Four Perfect Parisian Spots for a Sip, Savor and Sun

Four Spots to Sip, Savor and Relax Outdoors in the Parisian Summer


Marché des enfants : Entrée au niveau du 39 rue de Bretagne,3E. M°République.

In a place where the stalls of this charming covered market adjoin the tables of small market restaurants. You can enjoy foods of France, Morroco or Japan. This is a wonderful calm spot for a drink or light meal in the upper Marais.

Café Suedois : Centre culturel suédois, 11 rue Payenne 3e. 01.44.78.80.11 M°Saint Paul

This lovely Swedish Cultural center in the Marais is known for its exhibitions, concerts and other events. But the backyard of this lovely space is home to the eminently worthwhile Le café Suedois, where customers gather all day for teas, coffee, light meals and excellent carrot cake. There is a charming small square across the street with flowers and benches if the café is full.

La Mer à Boire : 1 rue des Envierges 20e 01.43.58.29.43. M°Pyrénées.

Here's a terrace to love! Perched on the heights of Belleville's Park, you can enjoy a glass of organic wine while soaking up the panoramic views out over Paris.


le Thé : Musée de la Vie Romantique 16 rue Chaptal 9e 01 55 31 95 67 M° Saint Georges.

In the verdant garden ot the charming, intimate Museum of Romantic Life you can rest, sip good tea and enjoy cakes and light refreshment. This is in the heart of the interesting Nouvelle Athennes quarter near the superb rue de Martyrs market street.

Paris Hotels and Summer Specials

If you are going to Paris this summer talk with Your Great Days in Paris about special deals on hotels. We get numerous promotions from three and four star hotels that offer lower prices, often include breakfast, and sometimes include nice extras like Seine Cruises or Louvre tickets.

Yes, lots of cafes, bistros and small stores do close in August but Paris is always worth a visit. August offers less crowds, museums are open (and air-conditioned) and there are numerous film and music festivals. This is a great city.... it never shuts down!

sally@yourgreatdaysinparis.com or 781 391 6183

Exploring the Canal St. Martin

The Canal St. Martin is atmospheric, a lazy canal largely for barges and the occassional sight-seeing boat heading to and from La Villette in the 19th from the Seine in central Paris. The canal has lovely broad quais, increasingly hip shops and cafes lining its banks, arched footbridges, leafy small gardens and generally, an interesting ambience.

The Canal goes underground several blocks up Boulevard Richard Lenoir from Bastille and its last length to the Seine is through a softly lit tunnel. But mostly the Canal is a splendid walk for a lazy hour or two in a still very real feeling section of Paris.

Check out the classic Quay-side cafe Chez Prune on Quai de Valmy or have an excellent 14 E three course menu at La Marine also on Quai de Valmy at #55. (Menu weekdays only at 14 E). Across the canal, the Pouya Iranian Cultural Center is an intimate oasis for lovely spiced teas or saffron flavored icecream.

Bring your camera, walk and take time to settle in and enjoy this vibrant quarter centered on this charming canal. Best metro stops nearby are Jacques Bonsergent or Republique. This is the 10th arrondissement.

Love Music? Celebrate the Summer Solstice With Music and Dance....
21 June, Monday, is the day. This all-over-France festival started in 1982 and is now celebrated throughout Europe. You can listen and dance to just about any kind of music all over Paris. Put on your dancing shoes, ring in summer, and enjoy the Fête de la Musique where ever you are in France.

http://www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr/site-2010/

Finding Out What's 'On' In Paris

Sometimes you just want to read what’s ‘on’ and dream, even better, other times you want to know what is happening so you can actually take advantage of the abundant Parisian cultural riches during a visit.

Once you are in Paris, the best deal in town has to be Pariscope. Published on Wednesdays and available in all the newsstands, this little TV-guide like booklet is the go to source for seemingly everything that is going on. Love movies? Check. Concerts ranging from techno music to jazz to classical or world music? Check. Walking tours and special festivals? Yes. Brocantes, Art and Antiques shows? Marionette shows for the kids? Absolutely. Pariscope will be the best .60 euro cents you’ve ever spent. Sit in a café and get out your highlighter and check off far more things than you will ever realistically do. Always good to have options!

For up to date events, news about city wide and arrondissement-specific initiatives (for example, where you can find free wifi spots, or cultural development of the Parc de la Villette area) you should definitely check out and bookmark the excellent e-zine called À Paris that the Mairie de Paris publishes. Full colour, loads of content and wonderfully useful, this publication is not skewed by for-profit interests, it is simply published to promote and encourage access to all that Paris has to offer. www.paris.fr/portal/publications/

The latest issue outlines all there is to do in Paris during the summer months. Indeed, www.paris.fr is the city of Paris’ newly renovated website and this excellent resource is available in French and English.

A Good French Meal in the Latin Quarter

Sometimes the Latin Quarter seems like a tough place to find a good classic (affordable) French bistro meal. Counter-intuitive indeed, but there are lots of good Vietnamese, Moroccan, Japanese, Chinese and other ethnic options in this charmingly historic, student-dense quarter. Check out Lilane, 8 rue Gracieuse for a good bistro meal. Think confit de canard, chocolate tart, rich mashed potatoes, langoustine-stuffed ravioli, homemade Foie Gras. Menus at 16 and 20 E at lunch, 32 E in the evening.

This is just off Place Monge, home to a good small market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, and, is just down the street from the amazing Maison des Trois Thés where you can sample one of a hundred plus premier oolong, Pu Ehr, yellow or white teas in a beautifully designed tea salon and shop. And you are near the Arennes du Lutece, the Mosquee de Paris, and the ever-lively rue Mouffetard market street too.

Normandy mega Impressionist Festival this summer

Love Impressionist Painters? Going to Normandy this summer? Be sure to check out the multi-venue, multi-modal Normandy Impressionist Festival that kicked off on June 4 in Rouen and runs thru September 15 in twelve different cities and locations around Normandy. Special exhibitions in museums and chateaux, music, dance, even gardens are in the mix.

www.normandie-impressionniste.fr/en/home

This looks like an amazing festival! The Euro is so affordable right now.. how can you resist?