Some Alsace residents take Christmas decorating very seriously. From two men who go all out with phantasmagoric light displays to a woman who opts for a subtler, 1940s décor, you'll find some different takes on what it means to be in the "Christmas spirit" in this video.

Discover a unique instrument called the ondes Martenot, a precursor to the synthesizer named after its inventor, Maurice Martenot. This electronic piano-like instrument, once a musical sensation in the 1930's, quickly fell into disuse, but is experiencing a revival thanks to Christine Ott, a talented pianist who adopted this unusual instrument and has worked alongside such musical greats as Radiohead and Yann Tiersen.

The Marseille-based rap group IAM is back after a six-year hiatus with their new album, Arts Martiens (Martian Arts), which is already topping the charts in France. Check out a preview of their song "Notre Dame veille" (Our Lady Watches) in this video.

A menu for 8 euros... in a Zen decor! Not only has Joan Schmitt turned an old Alsatian bistro into a chic restaurant with a modern, minimalist style, but he also cooks for his clientele with local and worldwide produce, which he describes here with great gusto.

Parisian duo Julien Boulfray and Brieuc Carnaille sing a colorful song, "Hey, tu ne me manqueras plus" ("Hey, I won't miss you anymore") from their album "Vertiges." Enjoy their quirky retro pop/rock/electro style of music.

Lauren continues her tour of Lyon's Croix-Rousse neighborhood, a favorite haunt of artists and students who go there to live, work, and shop. The neighborhood also maintains its heritage as a center for craftsmen.

Lauren shows us around the Croix-Rousse neighborhood in Lyon, famous for its traboules, a series of passageways located below the buildings. The neighborhood is a favorite spot for artists and families alike.

France's Aube department has the highest concentration of wind energy in the country, which makes it the perfect place to experiment with new wind technologies and create a model for all of Europe.

Skiing in the French Alps is a great winter activity, but if you decide to take a trip, it's good to know what to do in case of an avalanche. You can never be too prepared!

Nicolas introduces some specialties of the Alsace region at the Alexandre Dumas Catering, Hospitality, and Tourism College. In this episode, pastry chefs bake some delicious cookies called "mannele" and "bredele." It's never too early to start planning your next New Year's fête!

The teenage violist Valentin Tournet plays an excerpt from Marin Marais' "Folies d'Espagne" (Follies of Spain) in this interview. He talks about the folia, an early music theme from Spain, as well as the passion for music he developed at a very young age.

If you're a turtle lover, you may be interested in the Fête de la tortue (Turtle Festival), which takes place in a different French town every year. This year's festival was in July, so you and your turtles will have to wait for next year's!

Claudine Thibout Pivert, a prolific poet, musician, and artist, talks about her latest books and the source of her inspiration, her childhood spent in the beautiful Anjou region of France.

The Nautique 196E is a high-power ski boat that runs entirely on electric power. Come take a tour of this eco-friendly craft and learn about all its impressive features.

Christophe Bertrand, manager of Bellevue Chocolates, shares some of his chocolate-making secrets, from ganaches to mouth-watering pralines.

René-Marc Cohen, a very fine artisan, will show us how to upholster a squat armchair, "un fauteuil crapaud" (literally a "toad armchair").

Lionel, the stand-up comedian, punster extraordinaire, surpasses himself with his long string of puns. Catch them if you can! The long-suffering husband of Éléonore, he is not shy about making her the butt of all his jokes.

Did you know that France is the most nuclear-dependent country in the world? These protesters are trying to change that statistic in their demonstration against nuclear energy in Paris's Place de la Bastille.

Get a look behind the scenes at the Foire du Trône, an annual fair held in the lovely Bois de Vincennes on Paris's eastern side. It's not just fun and games that go into making this festival an amusement hotspot.

In this next installment of Télé Bocal's coverage of the Python-Duvernois block party, we hear from a group of kids who've made a courageous trip down an enormous slide, and from a municipal advisor who shares with us her inspiring message of solidarity.

These Parisian pedestrians are asked to answer one of the questions from the 2011 philosophy baccalauréat exam: "Is art less necessary than science"? You never know when those standardized tests will come back to haunt you!

The locals interviewed at the Python-Duvernois neighborhood fair defend the reputation of their area and compete to win a roll of paper towels (or perhaps something a little more prize-worthy).

Birds aren't the only ones who might feel their lifestyle's been a bit restricted lately. France’s rural cats enjoy a good hunt. But the avian flu has put the lid on sporting felines living in affected areas.

Five of the nine districts of Lyon, the second largest French city, are being monitored for the H5N1 virus, better known as “Bird Flu”.