MORE FUN IN PARIS ON THE 31ST

Ok, if you like the eclectic side of Paris, if you like culture and unadulterated fun, here is a little list of what's happening on the 31st! Enjoy!!!!!!!!

La Nouba Noche du Cabaret Sauvage
Un Glo "bal" Réveillon ! Since about six years now Cabaret Sauvage mixes sounds and genres for an ultra festive night of mixes and live music. 2 dance floors to transport you through 4 continents with afro raï, indian, samba, salsa and even funk and soul sounds. 2 Lives and 3dj's. 10pm (35 euros)

Cabaret Sauvage
59 bd Mc Donald - 75019 Paris (Metro: Porte de la Villette)
Tél: 01 42 09 01 09
http://www.cabaretsauvage.com


Réveillon for the Nu Nomads à la Java (One of the purest salsa joints in Paris)
Travel with the gypsies from Rajasthan of "Kerap" with a live starting at 11pm. Serbian fanfare will pass around midnight, with gypsy and rumba flamenca starting by 2am by les Mango Gadzi. On the dance floor expect a deluxe atmosphere since Big Buddha and Da Krishna wil be there. 22h (20 euros)


Java
105 rue du Faubourg du Temple - 75010 Paris (Metro: Goncourt)
Tél: 01 45 32 57 63


Chocomix its New Year strangeness at les Caves du Zorba
An ultra open program sweeping through Funk and Kuduro angolais, Bollywood, Hip hop and crazy éléctro.. Anything goes ... 11pm (No cover charge)

Caves du Zorba: 137, rue de Belleville 75010 Paris

All the Dj's of the year at 9 Billards
Feel right at home with all the resident Dj's spinning till the morning light. All the drinks will be served at their usual price. 9pm (No cover charge)

9 Les Billards
179 rue St Maur - 75010 Paris (Metro: Goncourt)
Tél : 01 40 40 05 42

Why Not and Bouli at la Mercerie
Eclectic New Years, free with Dj's from the Why Not et Bouli parties 10pm (No cover charge)

La Mercerie Café
98 rue Oberkampf - 75011 Paris (Metro: Parmentier)
Tél : 01 56 98 14 10

Tons of Dj's and a heated terrace at the Point Ephémère
The Point Ephémère crew invites you to party all night long with Dj LA (Red House Records), Mo DJ (Afro Mix) , Emilomar, DJ Benladance, sound terrorist éphemère, Ulmann. Expect a Chill out, 4 bars and a heated terrace. 10pm (15 euros)

Point Ephémère
200 quai de Valmy - 75010 Paris (Metro: Jaurès)
Tél: 01 40 34 02 48

Giant Karaoké at the Flèche d'Or
Prepare to sing accompanied by real instruments and a group of musicians! Until 22h30 and to start the soiree right a buffet à volonté will give you the much needed verve. DJ's will take over at midnight: Remote (Kill the Dj), Guido (Goldrush) et Cosmo Vitelli (I'm a cliché) will stat 2007 with a mix of Rock, Soul and electro. 8pm (40 euros, 3 drinks included, and 90 euros for 2 with a bottle of champ' included!)

Flêche d'Or
102 bis, rue de Bagnolet - 75020 Paris
Tél : 01 44 64 01 02
http://www.flechedor.com

Kekele au New Morning (The classic Jazz joint of Paris)
Eh oui ! The congolais de Kekele will heat up the night with Rumba congolaise and Salsa accents. Often compared to the Buena Vista Social Club, Kekele resemble their younger African cousins. If you wanna dance the night away here is your chance to Rumba ! 10:30 (40 euros)

New Morning
7-9 rue des Petites Ecuries - 75010 Paris (Metro: Château d'Eau)
Tél : 01 45 23 51 41
http://www.newmorning.com

Welcome to 007 au Triptyque (One of the underground hang outs of The City of Light)
Un Reveillon in a true style of a spy film to end the year at le Triptyque. Sound spies from all over the globe will greet you there including the Germans Oliver Huntermann and Stephan Bodzin respected spies of the German electro scène. On the Russian side, the beautiful Xenia Beliayeva will be there, as well as the Finnish Brian Tu... all united for a common mission: to finish the year with the best of l'electro. From 10 pm till noon. (25 euros)

Triptyque
142 rue Montmartre - 75002 Paris (Metro: Grands Boulevards, Bourse or Sentier)
Tél : 01 40 28 05 55
http://www.letriptyque.com

2007 PARIS WINTER SALES

January is just around the corner and that means a number of things, one of which concernes la folie de soldes!
The next round of biannual Paris sales will be held from January 10 till February 17, 2007 so all of you spendthrifts, bargain lovers, recreational shoppers, overindulgent brand bulimics and other types of pragmatics and/or materialists, prepare your wish lists now!

