Paris1972-Versailles2003

It is time to talk about what’s going on in the Paris region and even the rest of France.

Let’s start with Modern Arts at the city of Paris Musée d’Art Moderne, at the expo the Art and war or arts et guerre, running thru February 13 2013 see more info at the webpage http://www.mam.paris.fr/en/node/712 , this is at 11, avenue du Président Wilson next to palais de Tokyo.

The Vendée Globe sailing boat race around the world has begun from Les Sables d’Olonne , where it will also ends, but before passing by the Atlantic, Indian ,and Pacific oceans and the three major capes in the world  Good Hope, Leeuwin and cape Horn.  This is the traject from the official site http://www.vendeeglobe.org/data/medias/download/parcours_2012.jpg  and you can see more in English here http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/

Drink, bare glass of the pure absinthe  at Laperouse (15 €). Or trry the nice  «fée verte», the drink of the bar that replaces the  bourbon in the composition of the Mint Julep (18 €).  51, quai des Grands-Augustins (75006). Tél.:+33  (0) 1 43 26 68 04. All in a wonderful ambiance of old, weppage http://www.laperouse.com/

And tomorrow it comes out in France the Beaujolais Nouveau, and I will be after work at my favorite wine merchant Nicolas near me to get my share lol! Its in my favorite links below in my blog but here it is the webpage http://www.nicolas.com/

Then if you are lucky enough to be by Paris try it and have a great snapper or sole at La Marée Passy, in my dear 16éme at 71, avenue Paul Doumer  open 7/7 days and all fish and seafood at the best. webpage http://www.lamareepassy.com/index.php

Don’t forget to try Carette ,one of my all time favorites there, and the patisseries are sublime,,,, Trocadero my love and also by Pl de Vosges. http://www.carette-paris.com/uk/

You have a lot shopping here, now some is for reference as obviously I dont shop for girls but do pass by and look !!) and the boys well , I am a boy lol! Alice à Paris (for the little fellas in you household)  at 11, rue de l’Annonciation, Tel +33 01 45 27 98 05) light and classic cuts , Cordelia de Castellane  at 3, rue Claude-Chahu,+33  01 45 20 06 52),selling gorgeous outfits even for the little ones ; Sœur at 5, rue Pierre-Guérin,+33  01 45 25 73 04), one of the stores fétiches of Inès de La Fressange(Miss France contest MC) this is for the  12-18 yrs and their mothers.  The olders can go to  COS at 60, rue de Passy, +33 01 53 92 52 60, and  NGR at  40 bis, rue de Boulainvilliers, +33 01 45 27 32 42)  dedicated to deluxe brands at good prices with collections changing all the time as well as at  KB Stock (several stores but the one at  rue Duban, +33  01 45 24 25 50 is great), this the discount haut gamme clothing or second hand items . Also at  Paradis Blanc , at 1, rue François-Ponsard, +33 01 42 24 16 61), simple forms on stock . For the second hand clothing depots you can try  Réciproque at 89 à 101, rue de la Pompe, +33 01 47 04 30 28), with several stores and the Dépôt-vente de Passy at  14, rue de la Tour, +33 01 45 03 95 21.

You go visit the only library in Paris dedicated to travel books,at  bibliothèque du Trocadéro Germaine-Tillon  at 6, rue du Commandant-Schloesing, old Bibliothéque du Trocadero simply, city of Paris webpage for more info http://equipement.paris.fr/Biblioth%C3%A8que_Germaine_Tillion

For other curiosities always fond of my passing there is the Musée du vin at 5, square Charles-Dickens, with a collection of wine objects and wine tastings, webpage http://www.museeduvinparis.com/ . If you want to stay sane and sound of alcohol go to the  Pavillon de l’Eau at 77, avenue de Versailles, to see a permanent expo on water in the city and know the secret of its floating navy as well as temp expos. webpage showing how to get there, http://www.eaudeparis.fr/page/pavillon/acces-contact?page_id=192 . You can cap it with the beautiful glass displays at Musée Baccarat  at 11, place des États-Unis, retracing the history of glass with a rich collection and historical documents, webpage  http://www.baccarat.fr/ .  Give it a artful visit to the Maison de Balzac at  47, rue Raynouard, right in the heart of a pretty garden where we can admire now the expo on the  Grisettes, along collections of manuscripts and objects belonging to the writer; webpage at city of Paris ,attention the museum is closed until April 2013, http://www.paris.fr/loisirs/musees-expos/maison-de-balzac/p6837.  And finally, the Cité de l’Architecture at  1, place du Trocadéro,where you have nice workshop for children and the wonderful architecture of Pairs thru its history. This better known as Chaillot, but the webpage is here http://www.citechaillot.fr/fr/

For antiquities in Versailles do not stop from visiting the Saint Louis district ,the area of the Cathedral, and see this man, wonderful objects , simply the best, http://www.antiquites-versailles.com/

Wait not done yet, once a week is enough for this post.  I have come into knowledge of wonderful perfumeries open in Paris these are  Jovoy, at chic rue de castiglione, webpage http://www.jovoyparis.com/  , le Labo , internationally known with boutique on the 6éme , webpage http://www.lelabofragrances.com/  Nose , new concept on the 2éme webpage ,http://nose.fr/fr/help/contactez-nous  and  Acqua di Parma from Italy with love, store at 6, Rue des Francs Bourgeois ;webpage http://www.acquadiparma.it/app/stores.html

Good and bad news, the renovations at Chateau de Versailles will be delayed and the Galerie des glace will be open,  The renovation of the Grands  Appartements will be delayed . However ,more news the pavillon Dufour, that now houses the administration of the palace and areas private of the palace will be entirely renovated; this to offer a better entrance to visitors modeled after the Pyramide of the Louvres, Paris. The administration will then be move to the Grand Comun at ave de l’independance Americain that will be finish soon and already renovated.

