Cool Paris
THINGS TO DO IN THE CITY OF LIGHT
- Terminus Nord
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- 30
- Aug
- 2010
Terminus Nord, just in front of Gare du Nord is an old institution. It is open every day, even on Sunday evening ( exceptional in Paris) and until very very late. And early in the morning you can have your “petit déjeuner”.
The restuarant is reasonably priced, full of Parisians and has nice “plateau de fruits de mer”. The staff is friendly and even if they don’t speak English, they try to help you out.
We did arrive rather late in Paris and were hungry. Almost all the restaurants in the neighborhood were clossing. So we went to Terminus Nord. We had a real nice dinner with our kids. (One of our kids would like to work there for a month or two, just because of the real Parisian ambiance) We came in at 22.30 h, the place was half full. The waiters had some time to chat with some “habitués” as there were an professor, an old piano artist, a young couple after a performance,…
We ordered some rumsteack with “beurre Maître d’Hôtel”, it came with french fries and a salad ; a dozen oysters (even in July they were delicious) and the best of all “steack haché minute”, the waiter did a great job seasoning to perfection. As a dessert everybody took our family favorite “crème brulée”.
Terminus Nord, 23, Rue de Dunkerque, 75010 Paris
- About eating and drinking in Paris
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- 25
- Aug
- 2010
Eating and drinking in Paris isn’t so much about food and wine. It’s really about easing the process of ordering food and having a good time – or at least not a stressful time- doing it. In a food guide “Eating and drinking in Paris – French menu translator & Restaurant guide by Andy Herbach, I read 10 simple rules :
1. Avoid eating in a restaurant that has a menu written in English.
2. Don’t be afraid. They can’t and won’t hurt you.
3. Don’t ever call a waiter “garçon”
4. Try to make reservations.
5. Return to a restaurant if you like it.
6. Parisians dine leisurely.
7. Don’t talk loudly.
8. Stand your ground without being aggressive.
9. Visit a street vendor at least once in Paris.
10. Alway be courteous. Remember that you are a guest in their country.
- Le Turgot
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- 20
- Aug
- 2010
If you really want to feel and act like a Parisian who’s reading his paper or correcting his latest novel while checking out les madames of the neighbourhood, go and have a drink at place Condorcet, more specifically at bar Le Turgot. Go there if you’re feeling hungry and want a small bite or if you’re exhausted from a long day of strolling around in the loveliest town in the world.
Satisfaction guaranteed.
Most likely you’ll see a typical quarrel between two ex-lovers because the guy was too evidently showing off his new conquest. Or maybe you’ll see two old Parisian friends discussing over who’s going to buy the next stella artois.
It’s all very likely to happen
If you leave the Montmartre Studioloft the place is located down the street at your right. It’s the very first little place you see. Before the renovation of Place Condorcet it was a rather lousy café, now it’s a nice place to sit down and just relax. Even the prices are reasonable (to Parisian standards, that is).
When we were there last week, we enjoyed having a drink (happy hour comes with real big pints) and we just did some people watching. In front of us there was a young Parisian lady in a beautiful red dress with little white dots who was reading the paper (probably just solving a crossword) and sipping a red wine. Next to us, there were two beautiful young Brazilian ladies exchanging their views on the latest episode of their favourite soap when at a certain moment one of them said hi to a couple of youngsters (dressed in skinny jeans, sneakers, short haircut with a bless, 1day unshaved) who joined them for a while to on their part exchange what they thought of the ladies’ new dresses. Subsequently, the quartet disappeared to go dancing all night. There was also this young, cute, probably newly-wed couple : he was coming from work, in costume with a stylish briefcase – she, dressed in a classical outfit (gray skirt, a white blouse with gray stripes and ballerina shoes), had just done some shopping (with yesterday’s money). They were probably having one drink before heading home. They took 4 chairs, for they didn’t want to be bothered. I could see what was inside her little green bag, a new lingerie set, and when she gave him a glance of her latest purchase they also left into the night.
Finally a young Senegalese lady, dressed in traditonal fabrics, bright orange and blue, nice jewels and funky sunglasses took their place. All she did was take sips from a “petit café” but that was all she needed to do as far as I was concerned.
Café Le Turgot, 2,Rue Turgot, 75009 Paris
- YSL in Le Petit Palais
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- 15
- Aug
- 2010
The first large retrospective exhibition dedicated to Yves Saint-Laurent the fashion designer is set to take place from 11 March to 29 August at the Petit Palais. Discover this beautiful exhibition, you still have some time, but buy your ticket in advance on-line or in the Fnac (even with a ticket be prepared to be in line for 3/4 of an hour). The exhibition is very worthwhile, you will recognize photo’s, advertisement, maybe fashion clothes.
The Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent and the Petit Palais (City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts) are showcasing the first Yves Saint-Laurent retrospective exhibition since the fashion designer passed away. A total of 307 haute couture and prêt-à-porter models are on show, ranging from the designer’s beginnings at Dior in 1958, with the famous “Trapèze” collection, to the splendour of the evening dresses from 2002. He revolutionised women’s wardrobes.In 40 years of creating, Yves Saint-Laurent revolutionised women’s wardrobes, by drawing on aspects of the male evening suit, trouser suit and safari suit to dress women, thereby passing attributes of power from one gender to the other.
Numerous photographs and films shed light on the historical background, the development of the Yves Saint-Laurent style and the aspects underpinning his creations.The designer took inspiration from the streets (1971 scandale collection), his dreamlike journeys (Russia, China, India, Spain, Japan, Africa and Morocco) and interaction with art (Modrian, Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh).
“I’ve always had the highest of respect for this profession, which isn’t an art form per se, but which needs an artist in order for it to exist” – Yves Saint-Laurent.
Rétrospective YSL, Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris ,Avenue Winston Churchill , 75008 Paris