Ahh les soldes! The madness from early mornings to the nocturnes, and to boot the boutiques won't stop at late openings, they might even be open on Sundays! Incroyable!
The trick though is to know these bargains are rarely as good as the ones you find in the US, it simply isn't the same culture. Don't despair, there are great bargains to be found!
But it might not be a bad idea to start reading "Napoleon on the Art of War"

PARIS IS BURNING!

Ouff! Hopefully you survived the holidays and all the related gluttony. In true French fashion you should by now have a severe stomachache or at least a few kilos en plus after all the foie gras, oysters and other delicacy overdose! The good news is that New Year’s Eve is approaching and that means lots of fun, and lots of fun usually means efficient calorie burning! So don’t be phased by overindulgence and tacky presents you will never be able to use, get into those tight fitting jeans somehow, and hit la piste de danse!

If you understand a bit of French tune in to radio nova, by far the best radio station in the Gaulle country! Listen in to their bons plans blurb, on all the hot, and sometimes even free goings on about town, so you can figure out where you can jiggle the Reveillon (New Year’s Eve) away! If you don’t understand French, tune in anyway just for the music!

http://www.novaplanet.com

This little treat has a few suggestions as well

http://en.parisinfo.com

Again, for those who can decipher un peu de français, this is a great site for bars, clubs, and delicious Parisian parties.

http://www.parissi.com

NEW YEAR'S AT THE OPERA

When in Paris Opera and ballet performances are some of those wonders that should be taken advantage of.
In Addition to the famous Palais Garnier there are other magnificent venues such as Opéra-Comique,
Théâtre du Châtelet or Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. Luckily for you, this holiday season a few treats are on offer, if that is your kind of thing!

Le Chevalier à la Rose
Richard Strauss

Opéra Bastille
December 24 at 2:30 pm and December 27 at 7:30 pm

Angela Gheorghiou
New Year's Eve Concert and cocktail

Palais Garnier
December 31 at 7:30 pm


Coppélia
Patrice Bart

Opérta Bastille
December 25, 26, 29, 31 at 7:30 pm
and January 1 at 6:30 to start the year on a cultural note!

For more info go to
www.operadeparis.fr

NEW YEAR'S EVE IN PARIS

Well, as you probably know the big traditional gathering for New Year's Eve (Le Réveillon) in Paris is the Champs Elysées Avenue, by the Arc of Triomphe. Usually you bring a bottle of Champagne, get pushed and shoved and really, really cold. You better be a crowd lover for this experience, a loud and obnoxious crowd lover, which I am clearly not! But there is always that option.
For those like me who prefer something less obvious there's a whole lot going on that night!
It really depends on what you like: nice dinner, lounge, wine tasting, club, etc.

For starters, if you are already in Paris, do check out le Pariscope, which can be found in any news stand, and it lists all of the events and happening for the week?

http://www.pariscope.fr

This is obvious but be prepared to book restaurants, hotels and events in advance, it is New Year's Eve after all!

There is a mind-boggling list of soirées, restaurants and events you will be able to chose from to suit your taste. For this blog I picked a few hot trendy spots, some of which are very recent and somewhat unusual!

Three clubs are really the buzz in the city just be prepared to stand out in the cold for a while before you get in. If you are a guy, be sure you have a girl on your arm to get in.

LE BARON
6, avenue Marceau
75008 Paris


LE PARIS, PARIS
5 avenue de l'Opera
75008 Paris
www.leparisparis.com

LE SHOWCASE - the newest, craziest, immense hot spot!!!!
Pont Alexandre III Port des Champs Élysées
75008 Paris


Have a drink at the ICE KUBE BAR at L'hotel Kube; just be sure to bring a sweater, as it's sort of icy!
1-5, passage Ruelle
75018 Paris
Tél: 01 42 05 20 00
www.kubehotel.com

Now, for a totally novel experience, and one that will surely have your senses working overtime, have dinner in the dark at the DANS LE NOIR restaurant
51 rue Quincampoix
75004 Paris
Tél: 01 42 77 98 04
http://www.danslenoir.com/accueil/accueil.php

BUDGET HOTELS

HOSPITEL HOTEL DIEU PARIS
1, place du Parvis Notre Dame Galerie B2, 6th floor 75004 PARIS
Metro : Cité
RER : Saint Michel - Notre Dame
Bus : 21 - 38 - 96
tél: 01.44.32.01.00
fax : 01.44.32.01.16
mail : hospitelhoteldieu@wanadoo.fr
www.hotel-hospitel.com

For more hotels refer to:

http://en.parisinfo.com

http://travel.nytimes.com

PARISIAN HOSTELS

Now, I must admit and clarify from the get go that I have never once in my life set foot in a hostel, not even in Paris, and not even for kicks. However, given that I started this blog with the idea of helping those traveling to Paris as much as I could regardless the reason or the length of their stay, I believe that a considerable number of you may actually find this info useful. There are countless little yet grand hotels I'm planning to post about, but I also know they are not for every budget. So to hopefully help you avoid ending up like the guy on the photo above, here is what I found.

