Sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French, National French Week is in its sixth year. Events and exhibits featuring the French language and francophone cultures will take place in the community, at USC, and in area schools and colleges. According to the latest census figures, more than 3,000 speakers of French live in Richland and Lexington counties.

Events and activities include:

• Nov. 1–30 The Music Library in the USC School of Music Library, will display a collection of scores and engravings related to 17th-century French music and the stage”. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
  
• Nov. 5 The Chambas family will present a selection of French wines at the Gourmet Shop, 724 Saluda Ave., from 2 to 5 p.m. The informal tasting is free and open to the public. For more information, call 799-3705 or 799-9463.
  
• Nov. 6 Lara Lomicka, an assistant professor of French at USC, will lead a guided tour of French paintings and decorative art at 1:30 p.m. at the Columbia Museum of Art at the northwest corner of Main and Hampton streets. The tour will include items from the current exhibit on gardens. The regular admission fee will be waived, but participants will be asked to contribute $5 or more to the Marilyn Morgan Educational Outreach Fund.
  
• Nov. 7 Les Amis, a French conversation group, will meet at 5:30 p.m. at Nonnah’s Restaurant, 930 Gervais St. For more information, call Elisabeth Weinerman at 407-8724.
  
• Nov. 7 The "Monday Evening Three-Course Meal for $19" at Gervais & Vine, 620 Gervais St., will include French specialties. Special prices on French wines also will be available.
  
• Nov. 7–9 and Nov. 11–14 The Nickelodeon Theater, at 937 Main St., will feature L’Esquive/Games of Love and Chance, in French with English subtitles. The reality-based romance is set in the housing complexes that ring Paris. The inhabitants are mostly North Africans, and the play they are to perform is an 18th-century comedy whose language is as different from French slang as Shakespeare is from rap. The film, which received four Cesar awards, including “Best French Film of 2004” and “Best Director,” has not been rated. Screenings are at 7 and 9:15 p.m. with 3 p.m. matinees on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. For more information, call 254-3433.
  
• Nov. 8 The Gourmet Shop, 724 Saluda Ave., will sponsor a wine tasting and dinner featuring the wines of Burgundy with Michael Stephens of Vins Divins. A champagne reception at 6 p.m. will be followed by a seven-course dinner starting at 7 p.m. The price of $75 per person includes tax and gratuity. To make advance reservations only, call 799-9463.
  
• Nov. 9 Singer-songwriter Benoît St.-Jacques will perform original music from Québec at 8:30 p.m. at the French House, 820 Henderson St., directly east of Gambrell Hall on the USC campus. Parking is available in a lot off Green Street behind Gambrell or on Barnwell Street near the Capstone Building. The event is free and open to the public.
  
• Nov. 11 Jean-Pierre Chambas will present Bordeaux wines of 2003 at 7 p.m. at the Gourmet Shop. Admission is $12.50 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information and reservations, call 799-3705 or 799-9463.
  
• Nov. 12 The Alliance Française of Columbia will sponsor an evening of ballroom dance at The Barn, 680 Cherokee Road, West Columbia, starting at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $4 for members and $8 for nonmembers. There will be a dance lesson of “la valse” followed by a variety of international ballroom dances.
  

11/05