And yes finally , the Paris CDG airport will house a museum of  250 m2 with expositions renewing every 6 months. This will be by T2E on the new satellite wing at S4.  It will take turn with work from all the Paris museum, and word has it the first one display will be from the Musée Rodin.  It should have been finished by December but now it has been delayed into the new year. Look out for it here. 

Have a great week ,cheers.

Let’s get it rolling, another wonderful escape to Paris, am I lucky? It seems the city nevers gets away from me and that’s fine too.

It was a long journey by TGV train from Auray stopping by Vannes, Redon, and Rennes before reaching Paris Montparnasse. Going was ok, taken the Metro to reach Levallois Perret for my business meeting was OK; the problem was coming back in the evening.

Metro was stop underground scary don’t like that, electric problems, on line 3, then arrive late for my TGV and luckily same rate so they just exchange for free but but, the next train was two hours later lol!!! So kill time at the gare is not fun, venturing out was fun a bit, and then the TGV was late,and slow down en route so I was supposed to reach home by 20h30 instead arrive at 23h30!! those are trains for you. BY car it would have been better lol!!!

I had the chance to visit my old office at rue depart, and then venture out a bit, and saw some of lovely Paris getting ready for Christmas season, by the way the lights are out at champs-elysées, must see. Went on for my business meeting alright with a nice lunch at classic French resto Chartier, http://www.chartier-levallois.fr/ classic was the St Jacques with wild rice, and the saucison de Lyon with red wine from the Côte Roannaise and coffee. Nice. One for the future reference, very well served and great food, in a nice elegant old world ambiance. This is at Levallois Perret ,dep 92 Hauts de Seine.

Now some of the latest from my pickup fresh air in Paris with a bit of pollution to balance your diet ::)

The Vélib bikes is in for sure with 23 801 bikes per day in 1 742 stations, however, complaints are falling in as there is a shortages of 5500 bikes as promised and the verification system is lacking so now the city will put an audit to find out.  No panic this is just to have some quality measurements in place to monitor quality of service.

Great even at Domaine de Chantilly (castle)  7, rue du Connétable, 60500 Chantilly. Tél. +33  (0) 3 44 27 31 80. open every day except Tuesdays from 10h30 to 17h.  Last until January 7 2013. Entitled «Delacroix et l’aube de l’orientalisme»,shows the affection of the Duke d’Amale for the Oriental culture , 22 paintings and designs retracing the history of orientalism, the expedition of Napoleon Bonaparte, the beginning of Romanticism, showcasing the artists  and travelers of the military oriental world. webpage http://www.domainedechantilly.com/domaine-de-chantilly/evénements-à-laffiche/delacroix-et-l’aube-de-l’orientalisme

Something new just very near Paris, Marks & Spencer has another store at the end of metro line 3 station Louise-Michel to find your  cheddar, sandwichs poulet tikka masala and others  poulet korma. The new store has  7 000 m² !!! open in the new commercial shopping center of So Ouest ,  31, rue d’Alsace, 92300 Levallois-Perret. Also,  RER C Pereire or the train sncf  line L, Clichy-Levallois. webpage of center http://www.soouest.com/W/do/centre/accueil and webpage of the store which does not even have the new one in it yet, first news from me lol!!! http://www.marksandspencer.fr/fr_FR

Have some fantastic seafood at Le Garnier,111, rue Saint Lazare ,you may be wondering this is an old place Mallards nownew name and same good seafood, excellent dish like this one  cabillaud doré au beurre entouré de petits cèpes bouchons. Something like young codfish golden butter roast with small mushrooms buttons. email reservations here restaurantgarnier@fr.oleane.com  part of the group Menut webpage http://www.groupe-menut.com/GarnierSaintLazare/

And the magnificent favorite of mine for years,  Café Prunier, 15, place de la Madeleine,. open every day except Sundays. Formule: at 35 €, menus at 40 € and 99 € (all caviar). Carte:between  60-70 €.webpage http://www.prunier.com/cafe.php

up my alley, a new restaurant South African style , Restaurant Cap, 42, boulevard Pereire,. Tél.:+33  (0) 1 44 40 04 15. For lunch open every day except Saturdays, Sundays,and Mondays. For dîner,from Wednesdays to Saturdays  Métro: Wagram. webpage see more at bottom of my blog for the site, http://www.thefork.com/2_restaurant/Paris_restaurant/Restaurant_Cap_restaurant/21295/

And I left you with a nice parc Saint Cloud in dept 92 Saint Cloud easy at end of line 10 metro de Paris, seee it all here in French, a breath of fresh in the outer lungs of Paris. http://parc.de.saintcloud.free.fr/domnat17.html

Enjoy my belle France. Cheers!!!