For the sake of this post I've been visiting numerous forums and soliciting many globetrotting friends who confirmed, since I can't, that the following are some of the best hostels that you'll be able to find in Paname, a nickname for Paris you'll bound to hear sur place.

So here it is:

These two were mentioned over and over again by people on the net and those in my life. They were also both described as very friendly!

www.villagehostel.fr

www.mije.com

The following has had mixed reviews. One traveler mentioned
regarding “the infamous 3 Ducks hostel near the Eiffel tower: you might have fun in the bar, but avoid it like the plague." Nevertheless, its location is fantastic, so at least check the website for yourselves

www.3ducks.fr

FRENCH MAPQUEST

Lost?
Wishing you had mapquest à la française?

Yes, France too has a system, even a couple, for foreigners and other direction morons, and no worries the info is available in several languages.
Here are a few links that will surely help:

http://www.viamichelin.com

http://www.mappy.com

and this is useful if you need a metro itinerary too

http://www.ratp.com

HAMMAM HEAVEN IN PARIS

In response to one reader’s request, dear reader, here is the scoop on Paris Oriental steam baths

I have already mentioned this one nestled in the Marais, but just for the record here it is again:

Place: Les Bains du Marais
31-33 rue de s Blancs Manteaux, 75003 Paris
Why it’s hot: Because at this Oriental Hammam inspired spa you can unwind, recharge your batteries and feel as if you escaped into another world, all without taking a vacation.
They sell: royal treatment at the steam bath, or the sauna, you can unwind with one of the many massages, scrubs, facials, or take care of your nails and hair. The best is just to do it all in one full day of decadence. Just in case the tight schedule between the treatments wears you down, a dim room with velvet couches designed for deep relaxation awaits you. In addition they now sell a luxurious line of beauty products such as creams and body oils with the finest natural ingredients such as jasmine and orange blossom flower.
Contact: www.lesbainsdumarais.com
Tél: 01 44 61 02 02

There is of course more:

Place: La Grande Mosqué de Paris
2, bis place du puits de l'Ermite 75005 Paris
Why it’s hot: It is important to mention that this is above all a mosque, however food and relaxation are also au rendez vous. Once again, if you can’t get away from the city, this is your way out for instantaneous transportation into a realm somewhere between Marrakech and Tunis. There is of course the hammam, but also the famous restaurant even more appealing in spring and summer when you can eat outside in the interior courtyard or try their special thé à la menthe and honey smothered pastries, mmmmm!!!!!
Contact: www.mosquee-de-paris.net
Tél: 01 45 35 97 33

Place: Hammam Pacha
147, rue Gabriel Péri 93200 Saint-Denis
Why it’s hot: it doesn’t get more authentic than this.
This place is a bit removed from the center of Paris, but a favorite among the real Oriental crowd. You can spend your entire Sunday lazing away at this retreat. No need to worry about food, all is available sur place.
Contact: www.hammampacha.com
Tél: 01 48 29 19 66


Finally, a brand new oasis opened its doors just about six months ago in the posh suburb of Paris, Boulogne

Place: Hammam Les Cent Ciels
45 bis Avenue Edouard Vaillant, 92100 - Boulogne Billancourt
Why it’s hot: This is the chic side of Orient at your fingertips for a quick rejuvenation. Check out the photos on the website, I think they speak for themselves! Sauna, hammam, a bouquet of massages, peelings, manicures and other refined treats await you. Oh and yes, there is also a swimming pool!
Contact: www.hammam-lescentciels.com

Tél: 01 46 20 07 01

HIDDEN COOLNESS: L'hotel du Petit Moulin

Christian Lacroix is one of those names, which instantly turn up in our minds when we think of Parisian Chic, but he’s so much more. Besides being involved in a number of offbeat projects he also dreamed up the interior of an intimate luxury hotel in the historic Marais, nestled right in the heart of Paris.



Hotel du Petit Moulin, is much unlike the typical Parisian royal palaces. It is located in a totally renovated XVIIth century building hidden away on a small side street. The original Boulangerie (pastry shop) entrance was preserved and gives the place a uniquely coquettish allure. Pompous and snobby hotel crowds are nowhere to be found, which makes it a perfect refuge for those who cherish their privacy. According to the designer, the hotels’ unusually configured 17 rooms inspired him to decorate each in a unique manner and tone, mixing pieces and furniture from different styles and periods. Lacroix dreamed up the ultimate Fashionista getaway while conserving a refreshing serenity. Perfect nest for the subtler modern kind of snob ;)
Rumor has it that Lacroix will oversee few more hidden treats as this one.



Hotel du Petit Moulin
29/31, rue de Poitou
75003 PARIS
Tel: 01.42.74.10.10
www.paris-hotel-petitmoulin.com

ROLLER BLADING THROUGH PARIS

I’ve already mentioned it in my previous posts, but since lately I am into this whole video thing, here it is again only better!

Friday Night Fever is a super cool event you must check out whether you are an avid roller bladder or a pole holder.



!If you can't view this video, go to this link!