’s a solution: why not join a summer camp for grown-ups? Colonie de Vacances(Summer Camp), a series of camp-themed parties aimed to entertain bored grown-ups began last week at Chez Moune (54, rue Pigalle; 33-1-45-26-64-64), an Art Deco cabaret in the city’s historic red light district, Pigalle.
The principle is this: anyone can offer or attend any class — and the stranger the subject the better. Opening night included “wheelbarrow races, medals for bad behavior, yellow cards and humiliation via megaphone for guests requesting Lady Gaga,” said Chi Chi Menendez, one of the event organizers, who also calls herself “a camp leader” during the event.
Ms. Menendez, who has had to stay in town while much of the city is on vacation, found that many people around her were also feeling frustrated, and decide to solve the problem with a dose of good, clean fun. “Summer in Paris can be kind of sad for those not leaving on vacation; everything shuts down and Paris is a ghost town,” she said. “So our idea was to give people a fun place to come and hang out with people they don’t necessarily spend time with throughout the year.”
The parties take place three times a week — Thursday, Friday and Saturday — for the month of August, and will host different classes, surprises, and absurd competitions. “We are allowing people to be active participators in the event, whether they want to D.J., perform, or be a camp monitor. There are no boundaries,” she said. “We will not be calling anyone’s parents,” she added with a laugh.