PERFUME MAKING WORKSHOP

A nebulous memory came back to me recently, as I was writing an article on perfume and perfume making. I remembered that a three-hour €95 perfume-making workshop is offered at the upstairs studio of the master perfumer L'Artisan Parfumeur flagship store. The class is offered sporadically, so do check in advance if you are interested in taking it. L'Artisan Parfumeur is a company founded by Jean Laporte in 1976, it features a range of lovely and unique eaux de toilette, much unlike the mass produced designer scents you can smell on everyone. They also carry home fragrances and fragrant objects. Though it's not Creed or Jean Patou it's well worth checking out, even if just for the workshop and the view from its window.

L'Artisan Parfumeur
2 rue de l'Amiral de Coligny
75001 Paris
Metro: Louvre Rivoli
Tél: 01 44 88 27 50
Mon-Sat: 10:00-7:00
www.lartisanparfumeur.com

STOHRER: taste of Parisian decadence

If you dig old anecdotes and trivia here is a little one for you:
Apparently when the polish princess Marie Leszczynska married king Louis XV she brought her favorite pastry chef with her. This certain Mr. Stohrer sojourned in Versailles for a few years, and during that time created one of those sugary, gluey treats you’ll encounter at Parisian boulangeries and patisseries. The Rhum Baba, is a rich cake soaked in rum and if that wasn’t enough topped wit whipped cream. In 1730 he opened a pastry shop at 51 rue Montorgeueil, and guess what? The shop still stands today. I was told that an army of chefs bakes the delicacy from the original 18th century recipe. The interior of the shop is not to be overlooked; Paul Baudry, the decorator of Opera Garnier, decorated it in 1864
51 rue Montorgueil, 2eme
01 42 33 38 20
7:30-8:30
http://www.stohrer.fr

yum-yum!

VINTAGE PARISIAN POSTERS

If you're a nostalgic and a fan of things from the past such as vintage advertising posters then don't miss this amazing address. At A L'imagerie you 'll find posters ranging as far as La Belle Epoque, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, as well as hip 50's, 60's treats.
They buy sell and restore, plus are used to shipping to the US!
Make sure to ask to see their print and drawing collection.

5 rue guy Moquet, 75017
0143251866
www.alimagerie.com

USING CELL PHONES IN FRANCE

To use your cell phone in Europe it has to conform to a few standards first, and the roaming fees just might ruin you. So be careful and sure to check with your provider if you need to activate overseas roaming, or if you can get onto a French network for far less money!!! Otherwise be prepared for a small financial disaster!

In order to work in Europe your portable (cell phone)needs to:
1) Be a tri-band phone, meaning that it can work on the band in France.
U.S. cellphones are on the 1900 band, but Europe uses 900 and 1800 bands.

2) You need a GSM phone, short for Global System for Mobile Technology, a standard in Europe. While some English speaking countries commonly use this ( like the U.K.), most phones in the U.S. are not GSM.
AT&T, Cingular and T-Mobile are the carriers that either are GSM or are switching to it. If you have a newer phone from these carriers, you probably have a GSM phone. If you have Sprint or Nextel, you most likely don’t but they may offer GSM phones for rent so make sure to ask.

3) Check to see if your wireless company has arrangements for using your phone overseas (Cingular, AT&T and T-Mobile do, but it MUST be activated by contacting them first). If it doesn't, you can find several companies online that will unlock your phone.
http://cellphones.about.com

So if you lucked out and your phone is unlocked, tri-band and GSM, the next step is to purchase a pre-paid SIM card for 30 euros when you arrive in France. (DO save the existing SIM card you’ll need it when you return home). These pre-paid SIM cards can be purchased in mobile phone shops in France (the primary companies are Orange, Bouygues Telecom and SFR). You can also purchase these before you go from Internet companies such as
http://www.cellularabroad.com

If your phone isn't ready for international jet setting, you can buy phones that will work anywhere in the world at these Internet shops as well.

Otherwise rent a phone for travel; T-Mobile has such offers. You can also rent phones in France once you arrive. Many airports now have stands where you can rent phones near or at the car rental desks Last I heard http://www.fonquest.com
had a stand at the Charles De Gaulle airport - Terminal 2D.

