49 Strangers

The common chemistry of 50 people, mostly strangers, brought together to dine can only be described as electric. Perhaps that is why Jim Haynes hosts his Sunday Salons. Haynes, 73, an American expatriate who has lived in Paris since the early 70's invites The World to his home for dinner every Sunday.

Jim Haynes is the type of character you meet in documentaries and certain New York Times articles. His charisma billows through a room and into the garden of his Parisian atelier the way fog does on a cool summers night. Those interested in reading his biography should be seriously committed to the finer, personal details of ones life as many (including private) details are included. Perhaps this is one of the reasons he is so cherished. Among many things, Jim is a 'purveyor of the arts" and has laid the groundwork for many theaters, underground newspapers and has written several books. Haynes is also one of the leaders of the 60/70's sexual liberation movement. In the late 1970's, Jim along with two friends started the Sunday Salon, an institution that carries on today. Suffice to say, Jim is an interesting person who always has a story to share.

A Parisian tradition which has carried on for over 30 years, The Sunday Salon is hosted every Sunday except for a few weeks a year, normally when Haynes is off at various book or arts festivals. People can call, email or write a letter requesting a spot at one of these dinners. A small €25 donation is asked to pay for the food and profits go off to food charities in Eastern Europe.

Its amazing the type of people who show up to break bread with a fellow stranger. Retired teachers traveling through France, a young Polish girl who lives in Paris, a Tasmanian making his way through Europe and of course many Americans. His audience is global. After hearing about Jim's dinners on NPR's This I Believe series, I decided it was now or never. Aachen is only four hours away from Paris by car so I convinced four friends of mine (another American, a German, an Australian and an Austrian) to join me and we embarked on a weekend to Paris with the grand finale set for Sunday evening.

Many Parisian artists call the 14th arrondissement home and it also serves as the venue for the Sunday Salon which is held rain or shine. Upon entering the garden, you meet others waiting to meet and greet this underground icon. His appearance is oddly misleading, looking more like a southern grandfather than a writer of books previously deemed "obscene." Grab a cup of wine and meet someone new. Jim tries to memorize the names and basic info of each participant and if you haven't met by the time he comes around, you will when he's finished. The Salon is conducted precisely between 20:00 and 23:00 and at the closing hour, people pair off, exchange contact information and carry the party on somewhere else.

I would fully recommend joining one of Jim Hayne's Sunday Salons or a similar event somewhere else. The chance to connect with 49 strangers in a way that you wouldn't normally do is invigorating, exciting and certainly makes for a great story.