Les Nuits Blanche in Paris

Saturday October 2 is your chance to stay up well into the wee hours and celebrate arts and culture all over Paris. Check out the website with full details:



The Nuit Blanche celebration is a fantastic city wide party, lots of music, edgy art, interesting happenings. It is a terrific way to explore off the beaten path quarters. And, it is all free! There will be kiosks with booklets detailing events by the Hotel de Ville, in the French Tourist Office, and near major metros around town. Generally these set up a day or two in advance. Or check the website. Go, participate... this is fun!

Learning French: Tips, Tools, Classes With French Today

I've posted earlier comments on French Today, the excellent online French-teaching website and service run by my colleague Camille Chevalier Karfis. Camille's website is packed with useful and up to date information on the French language, and, also on being a culturally competent traveler in France. She can do lessons online and offers a great toolbox of teaching tools. You can even get a daily tip on twitter.

The Global World According to Louis the XIV

Tucked away in the modern Bibliotheque Nationale are two immense and beautiful Renaissance-era globes. The 'Coronelli' Globes provide a fascinating view of the Global world and the world view of King Louis the XIV. They are magnificent. Read my article on Bonjour Paris about the Globes and go see them... you will be very glad you did!

Please note: Louisiana was sold to the US by Napoleon, not by Louis XIV and Colbert did not die in 1967! Two errors within the article that I am chagrinned about... but the Globes are astonishing. That I know.


www.bonjourparis.com/story/global-world-according-louis-xiv/

Learning French? French Today is your resource.

If you want to learn French and want a resource-packed website to boot, check out my good colleague Camille Chevalier's website www.frenchtoday.com

Camille lives in France and has been very smart at thinking through how she can both teach students via phone and online and also offer quality educational products. She also invites contributors to her website who post up to date pieces on Paris and French travel.

This is an excellent resource.

New App.. yogoguide for Paris

Yogoguide has created a free, useful and easy to use new Paris website accessible by computer and smartphone. You choose your topic.. dining, lodging, sights and more and scroll over a map to see your options. There is a good list of permanent markets, including the flea markets, book and stamp markets, and overall the information is comprehensive and useful for planning a trip or for checking in on ideas and choices while you are in Paris. Take a look. An app is in the works too.

http://www.yogoguide.com/yogoguide-paris-visitor.php

Le Saotico: New top choice for market fresh French cooking

I was very happy to receive a note from Anne Surcouff telling me that she and her talented chef husband, Hughes Gournay, are back on the Paris dining scene after a hiatus of a couple of years. I used to frequent their intimate Le Reminet in the Latin Quarter and referred lots of clients there as well. The food was always delicious, market-fresh, a little inventive and very fairly priced. Le Reminet is still in business under different owners, but, now this culinary couple has purchased a duplex space at 96 rue de Richelieu (near the Opera Comique and Bourse... not that far from the Louvre and Palais Royal) and they are serving Mondays through Fridays 8-8. The unusual hours are due to this location in a very lively business quarter, but, one that is a bit quieter at night. So dinner is still being worked out but there is already a devoted lunch clientele. I plan to stop for lunch when I am in Paris in late October and will report... with photos! But I know I can recommend this chef and his lovely spouse who creates a warm, sophisticated atmosphere for a good meal, still at a fair price. Check Le Saotico out. The restaurant name by the way is the name for the succulent tiny grey shrimp found off the Normandy coast. That bodes well.

Annual "Days of Patrimony" weekend September 18-19

Once again a full weekend is dedicated to opening up hundreds of public buildings and some private collections not generally accessible to the public. This excellent annual event called Les Journees du Patrimoine will be September 18 and 19 this year. Check out the website www.journeesdupatrimoine.culture and plan your priority visits. Some sites do have long lines... people love this opportunity to get inside glorious spaces and take a look around.

This is an event all over France, not just in Paris. Access to all venues is free. Don't miss this one if you are in France!