You can also go to :
http://cellularexpressphonerentals.com
http://intouchglobal.com
http://www.fonlight.fr

BEING VEGETARIAN IN PARIS

I’ve decided to write about being vegetarian in Paris not because the matter concerns me, as I am a carnivorous beast, but because several requests were sent to me and because being vegetarian in Paris is not always a breeze.
The flesh loving (excuse the pun) French known for their refined cuisine have made their name on specialties such as boeuf bourguignon, le foie gras, les terrines and les andouillettes!

On one hand Parisians enjoy meat, on the other they truly tend to their health and figure, and so you will notice that people may order a steak tartar with mounds of green salad, or liver with veggies on the side.

Being vegetarian and eating healthy in Paris is also a matter of contradictions.
On one hand you will find a large number of « Bio » stores, (health food stores) scattered around town, as well as fabulous bio products at practically every super market you go to. On the other hand finding vegetarian or vegan restaurants in the city is no small feat.

So here is a small compilation of addresses and brands you might enjoy, just in case tripes, hearts and kidneys don’t whet your appetite!


SOME VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS IN PARIS:
IN LE MARAIS

Grand Appetit :: Restaurant macrobiotique :: 9, rue de la Cerisaie 75004 Paris :: 01 40 27 04 95
Open Mon-Wed 12-3 & 7-9, Thur 12-3, Fri 12-2, closed weekends. Hours vary in winter

Le Marais :: Bio and natural products :: 54, rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie 75004 Paris :: 01 48 87 48 71

Piccolo Teatro :: Restaurant Végétarien :: 6, rue des Ecouffes 75004 Paris :: 01 42 72 17 79
www.piccolo-teatro.com

Le Potager du Marais :: Restaurant Bio :: 22, rue Rambuteau 75003 Paris :: 01 44 54 00 31



IN OTHER ARRONDISSEMENTS

Arpege :: For the true gourmets who’d appreciate a Michelin 3star you must check out the exquisite Arpege. They cultivate 4 hectares of vegetables, and can be found at
84, rue de Varenne, Paris 75007 :: 01 47 05 09 06
c'est hors de prix! (prepare for ruination!)
www.alain-passard.com

La Petite Légume :: Restaurant Végétarien :: 5th [Latin Quarter] 36 rue des Boulangers :: 01 40 46 06 85, Metro Cardinal Lemoine.
Small place. Open for lunch and dinner, except closed Sunday


Les Cinq Saveurs D'Anada, (formerly Les Quatre et Une Saveurs) :: Restaurant Bio :: 5th, 72 rue du Cardinal-Lemoine :: 01.43.29.58.54, Metro Cardinal-Lemoine. Open noon-2:30PM, 7-10:30PM Tue-Sun.

The Dietetic Shop :: Restaurant Bio :: 14th, 11 Rue Delambre :: 01 43 35 39 75, Metro Vavin

La Victoire Supreme du Coeur :: Restaurant Végétarien::
41 Rue Des Bourdonnais 75001 near Chatelet :: 0140419395
Open Mon-Sat 12-2:30pm and 6:40-10pm, closed Sunday
www.vscoeur.com

FOR MORE INFO REFER TO THIS GUIDE:
www.linternaute.com

EXCELLENT BIO BRANDS:

You’ll find these in most food stores such as Monoprix, Franprix, G20, Lafayette Gourmet, Le Bon Marché:

Alter Eco
Vital
Bjorg
Gayelord Hauser

SOME BIO STORES IN PARIS:

Canal Bio - http://canalbio.club.fr/super.htm
Biocoop - www.biocoop.fr
Les Nouveaux Robinson - www.nouveauxrobinson.fr
Espace Bio St Charles - www.espacebio.com
La Vie Claire - www.lavieclaire.com
Naturalia - www.naturalia.fr

BIO MARKETS

Feel like waking up early on the weekend? Have the ultimate Parisian cliché experience and visit one of the Bio Markets:

MARCHE BIO du Boulevard RASPAIL
rue de Rennes à Sèvres Babylone
75006
Paris
Sunday morning

MARCHE BIO du Bd DES BATIGNOLLES
Bd DES BATIGNOLLES
75007
Paris
Saturday morning

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"